FC Basel vs. FC Porto / Champions League – This is certainly one of the least attractive pairs in the knockout stage of the Champions League, and this is primarily because the team of Basel has found itself at this stage of the competition, which has by far the lowest budget of all 16 participants. On the other side, we have the troublesome team of Porto which traditionally plays great in the European competitions, while for this introduction we still need to add that this is their first mutual duel in history.Begins: 18.02.2015 – 20:45 CET
FC Basel
We have said that multiple Swiss champions are on paper valid for a total outsider for placement in the next round of the Champions League, but also they should by no means be underestimated since they managed to eliminate Liverpool in the group stage. Namely, this draw at Anfield in the last round meant that Basel will together with Real Madrid pass in the next round from that group, while they previously won more points at home where they celebrated against the Reds and the Bulgarian Ludogorets.
In addition they were still defeated twice by Real Madrid and away at Ludogorets, which only speaks that now against Porto, they will primarily look for their chance at home, because they themselves are aware that they have a tough rematch in the far west of Europe. Otherwise, the team of Basel has in the domestic league taken the leading position so they are on that side completely liberated, but coach Paulo Sousa is quite worried about the fact that he will be deprived of services of even three defenders against his great rival from playing days, because defender John and defender Traore are injured, while defender Schara is suspended.
Probable lineups Basel: Vaclik – Xhaka, Samuel, Suchy, Safari – Elneny – Gonzalez, Frei, Zuffi, Gashi – Streller
FC Porto
As for the guests from Portugal, they have certainly been the luckiest team after the draw in the knockout stage of the Champions League, because they got the worst-ranked opponent from the second hat and they therefore have the role of big favourites in this duel. But to justify this on the ground, they should not underestimate the Swiss champions, so we already in the first match in Basel expect them to play very seriously, just as was the case in the group stage where they recorded four victories and only two draws.
In addition, in recent times they have improved their form in the domestic championship, where they after three consecutive victories approached the leading Benfica to just four points and they sure have every right to hope that they can in the rest of the season get to the title of champions. Otherwise, we should also mention that they in the last three matches have not received a single goal, while they scored eight, so their coach Lopetegui has absolutely no reason to change anything in the starting line-up of Porto for this duel in the Champions League, especially because at the moment he can count on all of his best players.
Probable lineups Porto: Fabiano – Danilo, Maicon, Marcano, Alex Sandro – Torres, Casemiro, Herrera – Quaresma, Martinez, Brahimi
FC Basel vs. FC Porto PICK
Although Basel in the past knew how to inflict a series problems to a lot stronger teams than Porto, we still believe that the extremely experienced Portuguese team should already in the first match resolve the issue of placement in the quarter-finals, especially since the coach of the host team now has a lot of problems with absences at the last line.
Picks: FC Porto (X2), Over 1.5
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