Portuguese champions Porto will be in action on Friday when they go head to head with high-flying Braga at the Estadio do Dragao in round eight of the Primeira Liga.
Os Arcebispos, who are one of just two sides yet to lose in the league this season, head into the weekend on a run of eight consecutive victories across all competitions and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.
Porto failed to find their feet in their most recent outing as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw with 10-man Estoril Praia when the sides met at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota two Saturdays ago.
In a game where Mor Ndiaye received his marching orders, Tiago Gouveia put the hosts in front with a 41st-minute strike, but Mehdi Taremi kept his cool under pressure as he converted his spot kick in the ninth minute of stoppage time to force a share of the spoils.
This followed a disappointing 4-0 defeat at the hands of Belgian outfit Club Brugge in Group B of the Champions League on September 13 which saw the Dragoes drop to the bottom of the table after losing their opening two matches.
Porto have managed just two wins in their last six games across all competitions — losing three and picking up one draw — and this underwhelming run has been owing to their recent struggles in defence, where they have conceded 10 goals and kept just two clean sheets in that time.
With 16 points from a possible 21, Sergio Conceicao’s side are currently third in the Primeira Liga standings, three points and one place off Friday’s visitors, who have picked up six wins and one draw from their seven outings.
Braga maintained their superb run of results when they cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Vizela at the Estadio Braga Municipal two Sundays ago.
After being kept at bay for most of the game by the dogged Vizelenses’ defence, substitute Vitinha broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute before Ricardo Horta made sure of the result with a 95th-minute strike.
This followed a 1-0 victory over German side Union Berlin on September 15 in Group D of the Europa League, where they are currently tied on six points with second-placed Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Artur Jorge’s men are currently on an eight-game winning streak across all competitions, while they are unbeaten in each of their last 10 outings since a 2-0 defeat against Portimonense when the sides met in July’s pre-season.
Braga boast a 100% record away from home in the Primeira Liga this season, while they are unbeaten in 10 of their 12 away games in the league since the turn of the year, claiming an impressive eight wins and two draws in that time.
Porto Primeira Liga form:
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Porto form (all competitions):
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Braga Primeira Liga form:
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Braga form (all competitions):
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We say: Porto 1-2 Braga
With just three points and one place separating Porto and Braga in the upper echelons of the standings, we anticipate a thrilling contest with both sides taking the game to each other in a bid to come out on top.
Braga head into the weekend as the more in-form side and we are tipping them to edge out the hosts and maintain their 100% record away from home.