Paços de Ferreira v Porto match preview

Paços de Ferreira visits Estádio do Dragão to face Jesualdo Ferreira's FC Porto. Coming off a disappointing nil draw to Rio Ave, the defending Portuguese Liga champion will be looking to return to their winning form but equally must be concerned with a short week in which they face Arsenal in Champions League action next Tuesday. This will make for a tough series of decisions to which Mr. Ferreira has given no indication.

Porto's shortfall against Rio Ave can easily be attributed to the mental let down after the jubilation from the 3-1 victory over Fenerbahçe in the opening match of Champions League play. However the emotional let down combined with a stingy Rio Ave defense does not exclude poor finishing and the Dragões had ample opportunity to win the match and then some. Post match Mr. Ferreira's venom was obvious and I suspect whatever lineup he chooses will feel his wrath and be prepared to attack endlessly.

Paços de Ferreira is a very solid attacking squad that will pose problems for any club as they push forward. Their weakness to date appears to defending as while they have scored five times in the first three matches of the campaign but have given up a shambolic eight goals that would make any coach be concerned over blood pressure. While they sit near the bottom of the table with a paltry single point, they are far too good of club to stay their for long and I expect manger Paulo Sérgio to have his squad ready to press Porto for points.

Recent Form
Paços de Ferreira - combined (0 W,1 D,2 L)(5 GS,8 GA)
Aug 23 Paços de Ferreira 0 Braga 2
Aug 29 Belenenses 2 - 2 Paços de Ferreira
Sep 22 3 - 4 Benfica

Porto - combined (1 W, 2 D, L)(3 GS,1 GA)
Aug 24 FC Porto 2 - 0 Belenenses
Aug 30 Benfica 1 - 1 FC Porto
Sep 21 Rio Ave 0 - 0 FC Porto

Jesualdo Ferreira listed the following players for the match:
Benítez, Bruno Alves, Candeias, Farías, Fernando, Guarin, Helton, Hulk, Lino, Lisandro, Mariano, Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Raul Meireles, Rodríguez, Rolando, Sapunaru and Tomás Costa.

This will be a interesting match to follow as Porto needs to start amassing some points and cannot afford to keep giving up points, particularly as Sporting steamrollers ahead. It goes without saying that Dragões supporters need to come out in full force.

I will report on the match on Monday morning. I apologize for the delay but I am off in my own matches and will likely be unable to properly review and post till that that. I thank you for your patience in this.