Portugal Primeira Liga - Match Prediction: FC Porto VS Vitoria Guimaraes

Match Time：4/23/2021 04:00 Friday  (GMT+8)

Portugal Primeira Liga --  FC Porto   VS   Vitoria Guimaraes

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Porto will be aiming to maintain their winning run in the Primeira Liga when they host Vitoria de Guimaraes at Estadio do Dragao on Thursday night.

 

The Dragons have won six in a row to keep the pressure on leaders Sporting Lisbon, while Guimaraes ended a losing streak last time out to move into sixth.

 

Match preview

Since losing 3-2 to Pacos de Ferreira on October 30, Porto's league record has been pretty extraordinary, winning 16 and drawing five in an unbeaten run spanning 21 games.

 

Unfortunately for Sergio Conceicao's side, though, Sporting have been in even better form over that period, going 27 matches since last tasting defeat in the league.

 

Sporting did recently draw a couple of games in a row, however, whereas Porto have not dropped any points in their last six matches.

 

That leaves the gap at the top at six points in Sporting's favour, and there is nothing to separate the sides in terms of head-to-head record - both league games finishing level.

 

All Porto can do is keep winning, then, and hope for further slip-ups from the pacesetters in their quest for back-to-back league crowns.

 

The 1-0 win at Nacional last time out was not the most convincing, though Mehdi Taremi's 20th-minute goal proved enough in the end.

 

Guimaraes make the trip to Estadio do Dragao on the back of a 1-0 win of their own thanks to a Rochinha strike at home to Santa Clara.

 

That brought an end to a five-game losing streak for the Vimaranenses - a terrible run that has ended any realistic possibility of a top-four finish.

 

It also cost Joao Henriques his job, yet Guimaraes still occupy sixth place, which would be enough for a Europa Conference League second-qualifying round spot.

 

Guimaraes have Santa Clara in hot pursuit just three points behind, and they still have to face Moreirense, who are a further point back.

 

The visitors earned a point away at Benfica in February, and were only beaten by a late goal in the reverse fixture with Porto, so this will by no means be a straightforward task for the reigning champions.

 

Porto Primeira Liga form:

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Porto form (all competitions):

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Vitoria de Guimaraes Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

Following their recent Champions League quarter-final loss to Chelsea, Porto can now focus entirely on their Primeira Liga title pursuit.

 

Conceicao has near enough a full group of players to choose from, too, with backup goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye the hosts' only known absentee.

 

Nanu is pushing Manafa for a starting spot at right-back, but that aside it is unlikely that Porto will make many - if any - changes to their side.

 

As for Guimaraes, they have been without the injured Ricardo Quaresma of late and that is expected to still be the case here.

 

The visitors brought in Bino as Henriques's replacement and he has opted for a 3-4-3 formation so far, which will also likely be the case here.

 

In fact, Guimaraes may go with the same XI after beating Santa Clara on Saturday, meaning Rochinha and Marcus Edwards flanking Oscar Estupinan up top.

 

Porto possible starting lineup:

Marchesin; Nanu, Mbemba, Pepe, Sanusi; Uribe, Grujic, Oliveira; Corona, Taremi, Diaz

 

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:

Varela; Fernandes, Amaro, Mumin; Sacko, Pepelu, Andre, Mensah; Edwards, Estupinan, Rochinha

 

Porto vs Vitoria de Guimaraes

Porto 2-0 Vitoria de Guimaraes