UEFA Champions League: Porto vs Arsenal Live
Preview: Porto vs Arsenal
After being absent from the Champions League knockout stages for seven years, Arsenal is heading to Portugal for the first leg of their last-16 match against Porto on Wednesday. Porto vs Arsenal will take place at the Estadio Do Dragao in Portugal. Arsenal finished at the top of Group B, while Porto secured their spot in the knockout rounds by coming in second in Group H behind Barcelona.
Benfica and Braga were both relegated to the Europa League after finishing third in the Champions League group stage, leaving Porto as the sole remaining Portuguese team in the top European competition. Porto secured a spot in the knockout rounds for the sixth time in seven seasons by finishing second in Group H behind Barcelona.
Despite having a better goal difference than the La Liga champions, the home side settled for second place due to an inferior head-to-head record. With 12 points in the group stage, the home side has the opportunity to improve their Champions League record, as they have not advanced past the quarter-finals since the 1993-94 season. In the 2022-23 tournament, Porto was eliminated in the knockout stage by Inter Milan.
While the home side has been eliminated by English teams in seven of their last eight Champions League knockout ties, they famously defeated Manchester United in the last 16 in 2004 and went on to win the tournament.
A week after their impressive 6-0 victory over West Ham United, Arsenal made history by winning their first five league games of the year for the first time in their 138-year existence. The team has scored a remarkable 21 goals in five Premier League matches since returning from a training camp in Dubai.
Despite facing less glamorous opponents like Sevilla, Lens, and PSV Eindhoven, Arsenal secured top spot in their group with a solid defensive record, conceding only four goals in six games. However, their struggles in the last-16 stage of the Champions League continue, with seven consecutive eliminations since the 2010-11 season.
Head-to-head
In their last four encounters, both teams have won two games each, with Arsenal emerging victorious in their most recent meeting with a 5-0 scoreline in 2010.
Prediction
While Porto’s strong home defense is commendable, Arsenal’s impressive attacking performances, especially on the road, indicate that the Dragons’ defensive skills may not be enough if the Gunners’ offense is in top form. Although the home side will present a tougher challenge than West Ham and Burnley, Arsenal has historically faced difficulties at the Estadio do Dragao. However, there is confidence in Arteta’s team to take advantage of Porto’s defensive injuries and secure a significant lead in the first leg before heading back to North London.
