Porto take on Cardiff City in a pre-season friendly at the Estadio Algarve on Saturday evening.
The Portuguese side are looking to get up to speed ahead of another season where they will be aiming to win the Primeira Liga title, while Cardiff are preparing for a campaign in the Championship.
Match preview
© Reuters
Porto came very close to winning the Primeira Liga last season, finishing in second place, just two points behind Benfica after winning their final nine games of the league season, but a slow start to the campaign ultimately ended up costing them.
That said, the Dragons did still experience some success last season, winning the Taca de Portugal in June, defeating Braga 2-0 in the final at the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon.
Having already won three league titles as manager of the Estadio do Dragao outfit, Sergio Conceicao knows what it takes to win major silverware, and he will be hoping his side can continue their solid form from the back end of the previous campaign.
Porto have only played one pre-season game up to this point, recording a 2-0 victory against Portimonense, and they are now set for another test, taking on Cardiff City for the first time since 1968.
Indeed, it has been a long time since Cardiff came up against Saturday's opponents, losing 2-1 in the UEFA European Cup Winners Cup way back in October 1968 in the last meeting, but their pre-season tour of Portugal means they are set to lock horns again.
The Bluebirds have already taken on Braga at the Estadio Municipal de Lagos, losing 1-0 against the Taca de Portugal finalists in what was a closely-fought encounter, with Simon Banza scoring the only goal of the game.
Erol Bulut's side have otherwise gone undefeated in their pre-season matches, recording victories against Penybont and The New Saints, while also playing out draws with Cambridge United and Bristol Rovers.
Having only avoided relegation by one point last season, as a result of Reading getting docked six points for breaching financial rules, Bulut will be hoping he can challenge at the top end of the table next season, in his first campaign in charge of the Welsh club.
Cardiff have been in the second tier since being relegated from the Premier League in the 2019-19 season, and they will be looking to build momentum ahead of a difficult start to the season, taking on recently-relegated Leeds United and Leicester City in two of their first three games.
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Porto have not been particularly active in the transfer market, having only signed one player, with striker Fran Navarro joining from Gil Vicente, and the 25-year-old could start this weekend, alongside Evanilson.
Mehdi Taremi was the top scorer in the Primeira Liga last season, scoring 22 goals, meaning the Iranian has attracted the interest of a number of top European clubs, and it appears as though he could be on the move this summer.
Central midfielder Matheus Uribe has already left, joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Sadd, meaning Stephen Eustaquio and Marko Grujic could be posited to start in the middle of the park.
As for Cardiff, goalkeeper Ryan Allsop was absent for the recent match against Braga, so Jak Alnwick is likely to start between the sticks, having been the only member of the starting lineup to complete the full 90 minutes last time out.
Aaron Ramsey missed out against Braga, but the Welshman is set to play some part against Porto, having rejoined his boyhood club this summer, while fellow new signing Karlan Grant impressed in the last match, and the 25-year-old striker should start.
Porto possible starting lineup:
Ramos; Pepe, Pepe, Cardoso, Wendell; Otavio, Grujic, Eustaquio, Galeno; Evanilson, Navarro
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Alnwick; Benjamin, Collins, Romeo, Simpson; Ramsey, O'Dowda, Adams; Grant, Robinson, Meite
We say: Porto 3-0 Cardiff City
Cardiff put in a promising performance against Braga in their first match during their pre-season tour of Portugal, but they ultimately lost 1-0.
Porto finished higher than Braga in the Primeira Liga last season, while they also defeated them in the Taca de Portugal final, so they should have no problem comfortably dispatching the Bluebirds.
No Data Analysis info
Dominic Lund
