FC Porto – APOEL Preview

When the Champions League groups were drawn, it was abundantly clear that Group D would be among the most difficult.

Coined this season’s Group of Death, the group features the might of English behemoths Chelsea, Portuguese giants Porto, and Spanish powerhouses Atletico Madrid. By finishing below the two teams that would progress into the knockout phase of the competition, one of Europe’s elite sides would be left out.

Yet in assessing Group D, many critics, columnists, and commentators failed to acknowledge the little Cypriot team APOEL. In their first-ever Champions League campaign, they surprised the whole of Europe by securing a goalless draw at Atletico Madrid and then putting up a valiant fight against Chelsea (a match which the Cypriots lost by a 0-1 scoreline) on the last matchday.

Having reached the Champions League group stages by virtue of victory against FC Copenhagen in the play-off round (a two-match affair that was won 3-2 on aggregate), APOEL will be now hoping for continued displays of grit and nerve when they return to the Iberian peninsula to face Porto on Wednesday.

However, history does not favour the Cypriots as no senior side from Cyprus has ever beaten or even drawn with Portuguese opposition at either the club or international levels.

Porto Men o’War

A perennially strong team in the Champions League, their most recent Champions League title coming in the 2003/2004 season under Jose Mourinho, Porto are—unlike their opponents—accustomed to the rigours of the Champions League.

While unable to secure a point in their first Champions League encounter at Chelsea (narrowly losing the match by a 1-0 scoreline), Porto put their stamp on this year’s campaign by dispatching Atletico 2-0 at home on matchday 2.

That win lifted the Portuguese to second in the group with three points and the side will be keen to put on another dominant showing in front of their fans in Wednesday’s match.

FORM GUIDE

Porto

October 17 v Sertanense FC (H) – WON 4-0 (Cup)

October 4 v SC Olhanense (A) – WON 3-0 (Portuguese Liga)

September 30 v Atletico de Madrid (H) – WON 2-0 (CL)

September 26 v Sporting (H) – WON 1-0 (Portuguese Liga)

September 19 v Braga (A) – LOST 1-0 (Portuguese Liga)

APOEL

October 5 v Ermis Aradippou FC (A) – WON 2-1 (League)

September 30 v Chelsea (H) – LOST 1-0 (CL)

September 26 v Doxa Katokopia FC (H) – WON 3-0 (League)

September 20 v Enosis Neon Paralimni FC (A) – DRAW 1-1 (League)

September 15 v Atletico Madrid (A) – DRAW 0-0 (CL)

TEAM NEWS

Porto

Porto have been hit by a few injuries and will be without Cristian Rodriguez who is out with a knee injury; Miguel Lopes, Silvestre Varela, and Cristian Sapunaru, who are all out with thigh injuries; and Tomas Costa who is out after suffering a broken nose. Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Helton – Fucile, Rolando, B. Alves, Pereira – Guarin, Fernando, Meireles –Falcao, Hulk, Varela

APOEL

APOEL have also been shorthanded by injuries—especially in the back line— with many of their players falling in the last week of September. The Cypriots will be without Paulo Jorge, Marcin Zewlakow, Adrian Sikora, Savvas Poursaitides, and Boban Grncarov who were all injured within a span of a few days. Joost Broerse continues to be out having been injured since August.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Chiotis – Broerse, Kontis, Elia, Haxhi – Michael, Morais– Charalambidis, Alexandrou, Pinto – Mirosavljevic

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Porto – Hulk

With a powerful frame, blazing speed, and powerful shot, the striker is a handful to deal with. APOEL’s back line is already weakened by injury, so the imposing Brazilian will be a constant threat.

APOEL – Chrysis Michael Michael is the source of invention in the Cypriot midfield and if APOEL should hope to threaten the Portuguese, they will rely on the midfielder’s outlet pass to free up the counter-attack.

PREDICTION

APOEL’s back line is already handicapped by injuries and with Porto playing at home in front of a famously raucous Estadio do Dragao, it is hard to see the Portuguese slipping up and surrendering points to the Cypriots. APOEL will likely throw many men into defence and the match could be a cagey encounter, but look for Porto to come out as the victors.

Porto 2-0 APOEL

Cyrus C. Malek, Goal.com

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