Bayern Munich vs Porto: Champions League match preview
A look ahead to this week’s Champions League quarter-final second leg
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The script was torn up and thrown out of the window. Bayern didn’t learn their lines and Ricardo Quaresma, the forgotten man of Portuguese football, stole the stage. Last Wednesday’s first leg at the Estádio do Dragão didn’t follow the conventional pattern which most sports pundits predicted, and now leaves Pep Guardiola’s German giants with an uphill struggle to claw back a two goal deficit.
Following the controversy of the last tie regarding Guardiola’s visible discontent with the club’s doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, and the 72-year-old’s subsequent resignation immediately following, the German outfit will be eager to steer all potential blame away from injuries and win the tie with the talent at their disposal.
The medical table though is still accommodating key players Arjen Robben, (abdominal muscle) Franck Ribery, (ankle) Mehdi Benatia, (thigh) Javi Martinez (knee) and David Alaba (knee) and will be a concern to the Bayern faithful.
Porto meanwhile will be optimistic of advancing to their first European semi-final since the 2003/2004 season, where they went on to lift the famous trophy under Jose Mourinho. After leaking an all-important away goal in the last leg, the Portuguese giants will be wary of coming under a barrage of attack in the Allianz Arena. To add to any potential apprehension in the Porto camp, full backs Danilo and Alex Sandro are suspended while winger Cristian Tello sat out Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of Academica.
A 2-0 victory at the expense of Porto will be enough to take the reigning German champions through to the semi-finals, although history does not look favourably upon the Bavarian heavy weight. On four previous occasions Bayern have chased a two goal first –leg deficit in their Champions League past, being unable to turn the tie on every single occasion.
KICK OFF: Tuesday, 19.45
PAST THREE MEETINGS:
FC Porto 3 (Quaresma (2), Martinez) Bayern Munich 1 (Thiago Alcántara) Champions League quarter-final first-leg, April 2015
Bayern Munich 2 (Sergio, Linke) Porto 1 (Jardel), Champions League, April 2000
Porto 1 (Jardel) Bayern Munich 1 (Sergio), Champions League, April 2000
STATS:
Last week’s Porto victory was the first time Bayern Munich had lost in a two-legged tie to a Portuguese club.
Star strikers from both sides, Jackson Martinez of Porto and Robert Lewandowski of Bayern have hit the woodwork more than any other player in this season’s competition, both denied on three occasions.
Porto are the only club remaining in this season’s Champions League who are yet to lose a game.
ODDS:
Bayern Munich to win – 1.36
Porto to win – 9
Draw – 5.5
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1, 19.45
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments