[2] He made his first-team debut in the sixth round of the Taça de Portugal on 21 January 2004, under José Mourinho; he came on as a substitute for Sérgio Conceição, who had just concluded the 4–0 win against U.D.

Alongside teammates Diogo Valente and Vieirinha, also loaned by Porto,[5] he was instrumental as the Matosinhos side retained their Primeira Liga status at the season's close.

[13][14] He won a league and cup double in his first season, equalising in a 2–1 home defeat of HNK Rijeka in the semi-finals on 8 April,[15] followed by the winning attempt in the penalty shootout at the end of the goalless final against RNK Split on 20 May.

[16] On 28 July 2015, during a UEFA Champions League play-off round against Molde FK at Stadion Maksimir, club fans booed Machado as he walked off the pitch while being replaced after a poor performance.

[18] Sharing teams with compatriots Eduardo and Gonçalo Santos, he won a second consecutive double, starting in the 2–1 cup final win over NK Slaven Belupo on 10 May.

[23] In his one season back at the Estádio do Mar, he played just under half the fixtures and scored an added-time winner as a late substitute against Académico de Viseu F.C.

He did not make his debut in either of the two UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers that were scheduled, but later spoke of his smooth integration into the squad and his ambition to eventually earn a regular place in the national team.