Preview: Santa Clara vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are unbeaten in five straight matches leading up to this one, while their visitors are without defeat in eight matches on the bounce either side of the new year.

Match preview

Porto breezed past the threat of Estoril in the last round of Taca de Portugal courtesy of a 4-0 victory at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on January 9.

A hat-trick from Evanilson put Sergio Conceicao's men in pole position to progress after which Wenderson Galeno wrapped up the scoring 14 minutes from time.

Since then, the Dragons have won three of their four league matches and sit third in the Primeira Liga table, four points behind Sporting CP and a further two behind Benfica.

Coming up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have managed just one win from the last 17 editions of this fixture across all competitions.

Having netted seven times across their last two matches on the road, Wednesday's visitors set out to put on another attacking showpiece away from home.

Santa Clara needed penalties to get past Nacional in the sides' cup encounter on January 11 following a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.

Vasco Matos's men took an extra-time lead through Gustavo Klismahn but were pegged back by Dudu's late equaliser which forced the game into a shootout where Ricardinho held his nerve to convert the decisive spot-kick.

Os Acoreanos have picked up 10 points from the subsequent 12 available in the league and currently lead the way in the Segunda Liga, three points clear of AVS.

With five wins from six home matches heading into Wednesday's contest, the hosts will be aiming to get the job done in front of their fans once again.

Santa Clara Taca de Portugal form:

W

W

W

Santa Clara form (all competitions):

W

L

L

W

W

W

Porto Taca de Portugal form:

W

W

W

Porto form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

D

Team News

Mehdi Taremi and Zaidu Sanusi are currently on international duty with Iran and Nigeria respectively, ruling them out of contention for this one.

Ivan Marcano also misses out for the visitors through a knee injury, while midfielder Marko Grujic continues to nurse a muscle problem.

Despite seeing his run of four consecutive matches with a goal come to an end against Rio Ave, Evanilson still remains one to keep an eye on here.

Santa Clara's Vinicius Lopes has found the back of the net in each of his last two appearances and will be looking to deliver the goods once again.

Twenty-five-year-old Diogo Calila is a huge doubt for the home side having missed the draw against Vilaverdense last time out with a slight knock.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista; Henrique, Pacheco, Velazquez; Matheus, Klismahn, Ferreira, Soares; Lopes, Safira, Ricardinho

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Mario, Pepe, Cardoso, Wendell; Varela, Nico; Galeno, Pepe, Conceicao; Evanilson

We say: Santa Clara 1-3 Porto

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