Arsenal will visit Porto in the Champions League for the first time in seven years. After finishing second in Group H behind Barcelona, Sergio Conceicao’s squad made it into the knockout stages. The Gunners overcame Group B to set up a rematch with them.
Preview (Porto vs. Arsenal)
Benfica and Braga finished third in the Champions League group stage. They were forced to continue their continental campaigns in the Europa League. As a result, Porto is the only Portuguese team remaining in Europe’s top competition. They have advanced to the elimination rounds six times in the previous seven seasons. Group H played out pretty much as expected. Porto finished second behind Barcelona after defeating Royal Antwerp and Shakhtar Donetsk four times in a row.
The Primeira Liga giants have another opportunity to make amends in the Champions League thanks to their 12-point haul. They haven’t advanced past the final eight since the 1993–94 competition. Their 2022–23 campaign came to an end at this point due to a 1-0 aggregate loss to Inter Milan. In seven of their previous eight Champions League knockout matches against English teams, Porto has also lost. However, the one occasion in which they succeeded in eliminating a Premier League team. They beat Manchester United in the round of 16 in 2004. Porto went on to become the continent’s most successful team.
Twenty years later, Conceicao’s club is hosting Arsenal at the Estadio do Dragao and has gone 10 games without losing in all competitions. Most recently, the Dragons defeated Estrela Amadora 2-0 in Saturday’s Primeira Liga match, recording their fifth straight clean sheet at home. Porto’s defense has only allowed five goals in their past ten games played in front of their supporters, but in a rain-soaked Premier League encounter against Burnley on Saturday afternoon, a ruthless Arsenal produced the same amount of goals in ninety minutes.
Team News
Conceicao’s Saturday victory over Estrela was not quite the ideal evening, as left-back Zaidu Sanusi was carted out in the 32nd minute due to a full rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament, sidelining the Nigerian for the duration of the campaign. Sanusi is one of two Dragons defenders recovering from ACL injuries; Ivan Marcano’s chances of returning before the season’s finish are very small. Conceicao could turn to Jorge Sanchez to bolster the hosts’ defense, which still includes 40-year-old veteran Pepe.
Although he has been included in the Gunners’ squad for the knockout stages, Jurrien Timber is also recovering from an ACL injury, and Fabio Vieira (groin) and Thomas Partey (thigh) are nearing full recovery from surgery. Vieira may play against his old team, but Arteta does not need to change his starting lineup, thus any participation for the Portuguese national team will undoubtedly come from the bench.
Porto 1-3 Arsenal
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