Porto get the Primeira Liga weekend underway when they welcome bottom-of-the-table Estoril Praia to the Estadio do Dragao on Friday night.

Sergio Conceicao's side have responded well to defeat against bitter rivals Benfica at the end of September by keeping pace at the top.

Match preview

As there is very little room for error in the Primeira Liga, champions are usually crowned after a season of near-perfection, and despite a largely perfect start for Porto, they still find themselves three points adrift.

However, after a second defeat of the season to Benfica, having already lost in the Super Cup to them, Porto have remained in touch with Sporting Lisbon, who are the current unbeaten leaders.

Porto will be back on home soil here after three straight away games in three separate competitions since the international break, matches where they claimed victory in each.

The most eye-catching of those successes was unquestionably in the Champions League against Antwerp, as Conceicao's side rallied back from a goal down at half time to thrash the Belgians 4-1.

Consecutive 2-0 wins domestically in league and cup came either side of that European win, and they will be heavily fancied to keep that winning streak going here.

Given Estoril's form this season, and no big games on the horizon domestically until they face Sporting in mid-December, Conceicao may give more focus to the Champions League over the next month as they are in a great position to qualify having won two of their first three group games.

Estoril will be hoping for a minor miracle and for Porto to underestimate them because on paper this looks like a real mismatch, as the visitors are winless in the league in two-and-a-half months.

Cup competitions have provided momentary respite for Vasco Seabra, but the manager has lost all three league games since taking over in late September.

Despite winning all four of their cup matches so far this season, Estoril have been unable to take any of that form or confidence into league matters.

Since beating Rio Ave on matchday two, the Canaries have taken just one point from a possible 21, and last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Portimonense kept them bottom for another week.

They are unlikely to move from the foot of the table here, and they also face Braga in the next two weeks as the fixtures continue to get tougher.

Estoril's chances at the Dragao look even slimmer when their past record against Porto is examined, as they have beaten their upcoming opponents just once in 28 meetings.

That came back in 2014 when current defender Eliaquim Mangala was sent off for the Dragoes, and future Porto player Evandro netted a late winner.

A draw at home to Porto last season was an excellent result, but they have lost 10 of the other 11 previous meetings between the sides.

Team News

Porto have a lengthy injury list heading into this one and ahead of an important Champions League game next midweek.

Galeno missed the win at Vizela last weekend with a muscle injury and is a doubt for this one, while the same issue is currently keeping Brazilian compatriot Gabriel Veron out.

Wendell, Ivan Jaime and Zaidu Sanusi are all also out with similar muscular problems, and their returns are edging nearer, but Ivan Marcano is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Since returning from an injury of his own, Evanilson has been in phenomenal form, scoring five in five games, despite only starting twice.

Evanilson's hat-trick against Antwerp in the Champions League last week was the first scored by a Porto player in the competition since Yacine Brahimi in 2014, and he joined Mohamed Salah on the list of players to complete the feat from off the bench.

Former Porto defender Mangala is the only absentee for Estoril coming into this clash, as the Frenchman has missed the last eight matches.

Changes are likely after another disappointing performance last weekend with Seabra still seeking his first league win with the club.

One of the players to come in could be Joao Marques, who, despite recording five goal contributions already this season, cannot get into the starting XI and has been a substitute in the last three league games.

Porto possible starting lineup:
Diogo Costa; Joao Mario, Jose Pedro, David Carmo, Andre Franco; Pepe, Nico, Grujic, Francisco Conceicao; Evanilson, Taremi

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Marcelo Carne; Vital, Volnei Freitas, Pedro Alvaro; Rodrigo Gomes, Mateus Fernandes, Holsgrove, Tiago Araujo; Guitane, A Marques, Joao Marques

We say: Porto 3-0 Estoril Praia

Porto are huge favourites to claim another comfortable victory, and even if Conceicao makes a few changes with the Antwerp game in mind, they should still stroll to three points here.

Having not tasted success in the league for almost three months, the Dragao is not the best place to go hunting for a win to end that barren run, and it could be another long night for Estoril here.


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