Swiss champions Basel face Portuguese champions FC Porto on Wendesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Basel achieved a remarkable placing just below Real Madrid in Group B while Porto finished top of Group H with four wins and two draws. Porto are one of the three unbeaten teams in this season's Champions League campaign alongside Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Basel, managed by Portuguese coach Paulo Sosa, have never made it past this stage in the Champions League. Last time they were in the last 16 they were demolished by Bayern Munich, 7-1 on aggregate. Porto have not reached the quarter finals since 2009 and they have last won the competition in 2004 with Jose Mourinho at the helm.
Basel are unbeaten in their last nine competitive matches while Porto have also been in great form recently, winning their last 10 matches in all competitions. Jackson Martinez will be the main threat in the Porto attack as he has bagged 21 goals in 26 appearances so far this season while Shkelzen Gashi leads the scoring charts for Basel with 13 goals. The home side will be without suspended defender Fabian Schar while Ivan Ivanov and Adama Traore are injured. Porto have just one unavailable player: Adrian Lopez, who is out with a leg problem.
Probable line-ups:
Basel: Vaclik - Safari, Suchy, Degen, Xhaka - Delgado, Calla, Gashi, Zuffi - El Nenny, Streller
Porto: Fabiano - Marcano, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Maicon - Quaresma, Brahimi, Herrera, Casemiro - Torres, Martinez
My prediction: FC Porto to win 2-1.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Basel win - 23/10 Draw - 9/4 FC Porto win - 7/5
Shumar4life
9 years ago
Both of this teams had lot of luck on the draw, because one of them will be in 8 best teams in the Europe. After first match and draw in Switzerland, Porto is closer, and personally I think better team. But, we saw lot from Basel this season, they were better than Liverpool, and it will be surely very interesting in Portugal
Both of this teams had lot of luck on the draw, because one of them will be in 8 best teams in the Europe. After first match and draw in Switzerland, Porto is closer, and personally I think better team. But, we saw lot from Basel this season, they were better than Liverpool, and it will be surely very interesting in Portugal
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timidi 9 years ago
This is great result for both teams. For Basel it is great because they played bad and they can be happy with this draw, they had only one shot on target and scored. On the other side Porto can be happy because they scored a goal on road and now home I think that they will have easy job. For me before match Basel was favorite...
This is great result for both teams. For Basel it is great because they played bad and they can be happy with this draw, they had only one shot on target and scored. On the other side Porto can be happy because they scored a goal on road and now home I think that they will have easy job. For me before match Basel was favorite but they disappointed me.
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rikimartin4444_115925
9 years ago
This was a match where Porto dominated throughout the match, and in the end perhaps deserved to win. Basel's early goal was scored and then they pulled and defended the advantage. Maybe it was the wrong tactics, although 1-1 is not so bad result for them. Porto scored a goal on the side, and at home they will try to pass...
This was a match where Porto dominated throughout the match, and in the end perhaps deserved to win. Basel's early goal was scored and then they pulled and defended the advantage. Maybe it was the wrong tactics, although 1-1 is not so bad result for them. Porto scored a goal on the side, and at home they will try to pass to the next round.
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timidi 9 years ago
In this match Basel is big favorite. They are great team, they beat Liverpool and they proof that they can play against best teams in Europe. Porto is also good team but they are not so strong like they were few years ago. Last week Basel played only 1-1 against Sion but they were resting team and get ready for this match....
In this match Basel is big favorite. They are great team, they beat Liverpool and they proof that they can play against best teams in Europe. Porto is also good team but they are not so strong like they were few years ago. Last week Basel played only 1-1 against Sion but they were resting team and get ready for this match. Porto won easy against Gimaraes but that doesn't mean nothing. My prediction is 2-0 for Basel.
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sharpe
9 years ago
I think both teams have their chances to qualify for the next round. Probably Porto are the slightly favourites. Both teams are not in there best form but they are regular Champions league participators and have experience at that level so I hope both games to be exiting.
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h34dhunt3r
9 years ago
Both teams should have been satisfied with their their opponents. Both teams have chances to go futher, with Porto having 60% against Basels 40%. Todays game is gonna be slow, mostly during first half. Expecting draw at the end, but both teams may show me wrong. X-X bet seems most reasonable here.
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seculla
9 years ago
Well maybe this match is less interesting than other, like mdacic said, but both teams are in good shape and they proved that with qualifying in this stage. When it comes to quality I think that they are almost equal, but I'll say that FC Porto are small favorites here. This is very big chance for both teams to qualify...
Well maybe this match is less interesting than other, like mdacic said, but both teams are in good shape and they proved that with qualifying in this stage. When it comes to quality I think that they are almost equal, but I'll say that FC Porto are small favorites here. This is very big chance for both teams to qualify in 1/4 final and they both want to win. I predict that we will see many goals in this two matches between Basel and FC Porto.
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mdacic 9 years ago
I think that this match is less interesting than any other in this stage of champions league. Basel show a lot in group stage but they just don't have quality to play against Porto. Porto is good team but nothing special. They aren't even close to Porto who won champions league with legend Deco and I think that no matter...
I think that this match is less interesting than any other in this stage of champions league. Basel show a lot in group stage but they just don't have quality to play against Porto. Porto is good team but nothing special. They aren't even close to Porto who won champions league with legend Deco and I think that no matter who goes in next round that is end for that team.
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