Porto will travel to Arouca hoping to gain ground on their title rivals on Monday. Nevertheless, after scoring nine goals in their previous three games, their hosts are aiming for a fourth straight win.
Preview (Arouca vs. Porto)
After having two goals disallowed for offside and a penalty reversed by VAR, Porto lost ground at home against Rio Ave last week, allowing rivals Sporting CP and Benfica of Lisbon to maintain their lead atop the Primeira Liga. The Dragons’ unbeaten run in all competitions now stands at eight games. They are still in third position, six points behind league leaders Benfica and four behind Sporting in second.
Due to the terrible condition of the pitch following heavy rain, referee Gustavo Correia called off Porto’s quarterfinal Taca de Portugal match against Santa Clara in the middle of the week. Due to the game’s rescheduling to the end of February, Sergio Conceicao’s team now has a busy schedule. They will play Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League later this month. However, Porto first returns their focus to the league. They have won seven of their ten away games thus far. They are also the favorites to win because they have not lost in their past seven Primeira Liga encounters against Arouca since 2016—they have outscored the hosts 19-2 in the process.
But in September’s rematch, Arouca held out for a 1-1 draw at Estadio Do Dragao. An Evanilson equalizer saved Porto’s blushes deep into stoppage time after Cristo Gonzalez had opened the scoring. The Dragons, however, might find themselves subdued by their more humble neighbors. The Oporto-based team is likewise having a great season. After three straight victories, they are currently sitting eighth in the Primeira Liga. After defeating Vizela and Estoril, Daniel Sousa’s team won 2-1 over Portimonense. They are a team in the middle of the league, to leave Portimao with all three points.
Team News
After Iran’s Asian Cup elimination, star striker Mehdi Taremi might be free to return to the field. Porto full-back Zaidu Sanusi is still overseas representing Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. Ivan Marcano, a long-term absentee, is also sidelined for the visitors. Midfielder Marko Grujic may be able to play despite a muscular issue on Monday. With eight goals so far this season, Evanilson leads the Dragons in league scoring, but Rafa Mujica of Arouca has twelve.
For the home team, the latter starts up front alongside fellow countryman Cristo Gonzalez, with former Valencia winger Jason probably coming on in the latter third. Due to injuries, Arouca manager Daniel Sousa will be without the services of Brazilians Quaresma and Vitinho, and January addition Yanis Hamache is still sidelined by a muscular problem.
Arouca 1-2 Porto
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