FC Porto Aims for Knockout Stage Against Determined Royal Antwerp
FC Porto vs Royal Antwerp - 07/11/2023
Maciej Rogowski Photo / Shutterstock.com
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Tuesday evening's Champions League lineup brings us to a crucial moment as FC Porto, sitting second in Group H, squares off against the group's last-placed team, Royal Antwerp.
Fresh from a domestic upset against GD Estoril, Porto is well aware that a win is critical to seal their passage to the competition's next round.
The shock in the Primeira Liga for Porto was intensified by Mehdi Taremi's penalty miss early on, and the surprise blow of a late Estoril goal. This blow has heightened the urgency for Porto to rebound and show their European ambitions.
Despite being rooted at the bottom of the group, Antwerp's chances of advancing are still alive, with a potential battle for third place with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Their season has been marked by inconsistency, but the Belgians showed quality with an important victory over Genk, racing to a 3-0 lead by the break and holding on for a 3-2 triumph in the Jupiler Pro League.
In their previous Champions League matchup, Porto emerged as dominant victors over Antwerp, 4-1, even after the Belgians had taken an initial lead.
Porto's overall form has been good, registering only two defeats in their last six outings across all competitions. Antwerp's form has been mixed, with an equal split of three wins and three losses recently.
Porto's season tally tilts in their favor, with 10 wins, one draw, and three defeats. Antwerp's record is not so good with eight wins, five draws, and six losses.
A glaring concern for Antwerp is their defensive record in the Champions League, conceding an average of 2.60 goals per game, a vulnerability Porto's attackers will be eager to exploit.
Evanilson, Porto's top scorer in the tournament, and Taremi, hungry to make up for his penalty miss, will be key figures in Portao's offensive line.
All sings points toward a victory for FC Porto in a match expected to feature goals from both teams.
As the match gets underway, Porto's aim will be to confirm their knockout stage ticket, while Royal Antwerp will not go quietly, promising an enthralling clash on the European stage.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
UCL
453223
1
2 - 1
3.03
14°
1.36
1.36
5.00
9.00
no
no
no
2 - 0(1 - 0)
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