The final fixture of the 2025 Liga Portugal calendar pits league leaders FC Porto against bottom-placed AVS Futebol SAD. This Matchday 16 encounter takes place tonight, Monday, December 29, 2025, at the Estádio do Dragão.
With Porto currently sitting five points clear at the top of the table, this match is a classic "David vs. Goliath" scenario as the year draws to a close.
Match Details
Competition: Liga Portugal (Matchday 16)
Kick-off: 20:15 Local / 20:15 GMT / 15:15 ET
Venue: Estádio do Dragão, Porto
Referee: Bruno Costa (Portugal)
Current Form: Perfection vs. The Winless Run
FC Porto: Leading the Pack
Under the management of Francesco Farioli, the "Dragons" have been nearly flawless this season. They arrive tonight with an incredible record of 14 wins and 1 draw in 15 league matches. Porto's defense has been particularly impressive, conceding only four goals all season and maintaining 11 clean sheets. They come off a solid 3–0 away win against Alverca.
AVS: The Fight for Survival
AVS is currently enduring a nightmare season, sitting in 18th place with only 4 points. They are the only team in the division yet to record a win this season. However, there is a glimmer of hope: they have avoided defeat in their last two games, including a 2–2 draw with Nacional in João Henriques’s first match as manager.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
FC Porto Team News
Porto will have to manage without their recent breakout star, Borja Sainz, who is suspended after picking up five yellow cards.
Out: Borja Sainz (Suspension), Luuk de Jong (Knee/ACL), Nehuén Pérez (Achilles), Zaidu Sanusi (AFCON duty).
Returns: Jan Bednarek is back in the squad after serving his own suspension.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Martim Fernandes, Bednarek, Yakub, Moura; Alan Varela, Mora, Vitor; Pepe, Samu Aghehowa, Iván Jaime.
AVS Team News
The visitors are missing their main defensive leader due to discipline issues.
Out: Ruben Semedo (Red card suspension), Guillem Molina (Injury).
Doubt: Tiago Hernandez, Ponck.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): Verza; Paulo, Daniel, Christian, Kiki Afonso; Grau, Pedro, Diogo, Oscar Perea, Akinsola; Tomané.
Head-to-Head: Total Dominance
Since AVS’s promotion to the top flight, Porto has handled them with ease.
Previous Meetings: 2 (Porto has won both).
Scorelines: Porto won 5–0 in October 2024 and 2–0 in March 2025.
Stat to Watch: AVS has never scored a goal against FC Porto in competitive play.
Tactical Breakdown: The High Press vs. The Bus
Porto's High-Octane Attack
Farioli has transformed Porto into a possession-based side that averages 56% ball control. They focus on quick through balls and exploiting the wings. Samu Aghehowa, with 9 goals this season, will be the primary target for a Porto side that likes to kill games off in the first half.
AVS's Hope for a Miracle
Manager João Henriques will likely "park the bus" tonight, playing a deep block to frustrate Porto. Their only real threat comes from Tunde Akinsola on the counter-attack, who has scored in two consecutive games. AVS will aim to hold a 0–0 scoreline for as long as possible to induce panic in the home crowd.
Match Prediction
The statistical gap between these two is massive. Porto is at home, in championship form, and possesses far superior individual quality. While AVS has shown more spirit recently, the Dragons should secure a comfortable win to enter 2026 as undisputed leaders.
Final Score Prediction: FC Porto 3–0 AVS
