Preview: Porto vs. Gil Vicente - prediction, team news, lineups

Porto will look to extend their unbeaten run in Primeira Liga to 18 matches when they welcome Gil Vicente to Estadio do Dragao on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, are hoping to pick up points on their travels for the first time this season after losing their opening two away league games.

Match preview

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After relinquishing their league title to rivals Benfica last term, Porto have made an encouraging start to the new campaign, winning five and drawing one of their opening five matches in Primeira Liga.

Sergio Conceicao's side got up and running with three consecutive 2-1 victories over Moreirense, Farense and Rio Ave, before they snatched a point in their home meeting with Arouca courtesy of Evanilson's stoppage-time equaliser.

They continued their unbeaten start to the season last weekend when Mehdi Taremi scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 away win over newly-promoted Estrela, ensuring that Porto finished matchday five in third position and level on 13 points with second-placed Sporting Lisbon and surprise league leaders Boavista.

Taremi was on target again in midweek as Porto began their Champions League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in a game which saw Galeno net two goals and register an assist.

With Porto set to face potential title rivals Benfica next Friday, they want to continue to build momentum by recording a third straight win in all competitions this weekend.

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Gil Vicente have experienced an entertaining start to the season, which began with a dominant 5-0 home victory over Portimonense.

They were quickly brought down to earth by a run of three straight defeats against Vitoria Guimaraes, Benfica and Vizela, but they made sure that they could not be beaten last weekend, as they racked up five goals to beat Estoril in an eight-goal thriller.

Pedro Tiba, Maxime Dominguez, Murilo, Felix Correia and Depu all got on the scoresheet to guide Gil Vicente to a 5-3 win, which moved them up to ninth position.

After recording their second league win of the season, they will now head on their travels, where they will attempt to end a run of eight consecutive away defeats in the top flight.

However, Gil Vicente can draw inspiration from the fact that their last away win took place against Porto in February when they came from behind to secure a memorable 2-1 victory.

Team News

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Marcano is likely to miss the remainder of the season after he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Porto's 1-0 league win against Estrela.

Evanilson and Gabriel Veron are also in the treatment room, while Zaidu Sanusi is a doubt after being forced off at half time of Tuesday's Champions League win over Shakhtar.

Wendell replaced the left-back in the midweek contest, and the Brazilian is on stand-by if Zaidu is unable to take his place in the side.

As for Gil Vicente, they remain without the services of long-term injury absentees Stanislav Kritsyuk and Ali Alipour.

After finding the net on their first starts for the club, Correia and Depu are expected to retain their places in the side for the away meeting with Porto.

Mory Gbane has dropped down to the bench for the last two matches, but the French midfielder is in contention to feature in Saturday's starting lineup.

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Mario, Pepe, Camro, Wendell; Nico, Varela, Eustaquio; Jaime, Galeno, Taremi

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:

Andrew; Ze Carlos, Pereira, Fernandes, Buta; Gbane, Tiba, Murilo, Dominguez, Correia; Depu

We say: Porto 3-1 Gil Vicente

Porto may have lost to Gil Vicente in their previous meeting, but we think that it is unlikely that history will repeat itself with the hosts currently enjoying a fine run of form.

After winning four of their five league games, we believe that Porto will showcase their firepower to get the better of a Gil Vicente side who have suffered seven straight defeats on their travels in Primeira Liga.

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