Preview: Porto vs Riga FC - prediction, team news, lineups

Porto return to action for their second pre-season friendly as they welcome Riga FC to CTFD PortoGaia this weekend, in preparations for their upcoming FIFA Club World Cup campaign.

The Dragons look to build momentum following a 1-0 victory at Wydad AC last Saturday before their opener against Palmeiras.

Match preview

Porto picked up from where they left off at the end of the 2024-25 season, stretching their winning run to four games across the league and friendlies with a hard-fought victory in Casablanca.

Samuel Agehowa’s first-half strike proved the difference for the Portuguese giants, who now aim to maintain their flawless streak as they gear up for another competitive front after falling short on nearly every one last term.

Aside from lifting the Super Cup in August, the Dragons stumbled in their defence of the Taca de Portugal, crashing out in the fourth round, and later bowed out of the League Cup in the semi-finals while their top flight and continental pursuits also fell flat.

The Blue and Whites were dumped out of the UEFA Europa League playoffs by Roma, and if not for a late-season surge in the Primeira Liga, where Porto won their last three games, they might have missed out on a direct return to Europe’s second-tier club competition.

Following Sunday’s friendly, Martin Anselmi’s men will kick off their Club World Cup against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras before squaring up against Major League Soccer Supporters’ Shield holders Inter Miami and wrapping up the group stage versus Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly.

Riga, though less storied than their Portuguese hosts, arrive for what will be the first ever meeting between the sides with plenty of optimism on the back of an electric run of form.

The Latvian outfit are currently unbeaten in 12 matches, having won each of their last 10 to sit top of the Virsliga standings on 39 points, two clear of second-placed RFS.

Their latest result was a commanding 3-0 victory over Tukums 2000 last weekend, extending Riga’s clean sheet streak to five matches.

That resolve at the back will be put to the test against a superior side on paper that has racked up nine goals in their last four outings across all competitions.

Riga have also looked sharp on their travels, winning their last seven away matches while averaging three goals per game in that impressive run.

Porto Friendlies form:

Porto form (all competitions):

Riga FC form (all competitions):

Team News

Porto manager Anselmi is expected to rotate heavily in a bid to give every player minutes and keep them sharp ahead of the Club World Cup, with the likes of Claudio Ramos, Diogo Fernandes, Pepe and  Andre Oliveira , who were unused substitutes last time out, all in line to feature.

Others who did not start against Wydad such as Otavio, Nehuen Perez and Goncalo Borges could also get the nod as part of an altered lineup.

Agehowa is expected to keep his place in attack after grabbing the decisive goal in the previous encounter, while long-term absentee Marko Grujic remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a heel injury.

Riga boss Adrian Gula typically sets his team up in a 4-1-4-1 and that shape is expected to remain unchanged here, with Krisjanis Zviedris once again in goal.

The Latvian shot-stopper should be protected by the usual back four of Raivis Jurkovskis, Baba Musah, Antonijs Cernomordijs and Maksims Tonisevs as they look to extend their strong defensive record.

Marko Regza remains the man to watch, having struck seven times in his last 10 appearances and looking to add to that tally when he leads the line once more.

 

Porto possible starting lineup:

Fernandes; Otavio, Pedro, Marcano; N. Perez, Borges, Sousa, Franco; Pepe, Agehowa, Vieira

Madagascar possible starting lineup:

Zviedris; Jurkovskis, Musah, Cernomordijs, Tonisevs; Ankrah; Perez-Vico, Galo, Grimaldo, Diop; Regza

We say: Porto 2-0 Riga FC

Although Riga arrive with the wind in their sails, they are expected to come up short against a Porto side boasting superior quality and pedigree, and anything other than a win for the Portuguese giants would be a surprise.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi

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