Newcomers to Portugal's Primeira Liga, AVS, are set to challenge Porto on Monday at Estadio do Desportivo das Aves, hoping to leap into the top half of the standings with a strong home performance. Porto’s “Dragoes” have enjoyed a stellar beginning to the season, amassing 21 points from a possible 24, putting them firmly in second place, just three points behind league leaders Sporting Lisbon.
AVS, enjoying a notable start to their Taca de Portugal journey, recently secured a 2-0 triumph over Campeonato de Portugal side Sandinenses. This success came at Campo Jogos D. Maria Teresa last Sunday, where the team demonstrated their potential in the cup with a well-rounded display.
After a balanced first half, AVS took the lead with a decisive penalty converted by Ze Luis only three minutes into the second half, establishing early momentum. John Mercado later doubled the advantage in the 66th minute, effectively securing their passage forward in the Taca de Portugal.
Head coach Vitor Campelos hopes this victory can fuel AVS’s efforts to improve their Primeira Liga form. Currently, AVS is on a three-game winless streak in league play, marking a mixed start to their debut season in Portugal’s top division. After a 1-0 victory over Rio Ave on September 14, they faced a setback in a 3-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon on September 22, followed by two scoreless draws against Farense and Arouca in October.
AVS, promoted from Portugal’s second tier via last season’s playoffs, has recorded two wins, three losses, and three draws in their first eight top-flight games. This mix has left them 12th in the table with nine points, tied with Estoril Praia, who currently sit in 11th place.
Porto, meanwhile, notched an important victory in their Europa League campaign last Thursday, edging out Hoffenheim 2-0 at Estadio do Dragao. Tiago Djalo opened the scoring just before halftime, giving Porto a slight advantage going into the break. Summer signing Samuel Omorodion then cemented the win with a goal in the 75th minute, marking a crucial moment in their European journey.
The Dragoes’ Europa League adventure began on a rocky note, with a 3-2 loss to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt at the Aspmyra Stadion on September 25. A week later, they hosted Manchester United in an exciting 3-3 draw at Estadio do Dragao. However, the win over Hoffenheim on Thursday has strengthened their hopes for advancing in the Europa League.
In domestic cup action, Porto also booked a fourth-round place in the Taca de Portugal with a 3-0 victory over Sintrense on October 20. Goals from Wanderson Galeno, Ivan Jaime, and Djalo delivered Porto’s second clean-sheet win in as many games, adding to their positive momentum in cup competitions.
After two back-to-back cup outings, Porto now shifts focus back to league play, where they’ve displayed impressive consistency. Vitor Bruno’s side has secured wins in each of their last four Primeira Liga games, scoring 11 goals and keeping two clean sheets in a dominant stretch that began in September.
The Dragoes are riding high on the success of last season’s fourth-place finish and have carried this form into the current campaign, winning seven of their eight league games so far. Their only blemish was a 2-0 defeat to rivals Sporting Lisbon on August 31.