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Gil Vicente vs FC Porto Report
FC Porto's long unbeaten run stretching back almost two years came to an end in Barcelos on Sunday night as Gil Vicente beat the champions 3-1.
A pallid Porto were unrecognisable for most of the match, while that takes nothing away from an excellent all-round display from the hosts. Claudio's early header flicked over Porto goalkeeper Helton to give the Gil the lead set the alarm bells ringing for the Dragons, and on the stroke of half time a penalty given away by Otamendi gave Claudio the chance to score his second goal.
The centre-back did not waste the opportunity and Paulo Alves' side went into the interval with a comfortable lead.
Gil Vicente vs FC Porto Preview
FC Porto coach Vítor Pereira has asked for “more of the same” as he leads his team into a tricky looking match at Gil Vicente on Sunday night.
The Dragons were back to their best in possibly their most impressive domestic performance of the season last week at home against Vitória Guimarães. The drastically improved form of talismanic midfielder João Moutinho especially, along with the influential duo of Álvaro Pereira and James Rodríguez, will have been particularly pleasing to the Porto coach.
“Essentially I want to see a consistent and rigorous Porto, playing a hard-working and high-quality game, so that we keep up the level of performance of our most recent matches,” said Pereira. “I expect to see a mature Porto in Barcelos.”
FC Porto vs Rio Ave Report
A goal in each half from James Rodríguez gave FC Porto victory over struggling Rio Ave at a rainy Estádio do Dragão tonight.
The hosts were dealt a big blow on the half hour mark as Brazilian superstar Hulk pulled a muscle in his right leg and had to be substituted by Kléber. Rio Ave looked to take advantage, but Helton was alert to Kelvin's powerful cross-shot.
In the 42nd minute Colombian midfielder James showed fantastic skill and awareness to trick his way past his marker and shoot low into the net from a tight angle.
Yazalde missed a golden chance to equalise for Rio Ave shortly after the break.
FC Porto vs Rio Ave Preview
FC Porto go into Saturday evening’s match at home to Rio Ave in an unusual position for them - not at the top of the league looking downwards.
After over five hundred days sitting atop the Liga ZON Sagres, the draw at Sporting last weekend allowed Benfica to pull two points clear of the Dragons at the summit. Not that coach Vítor Pereira is hitting the panic button just yet. “Of course we are not happy to be in this position, but it doesn’t change the way we go about our work. The players have given a good response in training this week,” said Pereira.
“It’s only two points, it’s true, but I’d obviously prefer to be two points ahead rather than two points behind. This is not a normal position for us and we want to reclaim first place as soon as possible. A team like ours want to always be in first place.”
Sporting CP Lisbon vs FC Porto Report
An intense match at the Alvalade stadium finished goalless between Sporting and FC Porto.
A bumper crowd of 49,000 turned up to watch one of Portugal's classic fixtures. Sporting knew defeat would all but rule them out of the title race, and in a game of few chances may feel they did enough to take all three points.
Anderson Polga with a header, and Marat Izmailov with a late chance came close to finding the net for the Lions.
Sporting CP Lisbon vs FC Porto Preview
The big match in Portugal this weekend sees Sporting host FC Porto in Lisbon.
After a highly impressive start to the season, the new-look Sporting have hit an indifferent run of form, winning just one of their last four matches. Defeat against FC Porto will create a nine-point gap between the Lions and the Liga ZON Sagres leaders, but Sporting coach Domingos Paciência insists the match is not decisive. “There is a long way to go in the championship. Regardless of this game nothing will be decided and nobody will become champions. We will simply be striving to win another game, like we will in our next matches against Nacional and Braga,” said Domingos.
FC Porto vs Maritimo Funchal Report
FC Porto were made to work hard before overcoming Marítimo in an entertaining game at the Estádio do Dragão on Saturday night.
Porto began strongly and never let up. It was a dominant performance from the Portuguese champions, but once again a lack of a cutting edge when it came to putting the ball in the net was noticeable. Wayward finishing and some excellent goalkeeping from Marítimo number one Peçanha - especially an astonishing save from a Kléber header late in the second half - seemed likely to prove costly.
Even though the visitors were reduced to ten men before half time as Roberge picked up two quick yellow cards, as the game entered the final ten minutes it appeared Marítimo would hold out for a point.
FC Porto vs Maritimo Funchal Preview
In the game of the weekend in Portugal FC Porto and Marítimo go head to head in the last round of matches before the Christmas break.
Marítimo have been one of the sensations of the 2010/11 season in Portugal. The Madeira team are lying 5th in the table and the narrow defeat to Benfica last weekend was only the islanders' second loss all season. However, Marítimo coach Pedro Martins has to cope with a raft of absentees. Right back Rúben Ferreira is out injured, while first-team regulars Roberto Sousa, Rafael Miranda and Olberdam are all suspended for the match.
"Despite our missing men, we will make no excuses," said Martins. "We'll go into the match with the intention of getting a good result, which means attempting to win the three points."
Beira-Mar vs FC Porto Report
FC Porto came from behind to beat Beira-Mar 2-1 in Aveiro.
Coming into the match on the back of the disappointment of exiting the Champions League somewhat unluckily, the Dragons put in a commanding performance but were so nearly left to rue missed opportunities again. The hosts took the lead in the 34th minute against the run of play when Chinese striker Zhang got between Maicon and Rolando to head into the net.
Porto hit straight back as James Rodríguez fired Hulk's lay-off into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
In the second half the visitors took control of the proceedings and it was no surprise when Hulk scored from a delicious Alvaro Pereira pass.
Beira-Mar vs FC Porto Preview
FC Porto will look to bounce back from the disappointment of their Champions League exit as they travel to Beira-Mar on Saturday.
The Dragons put in arguably their best performance of the season on Tuesday, but an inspired display from Zenit St. Petersburg goalkeeper Malafeev resulted in a 0-0 draw that sees the Portuguese champions drop into the Europa League. Coach Vítor Pereira admitted the early exit from the world's greatest club competition was a bitter pill to swallow, but promised his team would be making up for the disappointment in other competitions.
The current champions of Portugal are in their customary position at the top of the Liga ZON Sagres table, level on points with Benfica.
With the Lisbon side facing a demanding trip to 4th-placed Marítimo, who have won all their home games this season, Porto will feel this weekend could be an opportunity to steal a march on their fierce rivals from the capital.
FC Porto vs Zenit Report
Zenit St. Petersburg made it through to the knockout stages of the Champions League at FC Porto's expense after a riveting 0-0 at the Estádio do Dragão tonight.
Porto came into the match with a clear mission. Win the game and progress. Anything else would see the Russians take a place in the last 16 instead of the Portuguese champions. The hosts piled on the pressure throughout the ninety minutes, but try as they might they could not find a way through, in no small measure because of an inspired display by Zenit goalkeeper Malafeev.
The Russian national number one produced outstanding saves from Djalma, Moutinho and James Rodríguez to frustrate the Dragons.
Porto can consider themselves unlucky to have got only one point instead of three from the match, but Zenit were rewarded for a fine rearguard action.
FC Porto vs Zenit Preview
FC Porto host Zenit St. Petersburg at the Estádio do Dragão tonight with only one option open to them if they want to progress in the Champions League: victory.
After a string of poor results and performances, Porto have gone some way to getting their season back on track with two successive victories in crucial games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga. A third win in the row will definitively see the stock of Porto boss Vítor Pereira complete the transition from zero to hero.
However, their Russian opponents will be just as motivated. A draw will suffice for Zenit to claim their place in the draw for the round of 16, at Porto’s expense.
And the Russians come into the game full of confidence. Well rested as the domestic season enters its winter break, Zenit need look no further than the first encounter between the two teams to draw inspiration.
FC Porto vs Sporting Braga Report
FC Porto went back to the top of the Liga ZON Sagres with a 3-2 victory over Braga tonight at the Estádio do Dragão.
Hulk was once again the main man for Porto. The Brazilian striker put the Dragons ahead in the 37th minute, heading in a James Rodríguez cross to give the hosts a half-time lead. Hulk added a brilliant second in the 78th minute, curling a 20-yard shot beyond Quim and into the corner of the net with his left foot.
The Porto number twelve was in unstoppable form, and a superb piece of wing play set up a simple goal for substitute Kléber.
Braga were reeling at this point but made the score respectable with two late goals.
FC Porto vs Sporting Braga Preview
While most attention in Portugal this weekend will focus on the Lisbon derby, another mouth-watering contest is in prospect 300 km up the A1 motorway, as FC Porto host fellow northerners Braga.
The pressure alleviated somewhat on Porto coach Vítor Pereira in midweek as a three-game winless run was halted with a crucial victory away at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. It was a solid rather than spectacular performance, with Hulk once again the stand-out player for the Dragons. With new signing Kleber failing to fire, James Rodríguez fading after a promising start to the campaign and Silvestre Varela unable to repeat his form of last season, the burly Brazilian has been the fulcrum of Porto’s attacking game all season.
A goal and an assist in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory in Ukraine exemplified just how important Hulk is to the Portuguese champions.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs FC Porto Report
Two late goals without reply gave FC Porto a crucial victory against Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Portuguese champions are now firmly back in contention for a place in the knockout phase of the competition. Victory in their final group game at home to Russian outfit Zenit St. Petersburg will guarantee at least second place in the section.
In a tense night in Ukraine, Porto enjoyed a slice of luck as Luiz Adriano in the first half and Fernandinho in the second rattled the woodwork with long-range shots.
The Dragons weathered the storm and struck with ten minutes remaining.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs FC Porto Preview
FC Porto play in Ukraine tonight fighting for Champions League survival.
A victory against Shakhtar Donetsk is an absolute must if the Portuguese champions are to keep their hopes alive of remaining in Europe’s foremost club competition beyond Christmas.Should Porto lose, it is unlikely they will even get the opportunity to defend their Europa League trophy, as a rock-bottom finish in Group G will be an almost certainty.
Pereira insists his team will get it right when it matters and will not repeat the insipid display that saw them crash out of the Portuguese Cup on Saturday night at Académica de Coimbra.
SC Olhanense vs FC Porto Report
Porto ended a forgettable week with a goalless draw at Olhanense.
After defeat in Cyprus on Tuesday, Porto were looking to bounce back against Algarve outfit Olhanense.And they were given the opportunity to make the perfect start as Kléber was fouled in the box after just two minutes, but Hulk's penalty kick was saved.
Another poor Porto performance ensued, with few chances created.
Rolando, Hulk and Mangala had the best of them, while Olhanense threatened twice through Portugal U21 striker Wilson Eduardo.
But neither side could find the breakthrough as the game ended 0-0.
SC Olhanense vs FC Porto Preview
Not for the first time this season, FC Porto will attempt to get a traumatic Champions League result out of their system when they return to domestic action, as they take on Olhanense this Saturday night.
Talk of a crisis may seem strange in relation to a team that is joint top of the league and has scored the most goals in their opening nine domestic fixtures since the 1950s. But in Portuguese football the benchmark is always European play, and after sweeping all before them to lift the Europa League last season, Porto’s limp showing thus far in the Champions League has been hard to swallow. A sizeable group of fans made a point of waiting in the early hours of Wednesday morning for the squad to arrive at Porto’s Sá Carneiro airport to voice their disapproval in no uncertain terms after the Dragons has been beaten 2-1 in Cyprus by APOEL Nicosia.
Failure to claim three points in the Algarve against Olhanense tomorrow will make it an uncomfortable international break for coach Vítor Pereira. In the pre-match press conference Pereira followed the motto of “attack is the best form of defense” in defending himself and his team from the critics.
APOEL Nicosia vs FC Porto Report
APOEL continued their sensational Champions League campaign by beating FC Porto at home to remain on course for a place in the last sixteen.
The defeat leaves FC Porto's Champions League hopes hanging by a thread. The Dragons need to win away at Shakhtar Donetsk then beat Zenit St. Petersburg at home by at least two clear goals to make progress in the competition.APOEL were good value for their victory. The forward trio of Manduca, Ailton and Trickovski caused Porto's defence problems all night with their strong running and clever interchanges.
The attitude of Porto's players cannot be faulted, but for all their efforts, the team looked clean out of ideas, and a shadow of the side that swept all before them last season.
APOEL Nicosia vs FC Porto Preview
It’s do or die for FC Porto tonight in their Champions League match away at APOEL Nicosia.
The Cypriots have been a sensation in Group G, and lead the section at the halfway stage after starting out as rank outsiders.APOEL fully deserved the point they got in the 1-1 at the Estádio do Dragão a fortnight ago. Indeed, only a last-minute save from Porto’s Brazilian goalkeeper Helton prevented a first ever win for a Cypriot team over a Portuguese side.
In stark contrast Porto have been disappointing so far in this season’s edition of the world’s greatest club competition. Failure to win tomorrow will put qualification from the section at serious risk.