Champions League Group B’s identity as the group of death is clearly taking shape as this week’s rivals – Porto and Milan – sit at the bottom, with neither of them having experienced a victory yet, after two matchdays.
It has been 18 years since the two last met – with the 2003 European Super Cup final being their last rendezvous, a game in which Andriy Shevchenko scored the only goal of the match.
Preview
Porto were on the receiving end of a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Liverpool at the Estadio do Dragao last matchday. The Portuguese have one point from two games so far and risk being knocked out of the tournament in the group stages – for the first time since 2015/16. Sergio Conceicao’s outfit have lost their last two home games in the Champions League, and will be looking to avoid suffering three consecutive home defeats in the competition for the first time in their history.
Milan return to competition at the San Siro was a scene of majesty last time around as the seven-time champions took to the field against Atletico Madrid with high morale, but agonizingly fell to a defeat at the death. They too risk being knocked out, but not since 2012 have the Rossoneri suffered two consecutive European defeats away from home, having lost against Liverpool at Anfield on matchday one.
The Rossoneri, however, have begun Serie A proceedings on a high note and will look to transfer that momentum into the Champions League. A 3-2 win against Hellas Verona was the Red & Black’s last outing, as they remain only one of the two unbeaten teams in the league, alongside Napoli.
The clash arrives as a must-win encounter for both the teams, as both will be targeting nothing less than a victory in hopes of advancing from the group of death.
Previous Results
Porto – W, W, L, W, W
Milan – W, W, L, W, W
Expected Lineups and Team News
Porto
Portuguese attacking midfielder Otavio Monteiro is touted to appear for Porto after recovering from a hamstring knock but Chancel Mbemba remains sidelined due to injury. Conceicao’s men are expected to line up similarly to their previous Champion League encounter.
4-4-2 – Marchesin; Corona, Pepe, Marcano, Sanusi; Otavio, Oliveira, Uribe, Diaz; Martinez, Taremi
Milan
Stefano Pioli’s men continue to add to the ever-growing list of injuries as Ante Rebic is the Rossoneri’s most recent player to get injured. Mike Maignan, Tiémoué Bakayoko, Junior Messias and Alessandro Florenzi are all out, as is Franck Kessié due to his red card against Atletico. Theo Hernandez and Brahim Diaz both tested positive for Covid-19.
4-2-3-1 – Tatarusanu; Calabria, Tomori, Kjaer, Ballo-Touré; Bennacer, Tonali; Saelemaekers, Krunic, Rafael Leao; Giroud
Prediction: Porto 2-2 Milan
Milan do not arrive into the match as the most comfortable of teams due to injuries to their regular players and that is bound to take a toll. Porto on the other hand, are expected to fall victim to the Rossoneri’s technical prowess. A draw is in the books.