Preview: Vitoria de Guimaraes vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides are going into the encounter on the back of league defeats, with Vitoria losing at Moreirense and the away side suffering a shock home defeat to relegation-threatened Estoril.

Match preview

After being handed their second away defeat in four games, Alvaro Pacheco — who has been in the job since the start of October — will welcome a return to Guimaraes this weekend as the home side welcome league-chasing Porto.

Last weekend's 76th-minute concession at Moreirense means Vitoria have won one game in four on the road, a statistic threatening to undermine their European aspirations.

By contrast, the Conquerors have claimed four victories in five matches on their turf, scoring 13 times — only Sporting Lisbon and Sporting Braga (both 14) have more in the top half — and conceding five.

The only defeat suffered by Pacheco's men was a surprising 2-1 loss against Portimonense, but the fifth-placed side have gone on to win back-to-back matches at home leading up to round 11's encounter.

Porto are the first of the big three to visit Vitoria this term, and the hosts are keen to make a statement on Saturday.

Sergio Conceicao's men, on the other hand, aim to avoid a European hangover as they seek a response to last week's shock 1-0 loss to Estoril at the Dragao.

Porto should have taken the lead through Mehdi Taremi, but the forward's sixth-minute failure was the start of the home side botching a series of promising scoring chances.

Conceicao's men responded with a 2-0 victory over Royal Antwerp in the Champions League on Tuesday and are keen to return to winning ways in the league.

With six points already separating Porto from league-leading Sporting, the Dragons need success on Saturday to possibly close the gap on Ruben Amorim's men, who travel to second-placed Benfica on Sunday night.

The visitors have secured better results away from home — winning 12 points from 15 — and they should back themselves to make that 15 from 18 against a side that gives little away on their ground.

Vitoria de Guimaraes Primeira Liga form:

L

D

W

W

W

L

Vitoria de Guimaraes form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

L

Porto Primeira Liga form:

W

W

L

W

W

L

Porto form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

L

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

Mikel Villanueva's foot injury could keep him out of Saturday's game with Porto, but Telmo Arcanjo's cruciate ligament tear rules out the Cape Verde international.

Tomas Handel and Bruno Gasper will be assessed by Vitoria, who are expected to utilise a 3-4-2-1.

Pepe became the Champions League's oldest goalscorer (40 days and 254 days old) with his goal against Antwerp, and the centre-back should keep his spot in the away side's defence.

Conceicao has several players out injured, with the Dragons without Samuel Portugal, Wenderson Galeno, Wendell, Ivan Jaime, Ivan Marcano and Gabriel Veron.

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:

Varela; Fernandes, Silva, Ribeiro; Gasper, Handel, Silva, Mangas; Silva, Mendes; Silva

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Sanchez, Pepe, Carmo, Mario; Conceicao, Eustaquio, Varela, Pepe; Taremi, Evanilson

We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-2 Porto

Saturday's clash between these two clubs could be a high-scoring affair, with Porto ultimately edging it by a solitary goal.

Previews by email