In a direct fight for survival in the 2017/2018 edition of the European Champions League, Porto hosts Leipzig on Wednesday, November 1st. The game, which is part of the schedule of the fourth round of group G, the first of the second round, will be held from 17:45 (Brasília time) at Dragon Stadium in Portugal.
The surprising Besiktas, from Turkey, is the leader of the key. He added up the nine possible points. Leipzing, who beat Porto 3-2 in the third round, took second place by reaching four points. The Portuguese come next with three. In the flashlight is Monaco, who was the big favorite to be in first place with only one point. The top two finishers advance to the round of 16 of the tournament. The third one has a consolation prize in the knockout stage of the Europa League.
Porto’s recent performance
On Saturday, October 28, Porto maintained the isolated and unbeaten leadership of the 2017/2018 Portuguese Championship by scoring 3-0, away from home in Boavista. He went up to 28 points (nine wins and one draw). He has two more than Sporting, second placed. The team has the best attack of the competition with 28 goals scored and the defense less leaked, with four goals conceded.
This solid performance is not repeated in the Champions League. In the tournament, Porto was surprised on the opening day by taking 3-1 to Besiktas. The home defeat was promptly answered with an even more unexpected result. As a visitor, he thrashed Monaco 3-0.
Even the 3-2 run by Leipzig in the previous round was far from a game that could be considered normal. All five goals were scored in the first half, played at an amazing pace by the teams.
This meant that the obligation of victory on Wednesday was due to Porto, who is led by coach Sergio Conceição. He has all of his top athletes in contention. It does not face suspension or injury problems.
The current form of Leipzig
Leipzig had a pretty bad week of preparation after lining up a run of four wins. He was twice beaten by Bayern Munich. The first match, for the German Cup, made the players live a roller coaster of emotions.
At home, Leipzig had an athlete expelled, managed to leave in front of the marker, took the goal of tie soon after, but it stabilized and secured the tie by 1 to 1 in the normal time. He also managed to stop Bayern’s attack on extra time, which ended in scoreless equality. However, in front of his fans, the club ended up being eliminated in the decision by penalties.
Three days later, he had the rival again ahead, but by the German Championship. Again with a player expelled, this time could not compensate the numerical disadvantage and took 2 to 0.
He did not lose position in the Bundesliga. It follows in third place. However, parked in the 19 points (six wins, one draw and three losses), saw Bayern open four points lead in the lead.
The expulsions in the national tournaments do not affect the Champions League, but the coach Ralph Hasenhutti has two problems in order to define the team that will face Porto. Midfielder Stefan Ilsanker (six matches in the 2017/2018 German Championship without a goal) and striker Bruma (nine games, one goal) are handed over to the medical department and will need to undergo a new evaluation that will determine if they can play.
History of the bouts between Porto and Leipzig
This will be the second match between the teams. The first game ended with a 3-2 win in Germany.
PREDICTION: Leipzig win @ 3.50
