Porto’s winning streak continued on Friday when they battered Tondela 4-0 at home to make it six wins on the bounce in all competitions. This has taken them to the top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, although the two point lead they hold over a Benfica side with a game in hand is far from a comfortable lead.
In the Champions League they managed to finish 2nd in their group behind Leicester, knocking out Copenhagen and Club Brugge in the process, with an 11 point haul from their six games. Their last group game was a stunning 5-0 thrashing of Leicester as well, which made it two wins out of three at home in the group stages.
The knockout stage draw hasn’t exactly been favourable towards them though, and they are understandably underdogs in this two-legged tie with Juventus. The visitors beat Palermo 4-1 on Friday to extend their own winning streak to seven matches in all competitions.
This has given them a commanding ten point lead in Serie A, as they search for their sixth consecutive league title. Such a big lead in the league will allow them to focus heavily on the Champions League as well, whilst Porto don’t have any room for slip ups in their domestic campaign.
Away from home Juventus have faltered occasionally this season, winning six and losing three of their last nine games, with AC Milan, Genoa, and Fiorentina all bettering them on their travels. Meanwhile, Porto are unbeaten on home soil this season and have won 13 of their 18 matches there in all competitions.
I expect this first leg to be a very tight clash. Juventus know that a draw should be enough for them to comfortably qualify for the next round, considering their sensational home form, but ideally they would like a victory. Porto won’t lie down though, and their results at home to Sporting CP, Leicester, Braga, Benfica, and Roma this season show they are a tough side to beat in front of their own fans.
The hosts have only failed to score at home once all season, but even against the relatively weak Portuguese league competition they have only kept nine clean sheets in all competitions. Juventus have conceded in six of their last nine away games as well, but have only failed to find the net once on the road all term. This makes odds of 11/10 for Both Teams to Score look good value, so I’m backing that alongside a 1-1 correct score predictions at 5/1.
An additional backing to consider is our anytime goalscorer predictions too. 21 year old Porto striker Andre Silva has scored four in the Champions League this season and has 11 of his 17 goals in the league and Champions League at home. He comes in at 15/8 to score anytime, which is excellent value considering his talent.
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