Schalke – FC Porto SOCCER PICKS
The German number two of last season will compete against the current Portuguese champion in his first Champions League game of this year. Who starts the campaign best?
Schalke 04:
Schalke 04 did not start well in his season in the Bundesliga. With a 0 out of 9 it is temporarily desolate below. Last weekend, the men from Gelsenkirchen went 2-1 down at Borussia Mönchengladbach. After three minutes Ginter could put the 1-0 on the board at corner. Hereafter, the game went well up and down and both teams got chances to score. In minute 76, Hermann doubled the lead. The Swiss striker Embolo was able to make the final goal with a fantastic shot, but it also stayed the same. For this, Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg were lost at home. All teams that were not expected at the top for the season.
Poor dress rehearsals for the Tedesco team. There will have to be tapped from another vault on Tuesday evening against Porto. Ukrainian winger Konoplyanka was suspended this weekend by a red card against Hertha Berlin. Tuesday can be called on him. For the rest, it is to be hoped that players like Bentaleb, Naldo and Sane get their level. Because of their quality and experience, they play an important role in the central axis of the team. At the forefront it is not running on wheels yet. Only two goals were scored in three games. Nevertheless, the strength and speed of Embolo can become a weapon against the Portuguese.
Porto:
Unlike Schalke 04, Porto started the competition well. It is currently in fourth place with nine out of twelve, at one point from leaders Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Sporting Braga. A slip, a home defeat against Vitoria Guimaraes, caused the perfect balance to be disturbed. In the competition, the Portuguese easily find the way to the goal. In four league games there has already been scored 13 times, averaging more than three goals per game. Last weekend, the cup was played in-house against teammate Chaves. With a bred B-team they were stuck on a 1-1 draw.
Strongholders such as Hector Herrera, Brahimi and Aboubakar have hardly played this weekend. They will therefore appear fresh at the kick-off in Gelsenkirchen. Herrera is a Mexican midfielder, a turntable of the team and also played a strong World Cup. He stood out because of his defensive qualities but also because of good infiltrations and secure passing. Brahimi is a winger, who, like Porto, was a fixture in the Champions League in recent years. At the front there is a physically strong striker with Aboubakar who knows the goal. He already scored three times in four league matches.
