Preview: Porto vs. Boavista - prediction, team news, lineups

Having clinched their 30th league title last season, Porto currently find themselves four points behind first-placed Benfica in the league table with just five matches left to play.

Match preview

Porto kept their quest for a domestic treble on track as they picked up a 2-1 victory over a resilient Famalicao side in the first leg of their semi-final clash on Wednesday.

The Dragoes had brushed aside Mafra, Arouca and Segunda Liga side Academico Viseu to set up a thrilling two-legged semi-final showdown with Joao Pedro Sousa's side.

In a one-sided affair at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao, Ivan Marcano and Toni Martinez scored either side of Alexandre Penetra's 36th-minute equaliser to hand the visitors a first-leg advantage.

Porto now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, where they have rekindled their title charge with four consecutive wins, including a 2-1 victory over Benfica at the Estadio da Luz on April 7.

Sergio Conceicao's side have now gone unbeaten in their last nine outings across all competitions, picking up seven wins and two draws since falling to a 2-1 loss against Gil Vicente on February 26.

Porto have picked up 70 points from their 29 matches to sit second in the Primeira Liga standings, four points off top spot with five league matches left in the 2022-23 campaign.

Elsewhere, Boavista continued their last-season form last Saturday when they held their own to see out a slender 3-2 victory over 10-man Rio Ave at the Estadio do Bessa.

Yusupha Nije was among the goals as he opened the scoring inside the opening nine minutes before Bruno Lourenco and Ricardo Mangas added to the scoreline to hand the Vilacondenses their 12th league loss of the season.

Os Axadrezados have now gone three consecutive matches without defeat, winning twice and claiming one draw since their disappointing 4-2 loss at the hands of last-placed Maritimo on April 2.

While Petit's men are winless in three consecutive away matches, their form at home has been pivotal in their resurgence as they are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 competitive games at the Estadio do Bess while claiming five wins and four draws since mid-November.

With 37 points from 29 matches, Boavista are currently 11th in the league standings, level on points with 10th-placed Chaves, but could potentially move into eighth place with all three points this weekend.

However, they must end their Porto hoodoo as they head into the weekend without a win in their last 18 meetings with Sunday's hosts, losing 16 and managing just two draws since September 2014.

Porto Primeira Liga form:

W

D

W

W

W

W

Porto form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

W

Boavista Primeira Liga form:

L

L

L

W

D

W

Team News

Porto remain without 23-year-old defender Joao Mario, who has missed the last three matches after picking up a muscle injury in the win over Benfica on April 7.

Otavio is also a major doubt for Conceicao's side after the Portugal international was hauled off injured late in the cup game against Famalicao.

With his winner against the Vila Nova, Martinez has now found the target in two successive games for the first time since August 2021 and the Spanish striker should retain his place in attack.

Mateus Uribe, Wenderson Galeno and Mehdi Taremi, who has 24 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, are all fully rested having started from the bench in midweek and should come into the XI this weekend.

Meanwhile, we expect Boavista to make little or no changes to the starting side from last Saturday's win, although Reggie Cannon is a doubt after coming off injured in the 81st minute.

Nije, who has now scored 12 goals and provided two assists in the league, should once again lead the visitors' attack alongside Salvador Agra and 25-year-old Lourenco.

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Manafa, Pepe, Marcano, Wendell; Otavio, Pepe, Uribe, Galeno; Taremi, Martinez

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Bracali; Cannon, Abascal, Sasso, Onyemaechi; Perez, Makouta, Agra; Lourenco, Mangas, Njie

We say: Porto 3-1 Boavista

Boavista have put together a fine run of form and will be looking to end their poor winless run away from home, but Conceicao's men boast the firepower needed to get the job done and we are backing them to keep their title race alive by picking up another victory.

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