Newcomers to the Primeira Liga AVS will look to move into the top half of the table when they host postage on Monday at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves.

The Dragoes had a near-perfect start to the season, taking 21 of the first 24 available points, putting them in second place in the tablethree points behind league leaders Sporting Lisbon.

Game preview

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AVS had a dream start to the Taca de Portugal season as they secured a 2-0 win over Campeonato de Portugal side Sandinenses at Campo Jogos D. Maria Teresa last Sunday.

After a relatively uneventful first half Ze Luis Three minutes after the break he gave the guests the lead with a penalty John Mercado doubled the lead with a goal in the 66th minute.

Head coach Vitor Campelos We hope the cup win can serve as a catalyst for some good form in the league, where they are winless in three games and have made a turbulent start in their top flight debut.

After a 1-0 win over Rio Ave on September 14th, AVS suffered a 3-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on September 22nd, before consecutive stalemates in their two games so far in October against Farense and Arouca came.

The Vila das Aves team, who secured promotion from the second division via the playoffs last season, have so far won two of their eight Primeira Liga games, lost three and drawn three, collecting nine points and are level on points in 12th place points with eleventh-placed Estoril Praia.

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Porto, meanwhile, secured their first win of the Europa League season on Thursday, beating German side Hoffenheim 2-0 at the Estadio do Dragao.

Tiago Djalo He scored the first goal just before half-time, giving the hosts a first-half lead before being signed in the summer Samuel Omorodion hit the goal in the 75th minute, securing the result.

Porto began their Europa League journey on September 25 when they suffered a somewhat disappointing 3-2 defeat to Bodo/Glimt at the Aspmyra Stadium, a week before a 3-3 draw at home to Manchester United came.

Before the midweek win over Hoffenheim, the Dragoes secured their place in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal thanks to a 3-0 win over Campeonato de Portugal side Sintrense on October 20 thanks to goals from Wanderson Galeno, Ivan Jaime and Djalo.

After two consecutive cup games Victor BrunoBarcelona's men now return to the Primeira Liga, where they have won each of their last four games since the start of September, scoring 11 goals and keeping two clean sheets.

After a fourth-place finish in the 2023/24 season, Porto have won all but one of their eight games at the start of the new campaign, with a 2-0 defeat against rivals Sporting Lisbon on August 31 being the exception.

AVS Primeira Liga form:

AVS form (all competitions):

Porto Primeira League form:

Postage form (all competitions):

Team news

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AVS will take the field without the services of the 20-year-old goalkeeper Lucas Mourawho has been sidelined since suffering a serious shoulder injury in March.

Barring any late fitness issues, Moura is likely to be the home team's only absentee on Monday and we expect a back four Fernando Fonseca, Jorge Teixeira, Cristian Devenish and former Vizela man Kiki Afonso.

Gustavo Assuncao And Jaume Grau should form the two-man midfield pivot while we should see an attacking quarter from Mercado, Luis Silva, Rodrigo Ribeiro and loanee from Inter Milan Issiaka Kamate.

Porto, on the other hand, remains without the services of the 27-year-old defender Zaidu Sanusiwho has been sidelined since February due to a cruciate ligament injury.

Ivan Marcano is the second player in the Dragoes squad to struggle with a cruciate ligament injury and the 37-year-old, who has been out of action since mid-September, will also not play a role in Monday's clash.

Having recently recovered from a muscle problem, Fran Navarro was an unused substitute against Hoffenheim in midweek, but the Spanish striker could be back in action at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves.

With his goal in the aforementioned game, Omorodion has now scored eight goals in eight games in all competitions since joining from Atlético Madrid in the summer and the 20-year-old will be one to keep an eye on.

AVS possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Fonseca, Teixeira, Devenish, Afonso; Assuncao, Gray; Mercado, Silva, Ribeiro; Kamates

Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Mario, Ze Pedro, Perez, Moura; Eustaquio, Varela; Pepe; Gonzalez, Galeno; Omorodion

We say: AVS 0-3 postage

Porto have picked up two impressive cup wins since their last league game and will be licking their lips as they face an inexperienced AVA side who have struggled to make an impact in the top flight.

While AVS can be proud of their start in the big leagues and will look to pull off an upset on Monday, they are no match for Bruno's men, who we are betting will come through all three points unscathed.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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