Preview: Santa Clara vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

Porto will be looking to make it five wins from five in November when they travel to Santa Clara for Saturday's Primeira Liga clash.

The Dragons have been in impressive form both domestically and in Europe, but they are still playing catch up on league leaders Sporting Lisbon.

Match preview

Goals from Zaidu Sanusi and Sergio Oliveira earned Porto a 2-0 win away at Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday, leaving them on the brink of a place in the last 16.

It was the Dragons' third successive win in the competition without conceding and they will be confident of seeing the job through in their remaining two matches.

Focus now turns to domestic matters, and despite beating Portimonense 1-0 last time out, Sergio Conceicao's side are down in fourth place in the Primeira Liga.

Porto have dropped too many points on their travels, losing to Pacos de Ferreira and drawing against leaders Sporting in their last two outings, having ended last season with a 2-1 loss at Braga.

Next opponents Santa Clara have been tough to beat on their own patch, meanwhile, going four without defeat before Sporting won 2-1 at Estadio de Sao Miguel last time out.

The Azoreans are eighth in the 18-team division after six matches, one place above where they finished last season.

Daniel Ramos's side have lost their last seven meetings with Porto, however, including 2-0 defeats home and away in 2019-20.

A shock victory this weekend would see Santa Clara, who have a goal difference of zero, draw level on points with their opponents.

What should also be factored in, though, is that Porto had to travel to France to play on Wednesday night, whereas Santa Clara have had a six-day rest period between games.

Santa Clara Primeira Liga form: WDLLWL Santa Clara form (all competitions): DLLWLW

Porto Primeira Liga form: WLDWLW Porto form (all competitions): WLWWWW

Team News

Veteran defender Pepe has been nursing a heel injury and is not expected to play any part against Santa Clara.

Midfielder Mateus Uribe is Porto's only other real fitness doubt and is unlikely to be risked.

Marko Grujic was sent off against Marseille in midweek but remains eligible to feature in domestic matches, though Fabio Vieira may get the nod in midfield on Saturday.

As for the hosts, Crysan and Shahriar Moghanlou have been ruled out through injury, while Nene left the field early in Santa Clara's last game.

Thiago Santana has six goals in seven league matches this season, making him the joint-second top scorer in the division, and is certain to lead the line.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup: Pereira; Ramos, Cardoso, Afonso, Villanueva, Mansur; Lincoln, Carvalho, Rashid, Ukra; Santana

Porto possible starting lineup: Marchesin; Manafa, Mbemba, Sarr, Sanusi; Vieira, Otavio, Oliveira; Corona, Taremi, Marega

We say: Santa Clara 0-2 Porto

Porto have found some form with four wins in a row in all competitions. Santa Clara have lost only one of their last five home matches - against league leaders Sporting - but the visitors will surely have enough firepower to pick up the points this weekend.

Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.