Porto will journey to Arouca on Monday seeking three factors to revive their title problem, as they presently lag behind the highest two groups in Portugal.
Arouca, however, will probably be aiming for his or her fourth consecutive victory, having scored 9 targets of their final three matches.
Match Preview
Final week, Porto dropped factors at dwelling towards Rio Ave, settling for a goalless draw after having two targets disallowed and a penalty overturned by VAR. This allowed Sporting CP and Benfica to take care of their lead within the Primeira Liga.
Though Porto’s unbeaten streak prolonged to eight video games in all competitions, they continue to be in third place, trailing Benfica by six factors and Sporting by 4.
Within the midweek Taca de Portugal quarter-final match towards Santa Clara, the sport was deserted on account of heavy rain, resulting in a rescheduling on the finish of February.
This provides to Porto’s already congested schedule, as they may even resume their Champions League marketing campaign later this month with a last-16 conflict towards Arsenal.
Nevertheless, Porto’s focus now turns again to the league, the place they’ve received seven out of ten away matches up to now.
They’ve additionally remained undefeated of their final seven Primeira Liga conferences with Arouca since 2016, outscoring them by a margin of 19-2. Subsequently, Porto is taken into account the favourite to win.
Nonetheless, Porto would possibly face a problem from their modest neighbors. Within the reverse fixture in September, Arouca held Porto to a 1-1 draw at Estadio Do Dragao, with Evanilson equalizing in stoppage time after Cristo Gonzalez opened the scoring.
Arouca has been performing properly within the Primeira Liga, presently sitting seventh with three consecutive wins. Their most up-to-date victory was a 2-1 win over Portimonense, with Rafa Mujica and Matias Rocha discovering the online.
Now, Arouca faces the problem of internet hosting Porto at Estadio Municipal de Arouca, the place they’ve received solely three out of ten dwelling matches within the Primeira Liga whereas conceding greater than a aim per recreation.
Arouca Primeira Liga kind:
W L L W W W
Arouca kind (all competitions):
L L L W W W
Porto Primeira Liga kind:
W D W W W D
Porto kind (all competitions):
D W W W W D
Group Information
Porto’s star striker Mehdi Taremi might return to the squad after Iran’s exit from the Asian Cup. Nevertheless, full-back Zaidu Sanusi continues to be away with Nigeria on the Africa Cup of Nations and won’t be obtainable.
Lengthy-term absentee Ivan Marcano can also be dominated out, however midfielder Marko Grujic might get better from a muscular drawback and take part in Monday’s recreation.
Evanilson is Porto’s high scorer within the league this season with eight targets, whereas Rafa Mujica leads Arouca with 12 targets. They may each function within the match, alongside Cristo Gonzalez and Jason.
Arouca will probably be with out Brazilian duo Quaresma and Vitinho on account of harm, and January signing Yanis Hamache can also be coping with a muscular concern.
Arouca potential beginning lineup:
De Arruabarrena;
Esgaio, Bambu, Rocha, Weverson;
Simao, Santos;
Jason, Gonzalez, Sylla;
Mujica
Porto potential beginning lineup:
Costa;
Mario, Cardoso, Pepe, Wendell;
Varela, Nico;
Conceicao, Pepe, Galeno;
Evanilson
Prediction: Arouca 1-2 Porto
Whereas Arouca has confirmed to be a powerful opponent, Porto has a historical past of defeating their regional rivals and will probably be motivated to bounce again from latest setbacks. A slender away win is the probably consequence.