FC Porto will be looking to notch their first win in this year’s Champions League group stage campaign when they host Leverkusen at the Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday at 20:00 GMT.
Leverkusen will be looking to make it two wins on the bounce to bolster their Group B chances, whereas Porto will be looking to avoid kick start their Champions League campaign after opening the group with two losses out of two.
Match Preview
Can Porto Win their First Champions League Match in Group B?
After losing to both Atletico Madrid and Club Brugge in their opening two fixtures in Group B, Sérgio Conceição’s side are at a point where they need to start winning matches in the Group or face elimination.
After conceding six goals and scoring once in their two Champions League fixtures, Conceição’s focus will be on his side’s defensive and attacking structures.
Getting the right balance between attack and defense will be crucial in Porto’s clash with Leverkusen on Tuesday. This will give them the platform to kick-start their season.
Can Leverkusen Make it back-to-back wins in Group B?
After winning the last time out in the Champions League (matchday 2) at home to Atletico Madrid (2-0), Gerardo Seoane’s side will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins when they clash with Porto on Tuesday.
Seoane will also be looking to put their poor domestic form behind them, which sees his side sit second-bottom of the Bundesliga in 17th with 5 points from the opening eight outings in the league.
Leverkusen will focus on their intensity and defensive solidity, which were crucial in their triumph over Atletico last time out in the Champions League.
Form Guide
FC Porto
Porto have displayed inconsistency in their performances and results in the Primeira Liga that they rarely show.
Conceição’s men have won three times, drawn once, and lost once, in their last five outings in the Portuguese league. They have collected 10 points and dropped five in the process. They currently sit 3rd on the table, 3 points behind league leaders Benfica.
In their Champions League campaign, they have lost both of their opening matches in Group B. They lost 2-1 in their opening fixture away to Atletico Madrid before getting hammered by Club Brugge at home (0-4).
Leverkusen
Leverkusen have been in terrible form this season. They have collected just five points out of the available 24 in the opening 8 Bundesliga rounds of fixtures.
Seoane’s men have collected five points in their last five outings; they have won once, drawn two times, and lost two times.
However, they put this bad run of form behind them when they beat Atletico Madrid convincingly 2-0 last time in the Champions League. This win placed them 2nd on the Group B table on goal difference.
Possible Starting Lineups
FC Porto
Costa; R. Conceicao, Pepe, D. Carmo, Wendell; M. Uribe; B. Costa, S. Eustaquio, Pepe; Evanilson, M. Taremi
Leverkusen
Hradecky; M. Bakker, E. Tapsoba, J. Tah, O. Kossounou; K. Demirbay, R. Andrich; M. Diaby, C. Hudson-Odoi, J. Frimpong; P. Schick
Players to Watch
Evanilson
Evanilson, the 22-year-old Brazilian has scored four times in eight appearances for Porto this season in the Primeira Liga.
The forward who came out of the Fluminense youth system is increasingly becoming influential for Porto as he partners well with Taremi in the attacking areas.
His pace, dribbling, movement, and finishing are important aspects that highlight his importance to this Porto side. He will be crucial for the Portuguese side as they look to turn their Champions League campaign around.
C. Hudson-Odoi
The 21-year-old Englishman has started four times for Leverkusen since making the loan move from Chelsea. Although he has not contributed in terms of goals yet, the impact has been apparent in the way Leverkusen attacks and presses.
Hudson-Odoi’s pace, movement, dribbling, and creativity will be crucial for Leverkusen as they look to press home the advantage in Group B.
Prediction
Porto will start fast out of the blocks; they will look to establish their dominance early on and make it count with an early goal. They will dominate possession and press Leverkusen furiously.
Leverkusen will look to be compact and difficult to play through. They will force Porto to wide areas and deny them space behind the defense.
Porto have the quality to win their first Champions League group-stage match and take the badly-needed three points.
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