Bitesize Prediction: Boavista vs Porto – 05/01/24

Competition: Primeira Liga

Market: Porto win

Odds: 4/9 @ BetUS

Hoping to open the New Year with a statement, Porto will travel to the Estadio do Bessa when they meet local rivals Boavista on Friday night.

Starting with the hosts, while Boavista might have eventually snatched a top-half finish among Portugal’s elite last season, the Panteras have struggled to replicate a similar level this time around. Last seen signing off 2023 with a toothless 1-0 loss away at Gil Vicente, Ricardo Paiva’s side are looking over their shoulder at a looming relegation scrap. In the midst of a major struggle, they have now collected just a single point from any of their previous seven straight Primeira Liga appearances – a run that stems all the way back to a 1-1 stalemate against Moreirense back on October 6th. Likewise, crashing out of the Taca de Portugal at the hands of Arouca back in November, Boavista will be more than aware that they face a heavyweight challenge when their bitter local rivals arrive at the Estadio do Bessa on Friday night. Losing all of their last four meetings against Porto by an aggregate score of 10-2, Paiva’s side are rightfully tipped as a major underdog here.

As for the visitors, although Porto might still face a real battle in their bid to claim a 31st domestic crown this season, the Portuguese giants do open 2024 enjoying an extended purple patch. Last seen claiming a 1-0 victory against Chaves, Sergio Conceicao’s men have now won four of their previous five appearances across all competitions. Likewise, shocking many last month as they punched their Champions League knockout stage ticket, the Dragons will certainly be looking to make another statement here. Currently sat just three points adrift of finding a route to the top of the Primeira Liga standings, Porto should be relishing a trip to the local rivals this weekend. Landing a 1-0 victory when they last met Boavista back on April 30th and remarkably not suffering a single defeat since way back in 2007, it is hard to see anything other than a similar outcome on Friday night. Given what has been a huge recent gulf in class, we are backing an away win.

Bet: Porto 4/9 to beat Boavista in Friday’s Primeira Liga matchup @ BetUS