Porto vs Juventus - Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: 22 February 2017 - Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Estadio Do Dragao, Porto
Date: 22 February 2017 - Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Estadio Do Dragao, Porto
FC Porto team are enjoying a good run of form. They hammered Tondela 4-0 at home
last Friday to make it six wins on the bounce in all competitions. The
sit 2nd in the league standings, just one point shy of Benfica. In the UCL the Dragoes managed to finish 2nd in their group behind
Leicester City, with an 11 point haul from their six games. Their last
group game saw the Portuguese outfit battering Leicester 5-0, but
Claudio Ranieri's men showed up in Porto playing a reserve side.
Nuno Espirito Santo has a full squad of players to choose from and will play with his usual 4-1-3-2 system. Brazilian forward Tiquinho Soares, who signed from Vitor Guimaraes last month, is in contention with Diogo Jota for a starting berth up fron alongside Andre Silva. Behind the attacking duo, the likes of Oliver Torres, Jesus Corona and Yacine Brahimi are likely to start as offensive midfielders, with Andre Andre and Herrera providing further options. Danilo Pereira will start as defensive shield in midfield while Iker Casillas will play between the posts.
Nuno Espirito Santo has a full squad of players to choose from and will play with his usual 4-1-3-2 system. Brazilian forward Tiquinho Soares, who signed from Vitor Guimaraes last month, is in contention with Diogo Jota for a starting berth up fron alongside Andre Silva. Behind the attacking duo, the likes of Oliver Torres, Jesus Corona and Yacine Brahimi are likely to start as offensive midfielders, with Andre Andre and Herrera providing further options. Danilo Pereira will start as defensive shield in midfield while Iker Casillas will play between the posts.
Juventus team have already amassed a 8 point lead at the top of Serie A
and enter this match ahving won their last six league matches. The Old
Lady eased past of Palermo (4-1) last Friday, meaning they have won 40
consecutive Serie A outings at home. In the Champions League, Juve were
held to home draws with both OL Lyon and Sevilla but they won all
the three matches on the travels - 4:0 over Dinamo Zagreb, 1-0 Over
Lyon and 3-1 against Sevilla FC - to comfortably top their group.
Massimiliano Allegri is expected to keep faith in his new 4-2-3-1 system. Mario Mandzukic and Juan Cuadrado will start as offensive wingers while Pualo Dybala will play in the number ten role behind the lone striker Gonzalo Higuain. The midfield pair will be probably formed by Sami Khedira and Miralem Pjanic. In defense, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli are both doubtful, meaning that Daniele Rugani could be included in the starting XI. Stefan Lichtsteiner has been reinstated back into the UEFA list and could get the nod over Dani Alves. Alex Sandro will be the other full back.
Probable lineups:
FC Porto: Casillas – M.Pereira, Felipe, Marcano, Telles – D.Pereira – Corona, Torres, Brahimi – Jota, Silva.
Juventus: Buffon – Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini (Rugani), Alex Sandro – Pjanic, Khedira – Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic – Higuain.
Massimiliano Allegri is expected to keep faith in his new 4-2-3-1 system. Mario Mandzukic and Juan Cuadrado will start as offensive wingers while Pualo Dybala will play in the number ten role behind the lone striker Gonzalo Higuain. The midfield pair will be probably formed by Sami Khedira and Miralem Pjanic. In defense, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli are both doubtful, meaning that Daniele Rugani could be included in the starting XI. Stefan Lichtsteiner has been reinstated back into the UEFA list and could get the nod over Dani Alves. Alex Sandro will be the other full back.
Probable lineups:
FC Porto: Casillas – M.Pereira, Felipe, Marcano, Telles – D.Pereira – Corona, Torres, Brahimi – Jota, Silva.
Juventus: Buffon – Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini (Rugani), Alex Sandro – Pjanic, Khedira – Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic – Higuain.