Porto will begin their Primeira Liga title defence on Saturday, when they welcome Maritimo to the Estadio do Dragao.
Sergio Conceicao's side finished six points better off than Sporting Lisbon last term to secure a 30th top-flight trophy and will aim to make a winning start to the new campaign on home turf.
Match preview
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The 2021-22 season was certainly a successful one for Porto, as they successfully completed a second double under the management of Sergio Conceicao, firstly regaining the league title with a record tally of 91 points from 34 games, having won 29 of those and only lost one.
After finishing six points clear of defending champions Sporting Lisbon, and recording a 3-1 aggregate win over the Leoes in the Taca de Portugal semi-final, Conceicao's men headed into the final against CD Tondela at the end of May and would finish the campaign with a second trophy, as a Mehdi Taremi brace and a Vitinha goal fired them to a 3-1 triumph.
Beginning preparations for the new term with a somewhat changed squad, following the departures of Vitinha, Fabio Vieira, Francisco Conceicao, Agustin Marchesin and Chancel Mbemba, Os Dragoes would put four straight wins together before again meeting Tondela last time out in the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira.
Taremi would again hit a brace in that game, scoring either side of Evanilson's goal to help Conceicao's side to another dominant win over CDT Auriverdes, with the added bonus of a clean sheet on that occasion.
Having started the new term with silverware, Porto will aim to kickstart their title defence with an opening-day win on home turf at the weekend.
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They welcome a Maritimo side hoping to continue their improvement in the Primeira Liga after a positive season last time around.
With 36 points from 30 games, Os Verde-Rubros sat in a strong position in the top half of the division, but a four-game winless run to end the term eventually saw them drop out of the top eight and settle for a tenth-placed finish.
With their sights set on the new season, Vasco Seabra's side began preparations with a 1-0 win over Nacional and a draw with Penafiel, before narrowly beating Santa Clara.
In their final contest before Saturday's curtain-raiser, Maritimo again met Nacional and won by the same scoreline as Edgar Costa hit the only goal of the game, and, now facing a particularly unenviable start to the league term, Seabra's men will look to defy all odds and leave the Estadio do Dragao with a positive result against the defending champions.
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Team News
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Porto's starting XI for the Supertaca contest last time out should give a good indication as to how Conceicao will line his team up for the beginning of the league campaign, with the likes of Mateus Uribe and Marko Grujic set to play key roles in midfield.
Having both got on the scoresheet in that game, Mehdi Taremi and Evanilson will likely lead the line, with the likes of Danny Loader and Antonio Martinez fighting for the final attacking place, while new signing Stephen Eustaquio will also be hoping to come into the midfield.
The departure of veteran goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin should see Diogo Costa become the first choice between the sticks, while Pepe and Ivan Marcano could partner up at the heart of the back four.
Maritimo will have to field a somewhat changed attacking lineup from last season, after Ali Alipour departed over the summer and Rafik Guitane's loan deal came to an end.
As a result, Seabra may be heavily reliant on Joel Tagueu to lead the line, while Jesus Ramirez has come in on loan to bolster their options.
Fellow new arrival Joao Afonso should come straight into the midfield, while Leo Andrade and Zainadine Junior should again partner up at the heart of a back four for the new campaign, unless Maritimo opt to set up more defensively at the Estadio do Dragao.
Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Mario, Pepe, Marcano, Sanusi; Eustaquio; Uribe, Grujic; Martinez; Taremi, Evanilson
Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Silva; Winck, Junior, Andrade, M Costa, V Costa; Beltrame, Xadas, Afonso; Tagueu, Ramirez
We say: Porto 3-0 Maritimo
Porto will be keen to start the season on the front foot, and they have the quality to comfortably see off Seabra's men on home turf.
The Dragoes excelled at both ends of the pitch last term, and they should outclass Maritimo in the season curtain-raiser.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
