Barcelona and Juventus move to next stage. How about Liverpool and Manchester City today??
Porto have it all to do after losing 2-0 at Anfield in the first leg, yet they have won every Champions League (CL) home game this season (W4), albeit both teams scored in each of the last three. Often out of the blocks quickly after the break, the Portuguese giants netted a goal within ten minutes of the restart in three of those four games, but also conceded a penalty in the last two.
Yet history isn’t on Porto’s side. The hosts have lost their last five two-legged European ties against English clubs, and failed to progress in 16 of the previous 21 UEFA ties where they lost the first leg away. Furthermore, the ‘Dragons’ have never beaten Liverpool (D3, L4).
The visitors travel here having won their last three competitive away games, despite both teams scoring in all three. Notably, the ‘Reds’ scored their final goal after the 80th minute in each of those matches.
However in the CL, Liverpool have struggled on the road, losing their three tournament away games prior to an impressive 3-1 victory at Bayern in the last round.
On a 16-game unbeaten run (W11, D5 – in all competitions), including winning their last seven, Liverpool travel here knowing they’ve lost just five of 36 previous UEFA ties where they were victorious in a first leg at home.
Players to watch: Moussa Marega is Porto’s CL top scorer with six goals – four were scored at home. Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, has netted in Liverpool’s last two league games, and has three CL goals this season so far.
Stat attack: Five of Porto’s last six home victories (in all competitions) have been achieved ‘to nil’.
Both teams have scored in six of Liverpool’s last ten CL away games.
There’s been over 1.5 first-half goals in four of the last five H2Hs.
Will not play
Aboubakar V.
(Knee Injury)
Lovren D.
(Illness)
Oxlade-Chamberlain A.
(Lacking Match Fitness)
Questionable
Corona J.
(Ankle Injury)
Lallana A.
(Muscle Injury)
Fabiano
(Ribs Injury)
Marius
(Injury)
Match Information
Referee: Makkelie D. (Ned),
Venue: Estádio do Dragão (Porto)
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