FC Porto vs Alverca Predictions

• Porto have won their last four meetings with Alverca, three with clean sheets
• Porto have kept five clean sheets in their last seven competitive matches with six wins
• Alverca have lost their last three away Primeira Liga games (all 1-0)

Dragons due to pick up where they left off

FC Porto begin their title defence on Sunday with what should be a comfortable assignment at Estadio do Dragão against lowly Alverca. Francesco Farioli’s side built last season’s championship on defensive steel, conceding only 18 goals — the best record in the top flight — and they look well placed to do the same again this term.

Pre‑season raised a few concerns as Porto conceded in every friendly, but their 1-0 Super Cup win over Torreense last Saturday was right out of last season’s playbook.

Diogo Costa returned between the posts and immediately delivered a clean sheet, while Polish defensive pair Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior reaffirmed their status as one of the league’s most reliable centre‑back pairings.

Alverca’s away-day blues to continue

The Dragons have not lost at home in 20 matches and have won six of their last seven anywhere with five clean sheets. It, therefore, seems unlikely that an Alverca side that scored only 35 league goals last term will seriously trouble them.

They lost their final three away games last term en route to an 11th place finish and have avoided defeat only once in their last eight meetings with the Dragons.

Backing Porto to win to nil feels like a solid angle, especially with Portugal’s top keeper back between the posts and the visitors experiencing some struggles up front.