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Sports Mole previews Saturday's Primeira Liga clash between Porto and Rio Ave, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Unblemished Porto return to Primeira Liga action against Rio Ave on Saturday seeking a third straight victory at Estadio do Dragao.

Vítor Bruno has had an encouraging start to life since his promotion to the head coach role, and the former assistant aims for another triumph in gameweek three against an opponent that has beaten them once in the last 10 meetings.

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Match preview

Porto only needed 25 minutes to effectively seal their second game of the season at Santa Clara following goals from Ivan Jaime (16) and Wanderson Galeno (25) to edge ahead in the game's opening half-hour.

It stayed that way for the Dragons despite Adriano Firmino's sending-off with 25 of the 90 to play, with Bruno's men choosing control over adding to their advantage.

The upshot of gameweek two's victory means the 30-time champions are unblemished heading into their third league match of 2024-25, scoring five and keeping consecutive clean sheets.

One of five clubs to win their opening two games, along with Sporting, Famalicao, Moreirense and Vitoria, Porto seek to continue their strong start on Saturday, keen to clinch a third win to follow successes against Sporting (Portuguese Super Cup), Gil Vicente and Santa Clara.

However, they were held to a goalless encounter in the corresponding fixture last season, an outcome they seek to avoid this weekend.

Rio Ave will hope to showcase the battling qualities that saw them hold the Blue and Whites to a scoreless match at the Dragao in February despite facing 24 shots.

Luis Freire masterminded the point several months back and is still in situ for a Rioavistas side looking to notch back-to-back wins after last week's 1-0 success over Farense.

Despite being out-shot on home turf, Patrick William netted the game's only goal just after the half-hour to seal success for Freire's men, thus bouncing back from the opening-day defeat at Sporting.

Facing another possible title contender on the road presents another challenging trip for the Vila do Conde outfit, and they hope for a repeat of last season's corresponding encounter.

That is easier said than done given the precedent in this fixture, with Rio Ave losing six of the last 10 encounters, including two of the past three (one draw).

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Team News

With no new injury worries for Porto, Ivan Marcano and Zaidu Sanusi (both have knee injuries) are anticipated to be the home side's absentees.

Jaime and Galeno have notched two goals each heading into gameweek three, and both players seek to add to their respective tallies even if the left-back's strikes have come from 12 yards.

Miguel Nobrega is touch-and-go for Rio Ave, with the away side otherwise having nearly everyone else available.

Tiago Morais is pushing for a start in the forward areas at Ole Pohlmann's expense after an encouraging final half-hour against Farense.

Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Fernandes, Pedro, Otavio, Galeno; Gonzalez, Varela; Jaime, Sousa, Namaso; Navarro

Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Pantalon, Santos, William; Tome, Oudrhiri, Novais, Vrousai; Bondoso, Clayton, Morais

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We say: Porto 3-0 Rio Ave

While Rio Ave may have secured a draw in this fixture last season, Porto's momentum under Bruno and their free-scoring nature points to a fairly comfortable success at the Dragao to seal a third straight league victory and fourth in all competitions.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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