Preview: Porto vs AVS – predictions, team news, line-ups

First meets worst in the final Primeira Liga match of 2025, as top-of-the-table Porto host basement side AVS at the Estadio do Dragao on Monday evening.

The Dragons are currently five points ahead in the standings. Summit of the Portuguese elite but he could see that gap narrowing before kicking the ball, with second-placed Sporting Lisbon taking on Rio Ave a day earlier.

Match Preview

Boasting what might be the best record among Europe’s top-ranked leagues, Porto have been close to perfect in the Primeira Liga this season, recording 14 wins in 15 matches (D1).

Francesco Farioli’s men have only dropped points against José Mourinho’s Benfica in the top-flight campaign, and since that goalless draw at O ​​Classico on October 5, the Dragons have won seven consecutive league matches.

The most recent of those victories came in simple fashion, as the leaders put three unanswered goals past Alverca in Ribatejo, thanks to a Borja Sainz brace either side of a 57th-minute Alan Varela goal.

The success means Porto have now won nine of their last 10 matches in all competitions, including a 2-1 victory over Malmö to maintain their place in the top eight of the Europa League table and a comfortable Taca de Portugal victory over Famalicao to reach the quarter-finals; the only setback in this series was a 3–1 home defeat against Vitoria Guimaraes in the Allianz Cup.

The thought of another upset at the Dragao on Monday is unlikely to linger among Blue and White supporters, who might instead focus on how convincing the performance could be, with the previous two meetings against AVS ending in 5-0 and 2-0 victories, suggesting another chance to extend their league-record tally of 11 clean sheets.

Indeed, AVS struggled at both ends of the pitch, with no team conceding more than the 39 goals scored, while only one team scored fewer than their return of 11.

The Vila das Aves side have had a torrid start to their second season in the top flight, losing 11 of their first 15 matches and remaining the only team yet to record a victory in the division.

That unwanted record could have ended last time out, as AVS surrendered a two-goal advantage to settle for a 2-2 draw against Nacional at the Estadio do CD Aves in Joao Henriques’ first game in charge.

Despite this setback, fans can be encouraged by their side having now avoided defeat in back-to-back games, with a Taca de Portugal victory in Vitoria preceding the draw, and they can afford a faint hope of an unlikely result here as the bottom-placed team look to narrow a nine-point gap to safety.

Porto Primeira Liga form:

Porto form (all competitions):

AVS Primeira Liga form:

AVS form (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago/Zuma Press Wire

Despite his brace last time out, Sainz will not feature in this encounter after picking up his fifth yellow card of the league campaign, although Jan Bednarek returns after serving his own suspension against Alverca.

Other expected absentees include striker Luuk de Jong, who is expected to miss a lengthy period with a knee injury, while centre-back Nehuen Perez continues to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon and Tomas Perez also remains absent.

Meanwhile, Zaidu Sanusi is unavailable as he is on international duty with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

AVS will be without central defender Ruben Semedo, suspended after receiving a red card in the draw against Nacional.

Guillem Molina remains out due to injury, while Tiago Hernandez could miss a second consecutive match due to fitness concerns, with Ponck also doubtful after missing the previous outing.

Tunde Akinsola has scored in back-to-back games and will again be counted on to provide a spark in wide areas, while Tomane should retain his place up front after also finding the net last time out.

Possible starting XI in Porto:

D Costa; And Costa, Bednarek, Kiwior, Moura; Froholdt, Varela, Mora; Pepe, Samu, Gomes

Possible AVS starting lineup:

Goncalves; Spencer, Devenish, Santos, Vitor, Kiki; Perea, P Lima, Grau, Akinsola; Tomane

We say: Porto 3-0 AVS

There is little doubt that Porto will take maximum points here, with the focus instead on how many goals they could score, having won their last two matches by a margin of three, and a similar result is expected against struggling opposition.

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