LIGA PORTUGAL BETCLIC: FC PORTO v FARENSE (Sunday, 3.30pm)
LIGA PORTUGAL 2: TORREENSE v PORTIMONENSE (Friday, 6pm)
New Portimonense manager Ricardo Pessoa, who got off to the perfect start in the Algarve with a 5-1 thrashing of Marítimo during his first match in charge, brought along a last-minute and highly promising reinforcement from his previous employer, Lusitânia in the Azores, on a four-year contract: 22-year-old Columbian ex-Independiente Medellín and Flamengo forward Camilo Durán has scored 31 goals in his last 39 matches, albeit in the lower divisions, and could finally become the successor of the long-departed and badly missed Bento (Udinese and now Everton).
Farense, in desperate need of improvement, also made two more late, late signings in the form of left back Paulo Victor (Ceara, Brazilian 2nd division) and Belloumi replacement winger Mehdi Merghem, from French second tier side Guingamp. At the same time, Talys, Velásquez and Seruca – the latter two on loan – have left the club.
Meanwhile, Portimonense and Farense played out a full-blown training match behind closed doors at the Municipal Stadium last Friday morning with the hosts emerging the 2-1 winners thanks to goals from in-form Paulo Vitor and Kim, Tomané temporarily drawing the visitors level on the half-hour mark.
By Skip Bandele
