Champions League: Porto vs Bayern Munich match preview
A look ahead to this week’s Champions League quarter-final
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Your support makes all the difference.Bayern Munich face Porto on Wednesday in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League and the German side will be hoping to take home an advantage to build on at the Allianz Arena.
History is on the side of the German champions as they are unbeaten on Portuguese soil since 1987 when Porto pulled off a shock triumph in the European Cup final.
One thing in Porto’s favour is Pep Guardiola team are in the midst of an injury crisis that left him with just four substitutes for Bayern’s Bundesliga win on Saturday over Eintracht Frankfurt. However, numerous Bayern fringe players could walk into most teams worldwide so Guardiola will not be losing too much sleep.
Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery will not make the trip to Portugal but the return of Philip Lahm is a major boost for Bayern.
Porto have had an impressive European campaign and reached their first Champions League quarter-final in six years after a 5-1 demolition of FC Basel. However, Bayern topped that with an emphatic 7-0 aggregate victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Portuguese side are aiming to make their first semi-final appearance since 2003/04 when they went on to lift the trophy under Jose Mourinho; however Bayern look set to end their journey over the two legs.
KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.45pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
Bayern Munich 2 (Sergio, Linke) Porto 1 (Jardel), Champions League, April 2000
Porto 1 (Jardel) Bayern Munich 1 (Sergio), Champions League, April 2000
Porto 0 Bayern Munich 2 (Ziege, Bender), European Cup, March 1991
STATS…
Five-time winners Bayern are looking for a fourth successive semi-final appearance.
Bayern's record in Portugal is W5 D6 L0 – that 1987 final defeat is their only loss against Portuguese opponents in 22 fixtures overall. They are also undefeated in eight ties against Portuguese opposition in two-legged knockout ties.
Porto are seeking a first semi-final appearance since 2003/04 when they lifted the trophy under José Mourinho.
ODDS…
Porto to win: 5
Bayern Munich to win: 1.87
Draw: 3.8
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 7:45pm, highlights on Sky Sports 5 at 11pm.
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