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. SC Farense - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 18 August 2023, 22:42
Off the back of contrasting starts to the new league campaign, Porto and SC Farense go head to head at the Estadio do Dragao in round two of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.

The Leoes de Faro are currently on a run of six back-to-back away wins across all competitions and will head into the weekend looking to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

Porto turned in a resilient team display last Monday when they fought back from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over Moreirense at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.

Following a goalless first half, former Benfica man Godfried Frimpong broke the deadlock in the 51st minute to put Moreirense in front, but Toni Martinez and Wendell scored in a seven-minute spell to turn the game on its head.

This followed a 2-0 loss at the hands of rivals Benfica in the Portuguese Super Cup on August 9, when Angel Di Maria and Petar Musa secured second-half goals to hand As Aguias their first piece of silverware this season.

With Monday's result, the Sergio Conceicao's men have now won 10 league matches on the bounce and are unbeaten in each of their last 13, claiming 12 wins and one draw since February's 2-1 loss against Gil Vicente.

This blistering run saw Porto finish with 85 points in Primeira Liga last season to finish as league runners-up, narrowly losing out to eventual winners Benfica by just two points.

Elsewhere, newly-promoted Farense received a baptism of fire on their return to the Portuguese top flight as they suffered a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Casa Pia last Saturday.

Farense finished the 2022-23 campaign as runners-up in the Segunda Liga after picking up 21 wins and six draws in their 34 matches to finish six points above third-placed Estrela Amadora in the promotion playoff spot.

Making their first Primeira Liga appearance since their relegation in 2021, Clayton, Pablo and Savior Godwin all found the back of the net to hand Os Gansos an opening-day win at the Estadio de Sao Luis.

Prior to that, Jose Mota's side were involved in two friendly matches, losing 4-2 against Italian side Roma on August 2, three days before claiming a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Portimonense.

Farense kicked off the new season back in July when they picked up successive victories over Moreirense and Oliveirense to book their spot in the group stages of the 2023-24 Taca da Liga campaign.

Next up for the Leoes de Faro is the challenge of an opposing side who won both home and away meetings between the teams when they squared off back in the 2020-21 campaign.

Porto Primeira Liga form:

Porto form (all competitions):

SC Farense Primeira Liga form:

L

SC Farense form (all competitions):

Advert - content below:

Team News

Porto will have to cope without full-back Wendell, who is currently serving a one-match ban after picking up a late red against Moreirense on Monday.

In his absence, Nigerian defender Zaidu Sanusi should be handed his first start of the season, forming the back four with Joao Mario, Fabio Cardoso and club captain Ivan Marcano.

On the injury front, Conceicao will be unable to call upon the attacking duo of Evanilson and Gabriel Veron, who continue their spells on the sidelines through muscle problems.

Farense, on the other hand, head into the weekend with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns and we expect Mota to name his strongest possible XI.

Fran Delgado, Zach Muscat, Goncalo Silva and Joao Talocha should all retain their roles in the back four, while we expect a midfield trio of Mattheus, Fabricio Isidoro and 29-year-old Claudio Falcao.

Up top, Rui Costa should lead the visitors' attack against his former employers, joining club captain Marco Matias and 23-year-old Elves Balde in the final third.

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Mario, Cardoso, Marcano, Sanusi; Eustaquio, Grujic; Pepe, Namaso, Galeno; Taremi

SC Farense possible starting lineup:

Felipe; Delgado, Muscat, Silva, Talocha; Mattheus, Isidoro, Falcao; Balde, Duarte, Matias

We say: Porto 3-0 SC Farense

While Farense will be looking to get their campaign up and running this weekend, they have their work cut out against a formidable side in Porto. Given the gulf in class and quality between the two teams, we fancy the Dragoes cruising to a comfortable victory in front of their home supporters.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly going to give Real Sociedad "a long and hard winter" in their pursuit of midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Embroiled in a fight against relegation to the UEFA Nations League's lowest level, Azerbaijan and Estonia will clash in Qabala on Saturday afternoon. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as a late doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Greece due to a knock. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be given the all-clear for Saturday's all-important UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary in Amsterdam. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together on five points in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands and Hungary meet on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena.