Porto vs Famalicão

After a resilient comeback win, Porto are eager to maintain their momentum in their pursuit of a top-three finish as they host Famalicao at the Estadio do Dragao in round 30 of the Primeira Liga.

The Dragons bounced back from a crushing O Classico loss to Benfica with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Casa Pia, though the result didn’t shift their position in the league standings.

In a match that demanded a quick recovery from their disappointing home defeat, Porto seized the moment at Rio Maior through young star Rodrigo Mora, who scored within five minutes via a brilliant solo run, weaving past defenders with a deft spin before calmly firing into the net.

Despite claiming the three points, Porto stay fourth with 59 points from 18 victories, five draws, and six defeats, just one point behind third-placed Braga and 10 points off the top two in the race for Champions League qualification.

That win was Porto’s fourth in six recent league matches, a strong recovery after managing only one victory in their prior eight games.

A key strength for Porto in 2025 has been their defensive solidity, with four of their five wins this year accompanied by clean sheets, though defensive errors have occasionally proven costly.

They now face a formidable challenge against a Famalicao side that has scored in eight straight games, casting doubt on Porto’s ability to secure consecutive victories.

Recent clashes between the teams provide little optimism for Porto, with their last two meetings ending in draws—a 1-1 result at the Dragao last season and a 2-2 tie in this season’s earlier encounter.

Nevertheless, Porto can draw confidence from their strong home form, having won 10 of their 14 home Primeira Liga matches, while also holding the league’s best home defensive record, conceding just nine goals—though four of those came in their most recent home outing.

Famalicao, on the other hand, continued their fine run with a convincing 3-0 win over Estoril Praia last weekend, powered by a dominant second-half performance.

After a goalless first half, Vila Nova came alive in the second period, with Sorriso breaking the deadlock just after the hour mark. Vaclav Sejk doubled the advantage nine minutes later, and Gil Dias sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal.

This marks the second time this season that Famalicão have strung together three consecutive victories—the first being in their opening three matches, before their form took a dip.

In fact, they managed just one win in the 16 league games that followed. However, under Hugo Oliveira’s guidance, the team has bounced back impressively, winning seven of their last ten fixtures.

That resurgence has propelled them to seventh in the table with 43 points, just five behind fifth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes. With five matches remaining, Vila Nova will be aiming to take something from this Friday’s clash as they push for a top-five finish—an achievement that would be historic for the club.

Famalicão’s highest-ever finish in the Portuguese top flight is sixth, so surpassing that would represent a major milestone in their history.