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

The Dragoes clinched their 30th Primeira Liga crown last season and will head into the weekend seeking to set the pace for their title defence by picking up their first silverware of the new campaign.

Match preview

Porto cruised to their 30th Primeira Liga crown last season when they picked up 91 points from 34 games to finish top of the standings with a six-point cushion over second-placed Sporting Lisbon.

Their superb record on home turf was crucial in their title charge as the Dragoes went unbeaten at the Estadio do Dragao, picking up 15 points and two draws from their 17 matches.

They also fished with the meanest defensive record in the league last term, keeping 14 clean sheets and conceding just 22 goals — with runners-up Sporting Lisbon (23) coming closest.

Sergio Conceicao's side put the icing on the cake as they claimed a comfortable 3-1 victory over Tondela in the Taca de Portugal back in May, with a brace from Mehdi Taremi and Vitinha's 52nd-minute strike proving to be the difference.

Porto, who are seeking a record-extending 23rd Supertaca title, head into the weekend off the back of a perfect pre-season run as they picked up three wins from their three friendlies, seeing off Portimonense, Arouca and French Ligue 1 outfit Monaco.

They have now won each of their last seven games across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and shipping five since suffering their only league defeat of the 2021-22 league campaign on April 25 when they lost 1-0 versus Braga.

Meanwhile, following a torrid Primeira Liga campaign, Tondela were relegated to the second tier as they finished 17th in the table standings after picking up just 28 points from 34 games.

Heading into the league finale, Tondela needed a win against Boavista to secure their top-flight safety, but could only salvage a 2-2 draw against Os Axadrezado at the Estadio Joao Cardoso.

Nuno Campos's men will be kicking themselves as they imploded at the tail end of the season, failing to win any of their final six league games last season and picking up just three points from a possible 18.

Tondela's underwhelming 2021-22 campaign was highlighted by their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, where they finished with the division's worst record as they shipped 67 goals and managed just two clean sheets all season.

The CDT Auriverdes head into this weekend's clash off the back of an unconvincing run in pre-season as they picked up two draws and lost one of their three friendly outings while scoring twice and conceding three in that time.

While Campos's side will be looking to begin the new term on a high and cause an upset, they have lost each of their last 13 games against Porto, stretching back to a slender 1-0 victory in 2016.

Porto form (all competitions):

Tondela form (all competitions):

Team News

Porto completed the signing of promising youngster Gabriel Veron, who registered four-goal involvements in seven Serie A starts for Palmeiras last season, and the 19-year-old could make his debut this weekend.

Following Chancel Mbemba's departure to Marseille, Conceicao's side snapped up Portuguese defender David Carmo from Braga and the 23-year-old should team up with veteran centre-back Pepe at the heart of the back four.

Wenderson Galeno was a standout performer in pre-season and the Brazilian international should provide an extra goalscoring threat from midfield, alongside former Liverpool man Marko Grujic and 27-year-old Otavio, who registered three goals and 11 assists in the league last season.

Taremi, who finished with 20 league goals last term, has netted nine times against Saturday's opponents and the 30-year-old will look to deliver the goods at the attacking end of the pitch once again.

Meanwhile, Tondela will be without the services of Salvador Agra, who ended a two-year spell at the Estadio Joao Cardos after recently putting pen to paper on a two-year contract with Boavista.

In the absence of the 30-year-old, we expect Brazilian international Daniel dos Anjos to spearhead the attack, alongside Rafael Barbosa, who registered two goals and two assists in the league last season.

Despite their underwhelming 2021-22 campaign, Joao Pedro was a star performer for the CDT Auriverdes finishing with eight league goals and two assists to his name, and the former LA Galaxy man will be one to keep an eye out for.

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Sanusi, Pepe, Carmo, Mario; Uribe, Galeno, Grujic, Otavio; Evanilson, Taremi

Tondela possible starting lineup:

Niasse; Almeida, Manu, Alves, Bebeto; Augusto, Pedro, Undabarrena; Barbosa, Anjos, Fonseca

We say: Porto 3-0 Tondela

While Tondela will be looking to cause the first major upset of the 2022-23 Portuguese campaign, they have struggled for results against Porto, losing each of their last 13 meetings since 2016.

Conceicao's men head into the weekend with a new-look squad, but they are more than capable of coming away with the desired results. We predict a one-sided contest with the Dragoes claiming the title in 90 minutes against the CDT Auriverdes who are winless in 11 consecutive games across all competitions.

Previews by email