Sport

Porto vs Barcelona

October 3, 2023

Yet to taste defeat in 2023/24, positivity is flowing through Xavi’s Barcelona as they prepare for their second Champions League group game on Wednesday night.

The La Liga champions may not sit atop the division thanks to Real Madrid’s equally bright start, but their unbeaten opening has many supporters believing that another prosperous season is inbound. However, Barca desperately need to improve in Europe and they’ve got a great chance of qualifying for the knockouts given the tame group they were drawn into.

Their campaign started with a 5-0 win over Royal Antwerp, but they now visit Porto in what, on paper, is their most difficult game of the group phase.

Porto have had some success in this competition in recent years, and are certainly capable of upsetting Europe’s aristocracy. However, they head into Wednesday’s bout having tasted defeat to Benfica in O Classico at the weekend.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League affair.

Porto vs Barcelona H2H record (last three games)

Current form (last five competitive games)

Country	TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom	discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 6
United States	Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN USA, Univision, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, ViX
Canada	DAZN

Fabio Cardoso received his marching orders in Porto’s defeat at Benfica / Gualter Fatia/GettyImages

The hosts will once again be without Gabriel Veron and Evanilson for Barcelona’s visit. A muscle injury will likely keep the former out of action in midweek, while the latter has been hampered by a knee problem.

Ivan Marcano is a long-term absentee after tearing his ACL and won’t be back in action until next spring. Zaidu Sanusi also won’t feature on Wednesday.

Fabio Cardoso is available for selection despite his sending off at the weekend.

Porto predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-4-2): Costa; Mário, Pepe, Carmo, Wendell; Baro, Varela, Eustaquio, Galeno; Pepe, Taremi

Raphinha is set to miss the next few weeks with a hamstring injury / Soccrates Images/GettyImages

Raphinha was added to the injury list on Friday night as he suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win over Sevilla, The Brazilian is expected to be out until the end of October, with Lamine Yamal set for his first Champions League start on Wednesday.

Pedri is closing in on a return but won’t be ready to make Xavi’s matchday squad for their trip to Porto, while Frenkie de Jong won’t return to action until the start of November.

Young Fermin Lopez could earn a star in midfield after impressing off the bench yet again on Friday.

Barcelona predicted lineup vs Porto (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; Gundogan, Gavi, Lopez; Yamal, Lewandowski, Felix

Sergio Conceicao has built a reputation for being a pragmatic manager, and his Porto side are tough to break down when he sets his side out in a deep block. That’s what we should see from the hosts on Wednesday, although they will press high and seek to catch the visitors on occasions, too.

Barca will have to be patient, and Porto will hope to outwit their youthful opposition. However, La Blaugrana carry plenty of momentum heading into this fixture, and while Porto could turn this into a dogfight, the visitors will find a way to escape with a pivotal three points.