Porto are favourites to return to winning ways in Sunday's Primeira Liga match with SC Farense after losing their unblemished start at defending champions Sporting Lisbon in gameweek four.
This weekend's round five match at Estadio do Dragao against cellar-dwelling opponents gives Vitor Bruno's men the chance to bounce back from their pre-international break loss.
Match preview
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Porto went into gameweek four on a three-match winning streak without conceding a goal but lost their sequence of clean sheets and victories in the 2-0 reverse against the defending champions.
The loss also snapped the Dragons' three-match undefeated sequence against Ruben Amorim's men, following last season's league draw at the Dragao (2-2) and victories in the cup final and curtain raiser at the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
After having a fortnight to mull over that defeat, Bruno hopes his players return to goalscoring form in Sunday's visit of Farense, looking to secure their third home victory of the season to follow wins against Gil Vicente (3-0) and Rio Ave (2-0).
Their winning start on home soil this term offers hope to supporters who saw their club claim just one win at the Dragao in the concluding four matches in their backyard in 2023-24.
They are undoubted favourites to notch success against their winless opponents against whom they have recorded eight straight victories dating to October 2000 and seek a ninth this weekend.
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Farense do not have a prayer heading into Sunday's match for two reasons: their wretched run against Porto and a dispiriting start to this term.
Jose Mota's men are the only side yet to secure a point after four games, with one goal scored and 10 conceded highlighting their issues at both ends of the pitch.
Although last season's 10th-placed side were five points clear of the relegation zone after gameweek 34, this term's start points to a fight for survival if results do not improve after four defeats.
The Lions of Faro face a battle on their hands to convince observers of the possibility of an upswing, given their broader form in 2024 which places them one point above Estoril and Estrela (18 points apiece) among the 15 clubs to play 23 times in 2024.
With Leoes de Faro falling to more defeats than any other side in the top flight in the calendar year (14), another loss is anticipated against a motivated Porto side keen to get back on track after their Sporting defeat.
Team News
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Fabio Vieira has a muscular issue that makes him doubtful for Sunday, while Zaidu Sanusi and Ivan Marcano are still absent due to knee injuries.
Samu Omorodion could start for the first time since joining the club from Atletico Madrid, thus replacing Danny Namaso in the XI.
Wenderson Galeno has netted three times this term and hopes to add to his commendable tally in gameweek five, while Ivan Jaime seeks to improve on his four involvements leading to goals (two goals, two assists).
Luiz Felipe is Farense's only reported absentee, with the midfielder missing due to a severe knee injury.
Only Alex Bermejo Escribano has found the back of the net this season for the bottom side, and the summer arrival hopes for a second start this term on the left side of the away side's attack.
Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Fernandes, Pedro, Perez, Galeno; Sousa, Varela; Pepe, Gonzalez, Jaime; Omorodion
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Morais, Jorge, Africo, Pastor; Barbosa, Neto, Falcao; Millan, Tomane, Escribano
We say: Porto 3-0 SC Farense
Porto are resounding favourites to beat statistically one of the worst sides in the division in 2024, as they look to bounce back from losing to Sporting before the international break.
A side that have let in 10 goals from four games stands little chance at the Dragao, and we are backing the 30-time champions to record a comfortable victory and extend their eight-match winning streak over this weekend's opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
