Seeking to maintain their 100% start to the new league campaign, Porto play host to Arouca at the Estadio do Dragao in round four of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.
The Arouquenses head into the weekend on a run of six back-to-back defeats against the home side and will be looking to end this poor run.
Match preview
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Porto made it three wins from their opening three matches of the new Primeira Liga campaign as they came from behind to edge out a resilient Rio Ave side 1-0 last Tuesday.
Following a goalless first half at the Estádio dos Arcos, Costinha struck in the 52nd minute to put the hosts in front, but stoppage-time goals from Wenderson Galeno and Ivan Marcano turned the game on its head in dramatic fashion.
Prior to that, Porto kicked off the season with a 2-0 loss against Benfica in the Portuguese Super Cup on August 9, before claiming successive league victories over newly-promoted Moreirense and Farense respectively.
With Tuesday's result, Sergio Conceicao's men have now won each of their last 12 Primeira Liga matches since a goalless draw with Braga at the Estadio Municipal Braga on March 19.
Next up for Porto is an opposing side who have lost each of their last eight meetings across all competitions, stretching back to a 2-1 victory in February 2016.
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Arouca have enjoyed a respective start to the 2023-24 Primeira Liga campaign, picking up one win and two draws from their opening three games to sit sixth in the table.
Daniel Ramos's men kicked off the season with a pulsating 4-3 victory over Estoril Praia at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca on August 13, with Pedro Santos netting a 96th-minute winner to see off the visitors.
The Arouquenses played out a 2-2 draw with Vizela at the Estadio do FC Vizela one week later before coming from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with Portimonense last Saturday.
Arouca head into the weekend unbeaten in five of their six games across all competitions this season, picking up two draws and three wins, including a 2-0 victory over Rio Ave in the Taca da Liga qualifiers on July 30.
Their only defeat came on August 17, when they were beaten 3-1 by Brann in the second leg of the Europa Conference League qualifiers, which saw their hopes of European football come to an end.
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Team News
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Porto will take to the pitch without the attacking duo of Evanilson and Gabriel Veron, who continue their spells on the sidelines through thigh and muscle injuries respectively.
They are joined on the Dragoes injury table by 23-year-old midfielder Romario Baro, who missed the last two games after picking up a muscle problem against Moreirense on August 14.
Spanish midfielder Ivan Jamie, who registered 12 goal involvements for Famalicao last season, recently completed a move to Porto but is also ruled out of this weekend's clash through injury.
As for Arouca, Ramos will be unable to call upon the services of Brazilian forward Vitinho, who continues his long journey to full fitness after suffering a knee problem last October.
American striker Benji Michel suffered an ACL injury in the 1-0 defeat against Porto when the sides met back in May and the 25-year-old remains ruled out for the Arouquenses.
Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Mario, Pepe, Marcano, Sanusi; Eustaquio, Gonzalez; Pepe, Martinez, Galeno; Namaso
Arouca possible starting lineup:
Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Galovic, Opoku, Correia; Jason, Simao, Santos, Sylla; Gonzalez, Mujica
We say: Porto 2-0 Arouca
Porto were pushed to the limit by Rio Ave on Monday and should expect another stern test against a well-drilled Arouca side. However, Conceicao's men boast the firepower needed to get the job done and we fancy them extending their winning streak against the Arouquenses.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
