Porto set to silence Estrela for title push

Porto dey shift focus to Primeira Liga action after dia cup disappointment, as dem go face Estrela Amadora for Reboleira on Sunday. Francesco Farioli men bin hold Sporting Lisbon to goalless draw for Wednesday Classico, wey mean say dem don exit Taca de Portugal semi-final with 1-0 aggregate defeat. Meanwhile, Estrela come from 1-0 loss to Arouca.

With hopes of repeating 2021-22 league and cup double don scatter, Porto now dey concentrate on winning first Portuguese top-flight title since that same campaign. Dem dey top of Primeira Liga table, seven points clear of Benfica for second and eight ahead of third-placed Sporting, wey get game in hand. Three wins from remaining four matches go guarantee title, no matter wetin happen elsewhere.

Porto last league match bin see dem beat Tondela 2-0 for Dragao, marking dia 25th victory for 30 top-flight games this season, with four draws and one loss. Dem extend clean sheet tally to league-high 19, and dem only concede 14 goals, wey be fewest for division. Porto also get strongest away record for Primeira Liga, winning 12 of 15 matches on road, with three draws, so confidence dey high as dem head to this trip.

Estrela objective na to create more breathing room between dem and relegation zone. Dem dey just above relegation playoff spot, holding slender two-point cushion. After finishing 14th and 15th for previous two campaigns, Amadorans again find themselves for late-season survival battle, thanks to poor run wey yield only two wins for 14 league outings since turn of year, with four draws and eight losses. Joao Nuno men don lose each of dia last three matches without scoring, including last weekend 1-0 defeat to Arouca, where Tiago Esgaio strike early for second half prove decisive.

Picking up result here go depend on Estrela improving for final third, especially as each of dia last three home losses come without scoring. Dem only avoid defeat once without finding net for dia last 10 league matches at Estadio Jose Gomes, with three wins, four draws, and three losses. However, Reboleira hosts enter Sunday clash encouraged by fact dem avoid defeat for three of last five meetings with Porto at this venue, including 2-0 victory last term, although Amadora club suffer 3-1 loss for reverse fixture earlier this season.

Porto remain without centre-back Nehuen Perez due to Achilles tendon issue, with defensive options further limited by absence of Zaidu Sanusi. Martim Fernandes don miss last five matches. For attack, Samu Aghehowa and Luuk de Jong continue recovery from knee injuries, so number nine role likely go be filled by either Deniz Gul or Terem Moffi. Alan Varela bin show late red card for midweek, but that suspension no apply for league competition, leaving am available for selection.

For Estrela, centre-back Bernardo Schappo don ruled out after sustaining injury against Arouca, so Luan Patrick expect to partner Stefan Lekovic for central defence. Jefferson Encada miss last outing with muscle problem and remain major doubt, with Max Scholze likely to continue at right-back.

Possible Estrela Amadora starting lineup: Ribeiro; Scholze, Lekovic, Patrick, Langa; Doue, Jansson, Robinho; Marcus, Pinho, Stoica. Possible Porto starting lineup: D Costa; A Costa, Bednarek, T Silva, Kiwior; Froholdt, Varela, Veiga; Pepe, Gul, Pietuszewski.