Porto get their quest for a first-ever Taca da Liga title underway when they take a trip to the Estadio de Sao Miguel to face Santa Clara on Tuesday.

The hosts, meanwhile, were held to a 2-2 draw by Rio Ave in their group opener on September 22 and will be looking to pick up their first win of the new campaign.

Match preview

Santa Clara continue to struggle for form in the Primeira Liga as they suffered a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Famalicao when the sides squared off over the weekend.

In a game where both sides finished with 10 men, French forward Simon Banza broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time before making sure of the result from the penalty spot nine minutes after the interval.

Santa Clara have now failed to taste victory in each of their last five league outings, drawing two and losing three since claiming their first league victory when they saw off Gil Vicente 1-0 back in August.

Nuno Campos's men currently sit in 17th place in the Primeira Liga table, level on six points with Arouca and two points behind rock-bottom Belenenses, and this poor run of results has been owing to their frailties at both ends of the pitch as they have scored six goals while shipping 18.

Santa Clara now turn their sights to the Taca da Liga where they are currently level on points with Segunda Liga side Rio Ave in Group D after both sides played out a 2-2 draw in September's group curtain-raiser.

While Os Acoreano will be looking to move to the top of the group standings, they face the daunting task of going up against an opposing side who they have lost against in each of the most recent eight meetings between the sides across all competitions.

Porto continued their charge to unseat reigning Primeira Liga champions Sporting Lisbon last time out when they came from behind to claim a thrilling 3-1 victory over 10-man Tondela.

In a riveting contest at the Estadio Joao Cardoso, after falling behind to Neto Borges's fourth-minute strike, Mehdi Taremi took matters into his own hands as he netted a hat-trick to turn the game around and hand the visitors their seventh win of the season.

Sergio Conceicao's side will look to kick on as they head to the Taca da Liga, where they suffered a semi-final exit last term following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Although Porto have made it all the way to the final on three different occasions, they are yet to taste success in the tournament after losing to Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Braga on each occasion.

The Dragoes, who are unbeaten away from home since March 9 when they lost 3-2 versus Juventus in the Champions League, will look to keep the juggernaut rolling and get their League Cup campaign off to a flyer.

Team News

Campos will be unable to call upon the services of 29-year-old midfielder Costinha, after the Brazilian sustained an Achilles' tendon injury in the clash against Moreirense back in August.

Pierre Sagna will also play no part in the game after the Senegalese defender was hauled off the pitch with a 64th-minute injury in the game against Braga a little under one month ago.

Portuguese midfielder Ruben Oliveira is also out of contention as he continues his long journey to full fitness after picking up a severe injury back in May's clash against Farense.

Meanwhile, following a fine performance off the bench against Tondela last time out, Fabio Vieira has now registered four assists this season and the midfielder could be rewarded with his third start of the season.

Mehdi Taremi took his goal tally to eight across all competitions with his hat-trick in the aforementioned game and we expect the 29-year-old forward to handle business at the attacking end of the pitch.

However, Porto will once again have to cope without the services of Wendell after the Brazilian full-back sustained a knee injury against Pacos de Ferreira three weeks ago.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Rodrigues, Gonzalez, Henrique, Mansur; Carvalho, Morita; Costa, Lincoln, Patric; Crysan

Porto possible starting lineup:
Marchesin; Corona, Pepe, Mbemba, Sanusi; Otavio, Oliveira, Uribe, Diaz; Martinez, Taremi

We say: Santa Clara 0-2 Porto

Santa Clara have struggled to hit their stride in the new season and head into Tuesday's game with two wins from their last 10 outings in all competitions. They face a rampant Porto side who have won their last four games on the trot, scoring 11 goals and conceding two in that time. Looking at the gulf in class and quality between the two sides, we anticipate Porto will come out victorious on Tuesday and heap more misery on the hosts.

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