Primeira Liga newcomers AVS will be looking to move into the top half of the table when they play host to Porto at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves on Monday.

The Dragoes have enjoyed a near-perfect start to the season, claiming 21 points from the first 24 available to sit second in the table, three points off leaders Sporting Lisbon.

Match preview

AVS picked up a dream start to their Taca de Portugal campaign as they secured a 2-0 victory over Campeonato de Portugal side Sandinenses at the Campo Jogos D. Maria Teresa last Sunday.

Following a relatively uneventful first half, Ze Luis converted from the penalty spot three minutes after the break to put the visitors ahead before John Mercado doubled the lead with a 66th-minute strike.

Head coach Vitor Campelos will hope that the cup victory can serve as a catalyst for a fine run of form in the league, where they are on a three-game winless run and have had a topsy-turvy start to their top-flight debut.

Following a 1-0 victory over Rio Ave on September 14, AVS fell to a 3-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on September 22 before playing out consecutive stalemates against Farense and Arouca in their two October outings so far.

The Vila das Aves outfit, who secured promotion from the second tier via the playoffs last term, have won two of their eight Primeira Liga matches so far while losing three and claiming three draws to collect nine points and sit 12th in the table, level on points with 11th-placed Estoril Praia.

Porto, on the other hand, secured their first win of the Europa League campaign on Thursday as they edged out German side Hoffenheim 2-0 when the two teams squared off at the Estadio do Dragao.  

Tiago Djalo opened the scoring on the stroke of half time to hand the hosts a first-half advantage before summer signing Samuel Omorodion hit the target in the 75th minute to make sure of the result.

Porto had kicked off their Europa League journey on September 25, when they fell to a somewhat disappointing 3-2 loss against Bodo/Glimt at the Aspmyra Stadion, one week before playing out a 3-3 stalemate with Manchester United on home turf.

Prior to the midweek victory over Hoffenheim, the Dragoes booked their spot in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal courtesy of a 3-0 win over Campeonato de Portugal outfit Sintrense on October 20 thanks to goals from Wanderson Galeno, Ivan Jaime and Djalo.

After two consecutive cup outings, Vitor Bruno's men now return to action in the Primeira Liga where they have won each of their last four matches, scoring 11 goals and keeping two clean sheets since the start of September.

Off the back of a fourth-placed finish in the 2023-24 campaign, Porto have won all but one of their eight games to start the new season, with a 2-0 defeat against rivals Sporting Lisbon on August 31 being the exception.

Team News

AVS will take to the pitch without the services of 20-year-old goalkeeper Lucas Moura, who has been sidelined since picking up a severe shoulder injury back in March.  

Barring any late fitness issues, Moura should be the only absentee for the home side on Monday and we expect to see a back four of Fernando Fonseca, Jorge Teixeira, Cristian Devenish and former Vizela man Kiki Afonso.

Gustavo Assuncao and Jaume Grau should form the two-man midfield pivot while we should see an attacking quarter of Mercado, Luis Silva, Rodrigo Ribeiro and Inter Milan loanee Issiaka Kamate.

Porto, on the other hand, remain without the services of 27-year-old defender Zaidu Sanusi, who has been sidelined since February after sustaining an ACL injury.

Ivan Marcano is the second player in the Dragoes' squad dealing with an ACL injury, and the 37-year-old, who has been out of action since mid-September, will also play no part in Monday's clash.

Having recently recovered from a muscle problem, Fran Navarro was an unused substitute against Hoffenheim in midweek, but the Spanish striker could return to action at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves.

With his strike in the aforementioned game, Omorodion now has eight goals in eight matches across all competitions since joining from Atletico Madrid in the summer and the 20-year-old will be one to keep an eye on.

AVS possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Fonseca, Teixeira, Devenish, Afonso; Assuncao, Grau; Mercado, Silva, Ribeiro; Kamate

Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Mario, Ze Pedro, Perez, Moura; Eustaquio, Varela; Pepe; Gonzalez, Galeno; Omorodion

We say: AVS 0-3 Porto

Porto have picked up two impressive cup victories since their last league outing and will be licking their lips as they take on an inexperienced AVA side who have struggled to impose themselves in the top flight.

While AVS can take pride in their start to life in the big leagues and will look to cause an upset on Monday, they are no match for Bruno's men, who we are backing to come away with all three points unscathed.

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