Preview: Belenenses vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

Sides at opposite ends of the Primeira Liga table will square off on Sunday, as league leaders Porto travel to take on basement side Belenenses.

The visitors now sit three points clear at the summit of the top flight, while their hosts suffered a disappointing defeat last time out to remain four points adrift of safety.

Match preview

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After comfortably avoiding relegation with a mid-table finish last season, Belenenses will have headed into the new campaign with similar aims, but things have not gone to plan for O Belem.

A run of just one win and eight points from the first 15 matches immediately saw them cut adrift at the foot of the table, with Filipe Candido replacing Petit in the hot seat during that time.

While he has not enjoyed much more success, O Belem did post a crucial victory after the turn of the year, with Abel Camara snatching all three points with a 93rd-minute winner to make it 2-1 at home to newly-promoted Arouca, before they had the chance to make it back-to-back wins with a clash against fellow strugglers Famalicao last time out.

Belenenses were unable to do so, though, as Riccieli hit the only goal of the game for the visitors, leaving Candido's men stuck at the foot of the table, three points behind Arouca and four points adrift of safety.

As a result, they will be desperate to quickly find a run of results, but Sunday presents a particularly tough challenge as the league leaders arrive in fine form.

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Having set their sights on lifting the Primeira Liga title for the 30th time this term, Porto have enjoyed a strong start, having won 15 of their opening 17 games and drawn the other two.

In the process, Sergio Conceicao's men have netted 44 goals while allowing just 11 at the other end, and they now lead Sporting Lisbon by three points at the summit after the defending champions' recent slip.

The Portuguese giants head into Sunday's trip in a run of 12 straight wins in the top flight, recently seeing off title rivals Benfica in a 3-1 win before they battled hard to defeat sixth-placed Estoril Praia last time out.

Their hosts took a two-goal lead in the first half, but Conceicao's men came out firing from the break as Mehdi Taremi quickly found the net before Luis Diaz levelled and Francisco Conceicao, the son of the Dragoes boss, hit an 89th-minute winner.

Now with daylight between themselves and the chasing pack, Porto will go in search of a 13th straight league win to stretch their lead at the summit.

Team News

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Belenenses are likely without Francisco Teixeira and Rafael Camacho through injuries, while full-back Carraca is ineligible to play against his parent club after arriving on loan from the Dragoes in the summer.

Candido deployed a slightly more positive system for the recent meeting with Famalicao, but, facing a particularly tough test, he is likely to switch back to O Belem's preferred system with five across the back line.

Porto have several selections of their own to deal with, as Joao Mario, Wilson Manafa, Marko Grujic, Ivan Marcano and Pepe are all expected to continue spells out of action through injuries.

Meanwhile, left-back Zaidu Sanusi is away on international duty with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving Wendell to play in the back four.

While Francisco Conceicao boosted his claim for a starting berth with his winner last time out, Evanilson and Mehdi Taremi will likely continue to lead the line.

Winger Luis Diaz has been the attacking star for Os Dragoes so far this season, netting 13 goals and providing five assists in 16 Primeira Liga appearances.

Versatile midfielder Jesus Corona has also completed a switch to Sevilla, so Saravia - back from a loan spell at Internacional - could start at right-back.

Belenenses possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Cafu, Tavares, Ribeiro; Calila, Lukovic, Sithole, Sousa, Varela; Camara, Nuno

Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Saravia, Mbemba, Cardoso, Wendell; Otavio, Uribe, Oliveira, Diaz; Edenilson, Taremi

We say: Belenenses 0-3 Porto

Given the seasons that these two sides are having, we can only see Porto coming out as comfortable winners on Sunday.

Os Dragoes have shown themselves to be formidable at both ends of the pitch, and Conceicao's side should have far too much for their hosts.

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