A countdown of the 10 most memorable moments of Portuguese football in 2018: PART 9
9. Porto's record-breaking 16 match winning run - and counting
Porto have been sensational under Sergio Conceicao, lifting the Portuguese Primeira Liga title last season and ending Benfica’s run of dominance in the league, while also leading them to the Champions League round of 16, where they crashed out against Porto.
And this season, they may be going one better than that.
As well as leading the way domestically, already four points clear of second-place Benfica, they have also qualified for the next round of the Champions League in style, winning 5 of their 6 group games and topping the group, and face AS Roma in the very next round. Victory over two legs will see them reach the quarters, a sensational achievement for the Portuguese outfit.
And to illustrate just how impressive they have been, they are currently undergoing the best run in the history of the club; having won an incredible 16 matches in a row now across all competitions, Porto, in their prestigious 125-year history, are currently enduring their best ever run of form.
It came after victory over Belenenses in the League Cup just before the new year, on the 29th December, coming from behind to earn the vital 2-1 victory, which also saw them advance to the semifinal of the competition.
Their comeback ability has been a common theme in their winning run, having to come from behind against the likes of Santa Clara, Rio Ave and Moreirense to preserve their incredible form.
However, with 4 clean sheets in their last 7 league encounters, Porto's defensive game has proven crucial in getting the best out of the side, who often rely on one-goal margins to secure victory.
Often what proves the stumbling block for a side like Porto when it comes to stringing together victories is the Champions League, where they more often than not come up against world-class opposition.
However, having won their last 5 Champions League matches, against Schalke once and both Galatasaray and Lokomotiv Moscow twice, they have managed to keep winning on all fronts.
How much longer this incredible run will last remains to be seen, but Porto fans will fancy their chances of seeing their side extend the run even further.
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