In this Champions League showdown, Royal Antwerp will strive to secure their maiden points in the group stage as they host Porto at Bosuilstadion on Wednesday. However, the Belgians find themselves at the bottom of Group H, while Porto sits in second place with three points after two matches.
| Antwerp vs Porto Betting Tips | ||
|---|---|---|
| Selection | Odds | Bookie |
| Porto | 11/10 |  |
| 0-2 | 10/1 | |
Royal Antwerp made history by defeating AEK Athens in the qualifying rounds to secure their spot in the Champions League group stage. Their debut, though, was nothing short of a brutal examination at the hands of Barcelona, resulting in a devastating 5-0 loss at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. This not only snapped their six-game unbeaten streak but also marked the beginning of a shaky run of form.
In their last seven competitive matches, Antwerp managed just one victory, which came prior to the international break against Eupen. Their second group game against Shakhtar initially looked promising, with Arbnor Muja and Michel-Ange Balikwisha scoring to put the Belgian champions 2-0 ahead within 35 minutes. However, a second-half collapse led to Shakhtar’s comeback, ultimately culminating in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat. A missed penalty by Toby Alderweireld in stoppage time added to their misery.
Recent league results haven’t been kind to Antwerp either, with a 3-2 loss to Sporting Charleroi leaving them low on confidence. Despite this, they have demonstrated resilience on their home turf, boasting four clean sheets in their last six home games in UEFA club competitions.
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While Barcelona may be the group favourites, Porto’s European pedigree makes them strong contenders for the second spot. They’ve reached the knockout rounds in five of their last six Champions League appearances, indicating their ambition.
Porto initiated their European campaign in style, securing a 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in their first group match, with Galeno netting a brace and Mehdi Taremi adding to the tally. Their follow-up match against Barcelona was a closely contested affair, eventually decided by Ferran Torres’s strike in first-half stoppage time.
After the Barcelona encounter, Porto rebounded with back-to-back victories, defeating Portimonense in a league clash and securing a 2-0 win over Vilar de Perdizes in the Taca de Portugal. One notable strength of Porto is their defensive solidity, with the backline maintaining a streak of not conceding more than one goal in any of their last 11 competitive matches.
While Antwerp and Porto haven’t crossed paths in a competitive match before, Porto’s previous encounters against Belgian opposition have been favourable. They recorded three away wins against Belgian teams, beating Genk 3-0 in August 2010, overcoming Club Brugge in 2016 and 2022.
Antwerp manager Mark van Bommel faces a slew of injury concerns. Ritchie De Laet, Jacob Ondrejka, Sam Vines, Kobe Corbanie, Davino Verhulst, and Bjorn Engels are set to miss out. Additionally, midfielder Mandela Keita joined the absentee list after being forced off during the defeat to Charleroi. With limited midfield options, Van Bommel may opt to give Alhassan Yusuf his first Champions League start.
For Porto, Sergio Conceicao will be without the defensive talents of Pepe, Zaidu Sanusi, Ivan Marcano, and Wendell due to various injuries. Brazilian attacker Gabriel Veron remains unavailable, while Stephen Eustaquio and Ivan Jaime are unlikely to feature. Conceicao is expected to reintroduce Diogo Costa, Alan Varela, Evanilson, and Taremi to the starting lineup.
In this clash, Porto are the favourites to come out on top. Antwerp have shown defensive vulnerabilities in their opening group games, and this could prove to be their Achilles’ heel on Wednesday. Porto, on the other hand, are renowned for their defensive resilience, which should set the stage for a crucial victory.
Prediction: Royal Antwerp 0-2 Porto
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