Seeking to secure their first set of consecutive victories since August 2021, Santa Clara play host to Porto at the Estadio de Sao Miguel in round 11 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday.
The Portuguese champions, meanwhile, head into the weekend fresh off the back of securing their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League and will be looking to build on that result.
Match preview
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Santa Clara returned to winning ways last weekend as they held firm to see off a resilient Vizela side 1-0 when the teams squared off at the Estadio do FC Vizela.
In a game where Ivanildo Fernandes received an early bath, Torofense loanee Bruno Almeida came up clutch for the visitors as he netted the only goal of the game three minutes away from the full-time whistle.
Mario Silva's side were previously on a five-game winless run across all competitions, claiming one draw and losing four — including a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Segunda Liga side Tondela in round three of the Taca de Portugal on October 15.
The Azoreans have now picked up two wins, two draws and lost six of their opening 10 league matches to collect eight points and sit 16th in the Primeira Liga standings, only above Pacos de Ferreira and Maritimo, who are yet to taste victory this season.
While Santa Clara will be looking to build on last weekend's result and secure consecutive wins for the first time since August 2021, standing in their way is a Porto side who have won each of the last 10 league meetings between the teams since December 2018.
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Sergio Conceicao's side, on the other hand, turned in a performance of the highest quality in the Champions League when they steamrolled Club Brugge 4-0 in Belgium on Wednesday.
In a one-sided affair at the Bruges' Jan Breydel Stadium, goals from Evanilson, Stephen Eustaquio and a brace from 30-year-old striker Mehdi Taremi put the hosts to the sword.
Having kicked off their European campaign with two consecutive defeats, Porto have now turned things around, winning each of their subsequent three outings to rise to second place in Group B, one point off top spot.
They now turn their sights to the Primeira Liga where they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of rivals Benfica last Friday, when Rafa Silva got on the score sheet to hand As Aguias a deserved victory.
Prior to that, the Portuguese champions were on a run of five consecutive league games without defeat, claiming four wins and one draw while netting 12 goals and keeping three clean sheets in that time.
With 22 points from 10 games, Porto are currently third in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with second-placed Braga and six points adrift of first-placed Benfica, who are the only side yet to lose a league match this season.
Next up for the Dragoes is the challenge of taking on a Santa Clara side who have lost just two league games at home in 2022, claiming six wins and six draws from their 14 matches since the turn of the year.
Team News
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Santa Clara will take to the pitch without Paulo Henrique, who is set to sit out his fourth consecutive game after coming off injured in September's game against Pacos de Ferreira.
Os Acoreanos will also make do without the services of experienced midfielder Costinha, who continued his long road to full fitness after picking up an ACL injury in August 2021.
Meanwhile, Porto will take to the pitch without Canadian midfielder Eustaquio, who will serve his domestic suspension for picking up a red card against Benfica last Friday.
In his absence, 25-year-old Bruno Costa could be thrown into the fray, teaming up with Matheus Uribe, Otavio and former Liverpool man Marko Grujic at the centre of the park.
On the injury front, the Dragoes will be without veteran defender Pepe, who has missed the last five matches after coming off injured in the game against Bayer Leverkusen on October 4.
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Batista; Sagna, Gonzalez, Boateng, Fagundes; Bobsin, Almeida, Firmino; Ricardinho, Tagawa, Silva
Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Conceicao, Cardoso, Carmo, Sanusi; Otavio, Costa, Grujic, Uribe; Evanilson, Taremi
We say: Santa Clara 0-2 Porto
While Santa Clara will be looking to build on last week's victory over Vizela, they face a rampant Porto side who will head into the weekend with sky-high confidence, following their Champions League win in Bruges. We predict a one-sided affair at the Estadio de Sao Miguel with the visitors easing to all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
