FC Porto – Schalke SOCCER PICKS
Porto and Schalke 04 face at Estádio Do Dragão, in a match for this phase of the UEFA Champions League (Group Stage). The history of recent direct confrontations between these two teams indicates total balance, since there were 2 draws in the last 2 matches. In this match the home factor may be decisive, since Porto presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor.
Porto:
The home team is currently in the 1 st position, with 10 points won, after 3 wins and 1 draw. In the penultimate match, they won in an away match against Lokomotiv Moscow, by (1-3). In the last match, they won in a home match against Lokomotiv Moscow, by (4-1). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 8 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses in away matches, with 21 goals scored and 11 conceded; against 12 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss at their stadium, with 36 goals scored and 10 conceded. The team comes to this match after a home win against Belenenses by (2-0). In the last 10 home matches for all competitions, Porto have won 8, tied 1 and lost 1.
For this competition, he does not lose 4 games. The team has conceded goals in 3 of the last 4 matches, so it has not presented great defensive solidity, but their attack has scored regularly, as they have always scored at least one goal in the last 4 matches for this competition.
FC Porto comes into this game with a 2-0 win at the reception of Belenenses, in a match for the Portuguese Cup. It is important to remember that the locals register 8 wins in a row in several competitions. Normally the coach Sérgio Conceição plays in 4-3-3, in the Champions League, privileging the possession of the ball and the organized attacks: Óliver Torres is one of those responsible for creating and organizing the offensive process of the team. On the other hand, Moussa Marega is the best marker of the local team in this competition, with 3 goals scored. It is important to underline that FC Porto has great competence in the defense-attack transition, in the finalization and in offensive set pieces. For this game the coach can not count on the injured Aboubakar.
Schalke 04:
The away team is currently in the 2nd position, with 8 points won, after 2 wins and 2 draws. In the penultimate match, they tied in an away match against Galatasaray, by (0-0). In the last match, they won in a home match against Galatasaray, by (2-0). This is a team that usually maintains its competitive level in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches he has 6 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses as a visitor; against 8 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses at their stadium. In the last match they played, for the Bundesliga, they won against Nürnberg at home (5-2). In their last away game, for the Friendlies, they lost by (2-1) against Zenit St. Petersburg. In the last 10 away matches Schalke 04 has won 3, tied 2 and lost 5. The defense has been strong and has only had goals in 1 of the last 4 matches, and their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 3 of the last 4 matches for this competition.
Schalke 04 started for this motivated match, after having won a victory against Nuremberg, by 5-2. Like FC Porto, the Germans have not yet scored any defeat in the Champions League. In this away game, coach Domenico Tedesco must play in 3-5-2, favoring the middle or low block and counterattacks, especially through the flanks. Guido Burgstaller must be the most offensive reference of the visiting team, being one of the best markers of Schalke 04, with 2 goals scored. Everything indicates that the coach still can not count on the injured Embolo, Uth and Riether.
