FC Copenhagen vs Porto
UEFA Champions League – Group G
Date: Wednesday, 22nd November, 2016,
Kick-Off: 19:45 UK,
Venue: Telia Parken, Copenhagen.
FC Copenhagen strikers Andreas Cornelius and Federico Santander have been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Porto.
Cornelius pulled a hamstring in the 2-1 win over AaB on Friday night and Santander has yet to recover from a thigh injury sustained on international duty with Paraguay.
"This of course makes a difference in terms of our offensive game, we have less power at set pieces and less physicality in the box," manager Stale Solbakken told the club website.
"It is hard to say how it affects our chances. They are probably not increased, but we could also have had problems even with Santander and Cornelius on the pitch, because we face a really good Porto side."
Copenhagen are third in Group G, two points behind second-placed Porto and Solbakken has targeted maximum points from their final two games.
They battled to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in September and face a Porto side who were knocked out of the Portuguese cup on penalties after a 0-0 draw against Chaves on Friday.
"It's still a very strong team with many good players, and we saw this recently when they played the top match against Benfica (a 1-1 draw) in the league," added Solbakken.
"We also showed in the first leg down there that we can fight, and also in our other Champions League games we played up to our best, and we must also do that on Tuesday.
"I think we have to win both of the final games if we are to continue to the last 16.
"We still have a strong organisation and a very solid defence, and then we compensate offensive power with quick feet."
Porto's teenage forward Diogo Jota sees the trip to Denmark as the perfect opportunity to get their domestic cup disappointment out of their system.
"The Portuguese Cup is a historic competition, we wanted to reach the final and win," he told the club website.
"We're out, so now we have to think of other competitions."
Mexican midfielder Hector Herrera, a reported target for Liverpool, is in the Porto squad despite his recent performances coming under scrutiny.
FC Copenhagen vs Porto: Head to Head Statistics
Copenhagen and Porto have only met once which was the first leg of this group stage fixture which finished 1-1 at final whistle.
Copenhagen have played 5 games against Portuguese opponents, unfortunately they’ve won none. Copenhagen have lost 3 games against Portuguese side and drawn 2. At Telia Parken, Copenhagen have lost once an drawn once against Portuguese opponents.
FC Porto have a good record against Danish teams, they have won 3 of their 7 games against Danish teams. They have lost just once against Danish teams and drawn 3 times. However, Porto have never won a game on Danish soil they have drawn twice and lost once.
FC Copenhagen vs Porto: Prediction
Copenhagen are eager to get a point in this game, and that will also create a new record for them against Portuguese teams. Knowing fully well what is at stake, a defeat is not an option or the Danish side. They have been good in Danish league recently and are unbeaten in their last 6 games in all competitions.
A double chance on Copenhagen seems the best option, but goals will be few in the game.
Predicted Full-Time Score is a 1-0 win in favour of Copenhagen at the odds of 8.00 (7/1).
FC Copenhagen vs Porto: Betting Tips
The following Odds are provided by .
Double Chance: Copenhagen win or draw at 8/15 (1.53)
Both teams to score- NO at 17/20 (1.80).
