A Brief Champions League Preview: FC Porto vs Schalke 04

First against second. Unbeaten and within the cusp of booking a place in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League.

Securing a place in the last 16 is what it’s all about. The goal of both teams coming into this pulsating and competitive clash.

Playing at home and soaring at the top of their group, Porto are, according to 888sport Champions League odds, the favorites on Wednesday night. The Portuguese giants are unbeaten in nine at home and have come out victorious in their last eight games in all competitions. The Blue and Whites are also sitting pretty at the top of their domestic league and remain unbeaten in the Champions League.

Things are looking good for Brahimi and co, but Schalke are no pushovers. Despite their indifferent and unconvincing form of late, the Germans are unbeaten in this competition as well. Tedesco’s side have only conceded one goal in their group, ironically against Porto in Germany.

Porto are expected to snag the three points, but it won’t be smooth-sailing nor comfortable.

 

Porto

Predicted starters: Casillas; Maxi Pereira; Felipe Monteiro; Eder Militao; Alex Telles; Herrera; Danilo; Brahimi; Otavio; Oliver Torres; Marega

Key player: Otavio

 

Schalke

Predicted starters: Fahrmann; Stambouli; Naldo; Nastasic; Caligiuri; Mascarell; Schopf; Bentaleb; Harit; Burgstaller; Skryzbski

Key player: Daniel Caligiuri

 

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