Every single year in the Champions League produces a lively
outsider and it may be that Porto are the best of this year’s bunch, and as
such, they look well worth backing to gain a first leg lead over Malaga tonight
in Portugal. Malaga have been the surprise of the tournament for many, going unbeaten
in eight games including qualifiers, and impressing with some superb football
from homegrown talents such as Isco, Portillio, and until January, Nacho
Montreal, who they sold to Arsenal upon account of their finical problems –
payment to creditors and their cashflow - which have sadly excluded them from
European competition for the foreseeable future after this season.
Those writing them off on that basis only are being
premature. Lucas Pizaon showed on his first game for the club on loan that he
will provide a massive threat with a near cutback for Javier Savola - who has himself been in excellent form of
late – to win the game against Athletico Bilbao at the weekend, while Portillo
too does provide a scoring threat going forward. Their defence too, needs
respecting, upon the basis that it’s the best defensive unit in Spain, with
just 21 goals let in through their 24 matches. However for the reasons given
above those statistics might flatter Malaga slightly, and no clean sheets in
their last 5 spells trouble.
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| James Rodriguez will play a crucial part for Porto |
To qualify from a group featuring Zenit and Milan was no
mean feat, especially considering the style with which they went through, but
most of their football was played back in Spain and their away record doesn’t
quite stand up to the best of this level. Draws at Zenit and Milan were highly credible
results although both clubs were not in the best frame of mind or form at the
time. Admittedly Pellegrini’s side were set for a draw against Atletico Madrid
at the Vicente Calderon until a late mistake gave away their point but that’s
the only one of the current top 8 they’ve played so far on the road and they’ve
scored less than a goal a game on average on their La Liga travels.
Porto are unbeaten in their last 19 home games, haven’t lost
in their last 12 and won all three of their home games in the group stages,
including a comprehensive performance when outplaying PSG to win 1-0 on just
the second matchday; Indeed they’re unbeaten in the league this season with
their only remotely disappointing result being a 1-1 draw at home to Oldehanse
during which they dominated possession (75%) only to be hit on the break ,
while they warmed up a comfortable 2-0 away victory over Biera-Mar thanks to a
long-range goal from Christian Atsu, while Jackson Martinez - a revelation in
his first season for Porto with 24 goals in 26 games - hit the back of the net for the 10th time in
six matches. With James Rodriguez having made a cameo that suggests he too could
play a big part here, and with Ellisade out Malaga could be vulnerable down the
flanks to a team that loves nothing more than a good blast down the flanks, and
as such, are worth backing to take a first leg lead in their most formidable fortress.
Advice
2 pts Porto (5/6 Stan James)
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