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

The reigning champions head into the weekend on a run of three consecutive victories against the home side and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

Vizela got their 2022-23 Primeira Liga campaign off to a flying start as they claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over newly-promoted Rio Ave when the sides squared off last Saturday.

Following an uneventful first half at the Estadio dos Arcos, substitute Nuno Moreira made his mark off the bench as he grabbed the only goal of the game six minutes after the hour mark.

This followed an unconvincing pre-season campaign where the Vizelenses lost their first four outings before claiming a 2-1 victory over Pacos de Ferreira in their final friendly game on July 30.

Alvaro Pacheco's side now return to their home turf where they are on a run of just one win from their last six games in the Primeira Liga, losing twice and claiming three draws since the start of February.

On the other hand, Porto kicked off their title defence off to a bang as they picked up a resounding 5-1 home victory over Maritimo in their league curtain-raiser last Saturday.

Goals from Evanilson, Ivan Marcano, Toni Martinez and a brace from Mehdi Taremi put the Dragoes on their way to all three points before Claudio Winck grabbed an 88th-minute consolation.

Prior to that, Sergio Conceicao's side picked up a record-extending 23rd Portuguese Supertaca crown as they brushed aside Tondela 3-0 when the sides locked horns in the final on July 30.

Porto have now won each of their last nine games across all competitions, scoring an impressive 26 goals and conceding six since a slender 1-0 defeat at the hands of Braga on April 25.

Next up for the reigning champions is a trip to the Estadio do FC Vizela, where they take on an opposing side who have lost each of the last three meetings between the teams since December 2021.

Vizela Primeira Liga form:

Vizela form (all competitions):

Porto Primeira Liga form:

Porto form (all competitions):

Team News

Off the back of a solid defensive performance in their league opener, we expect to see an unchanged back four of Tomas Silva, Anderson, Bruno Wilson and Kiki Afonso shielding Fabijan Buntic in goal.

At the centre of the park, Pacheco could call upon the services of Raphael Guzzo, 21-year-old Alex Mendez and Portuguese midfielder Samu, who registered seven goal involvements in 30 league appearances last season.

Moreira staked his claim for a place in the starting XI as he came off the bench to grab the all-important goal against Rio Ave and the 23-year-old could potentially come in for Nigerian forward Monsuru Opeyemi, who failed to make his mark on his debut.

Taremi picked up where he dropped off last season as he netted a brace to hand Porto an emphatic opening-day victory and the 30-year-old striker should lead the visitors in attack once again.

He should be joined in the final third by Brazilian international Wenderson Galeno and strike partner Evanilson, who scored 14 goals and provided four assists in 30 Primeira Liga games last season.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Conceicao should stick with his familiar back four of Joao Mario, Pepe, Marcano and Zaidu Sanusi, with Marko Grujic and Mateus Uribe teaming up at the centre of the park.

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Silva, Anderson, Wilson, Afonso; Mendez, Guzzo, Samu; Bondoso, Moreira, Zohi

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Mario, Pepe, Marcano, Sanusi; Pepe, Grujic, Uribe, Loader; Taremi, Evanilson

We say: Vizela 0-3 Porto

While Vizela will be looking to make it two wins from their opening two games, they face a rampant Porto side who have flown out of the blocks this season. The visitors have comfortably won the previous three meetings between the sides and we anticipate this trend will continue, with the Vizelenses being on the receiving end of another heavy defeat.

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