Porto welcome Manchester City to Estadio do Dragao in a massive top of Group C clash in 2020-21 UEFA Champions League.
Victory would see Porto move joint top with Man City and secure qualification for the knockouts unless Olympiacos fail to beat Marseille in the other Group C match, whereas City can qualify as Group C winners with a win and secure a potentially easier knockout path in the Round of 16 stage.
Team News
Mateus Uribe is set to be available for Porto after an abscess saw him sit out last week’s win at Marseille.
Marko Grujic misses out through suspension whilst Pep remains sidelined with a foot injury.
Man City could be without Sergio Aguero after he failed to train on Monday due to a knee injury.
Nathan Ake however is set to return from a hamstring injury which has kept him out of City’s last three matches.
Stat Attack
- Porto are winless in three previous meetings against Manchester City in all European competitions (L3).
- City won 2-1 in their only previous trip to Porto in February 2012 in first leg of their Europa League Round of 32 knockout tie in 2011-12 season.
- Ferran Torres has scored in three of City’s four European matches this season.
Prediction
Porto have delivered three strong performances in their last three European matches since losing to City in the opening matchweek but after Saturday’s dominant display against Burnley, the Citizens will be a tough team to beat given that the goalfest will of boosted their confidence massively.
This however will be a huge test of whether Saturday was simply a case of facing a weak Clarets defence or whether City have genuinely found their breakthrough after struggling for goals this season, which will certainly send out a huge message not just around Europe but also domestically.
Squad rotation though will play a part but I am going for an away win if City’s progress on Saturday is the real deal.
Prediction: Porto 1-2 Manchester City
Result: Porto 0-0 Manchester City