Primeira Liga Week 1: FC Porto dominate in convincing win over Vitória de Guimarães

Photo: gettyimages (Carlos Rodrigues)

Futebol Clube do Porto kicked off their 2015/16 season in the best way possible on Saturday night, trouncing Minho giant Vitória de Guimarães 3-0 in front of a near-capacity crowd. A brace from Cameroonian young starlet Vincent Aboubakar would prove doubters wrong after a frustrating preseason in front of goal, as the name Jackson Martinez looks to become a distant memory.

FC Porto dominated most of the match against Armando Evangelista’s largely inoffensive Vitória, with Maxi Pereira and Giannelli Imbula enjoying fine debuts, producing sumptuous assists for the 2nd and 3rd goals. Silvestre Varela also impressed on his return to the Dragão, netting a fine effort to complete the rout.

Click here for match highlights

2015/16 Season Preview V: Final League Prediction

Final league prediction

1^st.

There is no reason that Futebol Clube do Porto will not finish first. On paper, they not only have the superior eleven, but also the strongest squad, and, in this writer’s opinion, one with greater depth and quality than last season.

Massive overhauls and changes in personnel, as well as the managerial go-around that is Portuguese football, has seen Benfica and Sporting, as well as Braga and Guimaraes, with a lot of work to do.

Porto are more settled, have recruited well with a superfluity of options in every position. Quality football and trophies will be at a premium this season.

2015/16 Season Preview III: Season Review and Danger Men

How Porto finished last season

Porto finished in 2^nd place for a consecutive season as Benfica triumphed again, a feat that had not been achieved in over 30 years. A strong showing in the UEFA Champions League, where the Dragons went undefeated before falling to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, remunerated domestic shortfalls after being knocked out early in the Taça de Portugal and falling to Marítimo in the semi-finals of the Taça da Liga (League Cup).

Having arguably lost their three best performers last season in the form of Jackson Martinez, Oliver Torres and Danilo, Porto will expectedly undergo a period of transition in the early season. Nevertheless, adept signings and needed depth in all positons, particularly in midfield, has placed them as firm favorites for the title and a strong European campaign with Lopetegui being one season the wiser.

 

Porto’s danger men this season

Arguably, Porto’s difference maker this season could well be Giannelli Imbula. With Casemiro and Herrera struggling last season to stamp his authority defensively, the tools that the Frenchman brings to the table, either at the No.6 or No.8, must not be taken for granted.

The striker is the one player who can turn an imminent defeat into three-points at the bat of an eyelid. Jackson Martinez was that player, and with his exit Lopetegui has looked to his replacement, and a number of names have been mentioned. Vincent Aboubakar, Pablo Dani Osvaldo and André Silva are all in contention, granting that the former two lead the race for the No.9 spot. Whoever takes the Colombian’s mantle will arguably make or break Porto’s title credentials.

Last season’s revelation, Yacine Brahimi (albeit mostly limited to Europe), will provide goals, assists and a threat from any dead ball situation. Captain and Porto mainstay Maicon will need to build on last season’s defensive fragilities as he leads the back four; alongside Iker Casillas, whose undoubted experience on the big stage could make the difference in the big ties that saw Fabiano play the proverbial deer in headlights.