Career
Born in Barreiro, Setúbal District, Machado played youth football at Sporting Clube de Portugal from ages 15–19. Until 2013, Machado played almost exclusively in the second level or Portuguese football, with Communicative Disorders Fátima and Chaplain to the Forces Os Belenenses. Whilst with the latter club, he contributed with 39 games in the 2012-2013 campaign – 38 starts – as it returned to the Primeira Liga after a three-year absence.
Machado made his debut in the top flight on 15 September 2013, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–2 away loss against Académica de Coimbra.
In the previous month, still during pre-season, he suffered a thigh injury that ruled him out for four weeks.