Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Porto vs. Estoril Praia - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 November 2023, 16:00
Porto get the Primeira Liga weekend underway when they welcome bottom-of-the-table Estoril Praia to the Estadio do Dragao on Friday night.

Sergio Conceicao's side have responded well to defeat against bitter rivals Benfica at the end of September by keeping pace at the top.

Match preview

As there is very little room for error in the Primeira Liga, champions are usually crowned after a season of near-perfection, and despite a largely perfect start for Porto, they still find themselves three points adrift.

However, after a second defeat of the season to Benfica, having already lost in the Super Cup to them, Porto have remained in touch with Sporting Lisbon, who are the current unbeaten leaders.

Porto will be back on home soil here after three straight away games in three separate competitions since the international break, matches where they claimed victory in each.

The most eye-catching of those successes was unquestionably in the Champions League against Antwerp, as Conceicao's side rallied back from a goal down at half-time to thrash the Belgians 4-1.

Consecutive 2-0 wins domestically in league and cup came either side of that European win, and they will be heavily fancied to keep that winning streak going here.

Given Estoril's form this season, and no big games on the horizon domestically until they face Sporting in mid-December, Conceicao may give more focus to the Champions League over the next month as they are in a great position to qualify having won two of their first three group games.

Estoril will be hoping for a minor miracle and for Porto to underestimate them because on paper this looks like a real mismatch, as the visitors are winless in the league in two-and-a-half months.

Cup competitions have provided momentary respite for Vasco Seabra, but the manager has lost all three league games since taking over in late September.

Despite winning all four of their cup matches so far this season, Estoril have been unable to take any of that form or confidence into league matters.

Since beating Rio Ave on matchday two, the Canaries have taken just one point from a possible 21, and last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Portimonense kept them bottom for another week.

They are unlikely to move from the foot of the table here, and they also face Braga in the next two weeks as the fixtures continue to get tougher.

Estoril's chances at the Dragao look even more slim when their past record against Porto is examined, as they have beaten their upcoming opponents just once in 28 meetings.

That came back in 2014 when current defender Eliaquim Mangala was sent off for the Dragoes, and future Porto player Evandro netted a late winner.

A draw at home to Porto last season was an excellent result, but they have lost 10 of the other 11 previous meetings between the sides.

Porto Primeira Liga form:

D

W

W

L

W

W

Porto form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

W

W

Estoril Praia Primeira Liga form:

L

L

D

L

L

L

Estoril Praia form (all competitions):

D

W

L

L

W

L

Advert - content below:

Team News

Porto have a lengthy injury list heading into this one and ahead of an important Champions League game next midweek.

Galeno missed the win at Vizela last weekend with a muscle injury and is a doubt for this, while the same issue is currently keeping Brazilian compatriot Gabriel Veron out.

Wendell, Ivan Jaime and Zaidu Sanusi are all also out with similar muscular problems, and their returns are edging nearer, but Ivan Marcano is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Since returning from an injury of his own, Evanilson has been in phenomenal form, scoring five in five games, despite only starting twice.

Evanilson's hat-trick against Antwerp in the Champions League last week was the first scored by a Porto player in the competition since Yacine Brahimi in 2014, and he joined Mohamed Salah on the list of players to complete the feat from off the bench.

Former Porto defender Mangala is the only absentee for Estoril coming into this clash, as the Frenchman has missed the last eight matches.

Changes are likely after another disappointing performance last weekend with Seabra still seeking his first league win with the club.

One of the players to come in could be Joao Marques, who, despite recording five goal contributions already this season, cannot get into the starting XI and has been a substitute in the last three league games.

Porto possible starting lineup:

Diogo Costa; Joao Mario, Jose Pedro, David Carmo, Andre Franco; Pepe, Nico, Grujic, Francisco Conceicao; Evanilson, Taremi

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:

Marcelo Carne; Vital, Volnei Freitas, Pedro Alvaro; Rodrigo Gomes, Mateus Fernandes, Holsgrove, Tiago Araujo; Guitane, A Marques, Joao Marques

We say: Porto 3-0 Estoril Praia

Porto are huge favourites to claim another comfortable victory, and even if Conceicao makes a few changes with the Antwerp game in mind, they should still stroll to three points here.

Previews by email

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly told Mykhaylo Mudryk that he is still in their first-team plans ahead of the January transfer window. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Legendary striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he was close to joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon.