The price of FC Porto’s Fan Token ($PORTO) has risen 7% in the build-up to Thursday’s UEFA Europa League match day two fixture against Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade.

The surge comes as excitement mounts for what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the round, with both clubs enjoying perfect starts in their domestic leagues.

A Clash of Two In-Form Teams

FC Porto heads into the contest in blistering form, having secured a 4-0 win over Arouca in their opening European outing. That victory continued their remarkable run, with the Portuguese champions now boasting eight wins from eight across all competitions this season. They currently sit top of the Primeira Liga with 21 points and a +18 goal difference, closely followed by Sporting CP.

Red Star Belgrade, meanwhile, mirror Porto’s success in Serbia. The club has also won all eight of its league games so far and sits comfortably at the summit of the Serbian SuperLiga. They managed a 1-1 draw with Celtic in their European opener, setting the stage for Thursday’s showdown between two of Europe’s most in-form sides.

Injury Concerns and Key Players

For Porto, the fitness of star striker Samu Aghehowa will be closely monitored after he limped off during Monday’s league win. With fellow forward Luuk de Jong sidelined due to a knee injury, losing Aghehowa would be a major blow.

On the positive side, Zaidu Sanusi has made a strong case for a starting role after scoring his first goal in two years, while Martim Fernandes remains available despite his recent domestic red card. Nehuen Perez continues his recovery and is unlikely to feature.

Red Star also have selection concerns, with Rade Krunic ruled out through injury. However, forward Bruno Duarte is available despite his weekend dismissal, and attacking duo Stefan Lekovic and Mirko Ivanic, who inspired a comeback win over Radnicki 1923, are expected to keep their places. Former Inter Milan and Stoke City striker Marko Arnautovic could also earn a start after impressing off the bench.

$PORTO Market Performance

Off the pitch, FC Porto’s Fan Token is reflecting the excitement around the club. At the time of writing, $PORTO trades at $1.12, with a 24-hour volume of $4.1 million. The token has gained 3.68% in the last 24 hours and is up 14.21% over the past week, pushing its market cap to nearly $12.7 million. Trading activity has also held steady, signaling rising interest ahead of Thursday’s European clash.

Source: Coingecko

Since August 16, $PORTO has recorded a remarkable 53% increase with the price surging to $1.21 during that period. Also trading volume soared to a jaw-dropping $49 million. Since then, the trading volume has dropped significantly by 91.3%. However, if the club continues in this form, analysts believe the token could replicate its August 16 surge.

Ebo Victor

Fantoken Market Reporter