In a highly anticipated matchup, Porto and Barcelona are set to face off in the Champions League Group H at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday evening.
Both teams are aiming for consecutive victories in the competition after impressive performances in their opening fixtures.
Match Preview
Porto started their campaign with a convincing 3-1 win against Shakhtar Donetsk.
The clash witnessed a thrilling first half, with four goals scored within the first 30 minutes.
Galeno’s early opener was canceled out by Kevin Kelsy’s header, but Porto quickly regained the lead through Galeno and sealed the victory with Mehdi Taremi’s strike.
Following their Champions League triumph, Porto secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Gil Vicente in Primeira Liga action.
However, their unbeaten streak came to an end with a defeat to Benfica in their latest outing.
Despite the recent loss, Porto remains in second place in Group H and boasts an impressive 11-game unbeaten home run.
They will look to maintain their strong form at the Estadio do Dragao but will have to address defensive vulnerabilities that Barcelona can exploit.
Barcelona, on the other hand, had a sensational start to their Champions League campaign, thrashing Royal Antwerp 5-0.
The match showcased the attacking prowess of Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix, who scored two goals and provided an assist for Robert Lewandowski.
Gavi’s effort and an own goal from Jelle Bataille completed the comprehensive victory for Barcelona.
In their recent La Liga clash against Sevilla, Barcelona secured a hard-fought victory thanks to an own goal from Sergio Ramos.
As they travel to Portugal, Barcelona aims to build on their successful run of seven wins in their last eight matches.
They seek to improve their record of only two wins in their previous seven Champions League away games.
However, history appears to be on their side, as Barcelona have emerged victorious in their last four meetings with Porto.
Their most recent encounter in a competitive fixture ended in a 2-0 win for Barcelona in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup.
Team News:
Porto faces concerns over the fitness of captain Pepe, who missed the previous match due to a muscular problem.
Fabio Cardoso received a red card during that game and will be available to deputize if necessary.
Ivan Marcano’s long-term absence further emphasizes Cardoso’s role in defense. Evanilson, Gabriel Veron, and Zaidu Sanusi are also among the injury concerns for Porto.
Barcelona, meanwhile, will be without Raphinha due to a hamstring injury.
Midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Pedri are also sidelined with ankle and muscle injuries, respectively.
Lamine Yamal, who made his Champions League debut against Antwerp, could potentially start in Raphinha’s absence.
Oriol Romeu and Andreas Christensen are expected to feature prominently in midfield and defense.
Predicted Lineups:
Porto:
Costa;
Mario, Cardoso, Carmo, Wendell;
Eustaquio, Varela;
Franco, Jaime, Galeno;
Taremi
Barcelona:
Ter Stegen;
Cancelo, Kounde, Christensen, Balde;
Gavi, Romeu, Gundogan;
Yamal, Lewandowski, Felix
Prediction:
Considering Porto’s strong home form and Barcelona’s struggles away from home in the Champions League, this match promises to be a challenging encounter for both sides.
However, Barcelona’s attacking qualities and Porto’s recent defeat to Benfica may tip the balance in favor of the visitors.
- Our prediction is a 3-1 victory for Barcelona.
