Estrela Amadora v FC Porto

Estrela v Porto Preview

The Portuguese top flight action returns on Friday night after the international break and although they hold home advantage at their Estádio José Gomes for this upcoming clash with domestic giants, Porto, newly promoted Estrela nevertheless look to have their work cut out on Friday evening.

Estrela finished in third place at the end of last season's Segunda Division campaign and therefore went head-to-head with third from bottom finishers in last season's Primeira Liga, Maritimo, in a promotion/relegation play-off.

Estrela won through on penalties after the two-legged affair ended in a 3-3 draw on aggregate but since that euphoric win, Estrela have struggled to find any sort of form in subsequent matches in all competitions as they have collected just one more win overall.

That victory came in the form of a 2-1 home win against Estoril but the hosts had started this new top flight campaign being handed back-to-back defeats by the likes of Vitoria Guimaraes and Benfica respectively.

With this being their first ever foray into the Portuguese top flight, this looks like being a tough season for the hosts.

Porto by contrast are old hands at life in the domestic top flight and the visitors head into this Friday night encounter at the Estádio José Gomes still remaining unbeaten after their opening four matches of this new season, picking up three wins and a draw in the process as the visitors once again prepare to do battle with old rivals, Benfica.

Benfica pipped Porto to the Primeira Liga title at the end of last season by a slender two-point margin but Porto nevertheless still gained automatic qualification for this season's Champions League by finishing runners-up but would be desperate to go one step better this time around.

Porto have certainly produced an encouraging start to this season as the visitors have registered wins against Moreirense 2-1 away, Farense 2-1 at home and a 2-1 win away from home at Rio Ave, so the prospect of goals also looks likely in this Friday night meeting at the Estádio José Gomes.

The bigger picture shows Porto are unbeaten in their previous 16 matches overall in the Primeira Liga and the visitors have collected no fewer than 14 wins in the process, which must surely place them in the box-seat to take all three points against early strugglers, Estrela.

Estrela v Porto Verdict

With this being Estrela's first ever season in the Portuguese top flight there is not much to go on with regards previous meetings as Estrela and Porto have played each other only once before in a recent club friendly which ended in a 3-3 draw, but goals look likely again on Friday night.

Therefore, our main bet will be Over 2.5 goals @ 1.65

Other side bets worth considering:

Porto win & Over 2.5 goals @ 1.95

Correct score: Porto 2-1 @ 8.50