FC Porto – Liverpool Prediction & Preview and Betting Tips (14.02.2018)

Porto and Liverpool meet at Estádio Do Dragão, in a match for this phase of the UEFA Champions League (8th Finals). There is no recent record of direct confrontations between these two teams, who have not played any matches in the last 3 years. The last time they met was on 11-28-2007, in a match that ended with the final score: Liverpool (4-1) Porto. The Liverpool presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor, so in this game the home factor may be decisive.

Porto:

The home team reaches this stage of the UEFA Champions League (8th Finals) after having finished the group stage in the 2nd position of Group G, with 10 points won. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 9 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss in away matches, with 34 goals scored and 10 conceded; against 13 wins and 2 draws in their stadium, with 43 goals scored and 12 suffered. In the last match they played, for the Primeira Liga, they beat Chaves away by (0-4). Porto have won 9 and tied 1 of the last 10 home matches. The team has conceded goals in 5 of the last 6 matches, so it has not presented great defensive solidity, but its attack has scored regularly, as it has always scored at least one goal in the last 6 matches for this competition. In their away matches there is a tendency for goals, since 19 of the last 27 matches have ended with Over 2,5 goals. The team does not usually have problems opening the scoring: it marked the first goal in 12 of the last 15 games, of these 12 it arrived at halftime in advantage in 9 and always managed to maintain the advantage until the end of the 90 ‘.

The FC Porto comes to this game with a victory in the field of Chaves, adding the third successive win in official games. We remember that the locals reach this stage after finishing Group G in the second position. Coach Sérgio Conceição plays regularly in 4-4-2, privileging possession of the ball and organized attacks, mainly through the left flank: Brahimi is a player with great technical quality and very important in the offensive process. On the other hand, Vicente Aboubakar is the great scorer of this team, with 26 goals in several competitions, however, is in doubt, due to injury. For this game the coach does not also have Felipe, suspended, in addition to Danilo Pereira, Marcano and André André, all for physical problems.

Liverpool:

The visiting team got access to this phase of the UEFA Champions League (8th Finals) after the 1st place won in Group E, with a total of 12 points. This is a team that, oddly enough, was better outside than at home, as in the last 30 matches they register 9 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses in away matches; against 8 wins, 6 draws and 1 loss at their stadium. In the last match that they disputed, for the Premier League, they won against Southampton by (0-2). In the last 4 away matches for the UEFA Champions League, Liverpool have registered 2 wins and 2 draws.

For this competition, they have not lost any of the last 4 away matches. Their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored at least one goal in each of the last 8 matches for this competition. In their away matches there is a tendency to have goals, since in 27 of their last 30 matches there were Over 1,5 goals and in 21 of the last 30 there were Over 2,5 goals. This is a team that usually does not feel difficult to open the scoring: it marked the first goal in 6 of the last 8 matches for the UEFA Champions League, of these 6 reached the break in advantage in 5 and managed to maintain the advantage until the end of the 90 ‘in 5.

Liverpool comes to this game with a victory in the field of Southampton, by 0-2, thus registering the third game in a row without losing in several competitions. In the group stage of the Champions League, Liverpool finished at the top of Group E, with 12 goals scored. In this game against FC Porto, a team usually very competent at home, coach Jürgen Klopp will act in 4-3-3, favoring the low block and direct football for the attack, especially towards Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino. It is necessary to indicate that Liverpool uses preferably the right flank to create danger: Mohamed Salah is a very fast player and very important in the defensive transition. In addition, this player is the best marker of the team, with 29 goals scored. For this game the visiting coach does not have Emre Can, suspended, in addition to Bogdan, due to injury.