Spartak Moscow versus FC Porto: UEFA Europa League Preview
Spartak Moscow will take on FC Porto in the second-leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Moscow. Porto won the first-leg comprehensively 5-1 at the Estadio Do Dragao in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984, through the courtesy
of Radamel Falcao's hat-trick.
Spartak Moscow
The Russians have had a dismal start to the Russian Premier League this season and are currently in 15th place with four points from the same number of games played. Myaso have won only one game and lost two so far in the
League and are one place from the bottom.
Spartak downed Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam in the last-16 of the competition with a 4-0 aggregate and are the only Russian side still in contention of the title as CSKA Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg were knocked out by FC Porto
and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 respectively.
FC Porto
The Portuguese giants have had a sensational campaign and are one of the firm favourites to win the UEFA Europa League this season along with Villarreal. The Dragons are leading the Portuguese SuperLiga table with a staggering 74
points in 24 games and are yet to lose in the domestic league this season.
Porto have lost only once in the Europa League against Sevilla in the second-leg of the last-32 clash at home. The Portistas downed CSKA Moscow in the knockout stage with a 3-1 aggregate and are unbeaten in their last five games played
in all competitions.
Team News
Spartak Moscow are likely to stick with the team that lost 5-1 in the first-leg. Wellington will start as the lone striker with support from Alex, who will play as the second striker. Former Celtic player http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aiden-McGeady-c4091 and Dmitri
Kombarov will provide the attacking flare from the respective wings.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Silvestre-Varela-c33505 from the wings.
Joao Moutinho will partner Fredy Guarin in the centre of the field.
Players to watch
The Russian side’s captain has been in great form. He scored in both the home and away legs against Ajax Amsterdam to lead in side into the quarter-finals of the competition. The Brazilian will be hoping to score goals because the
Red-Whites’ need a lot of goals to cut the deficit against Porto.
The Columbian has scored 11 goals so far in the Europa League and is the highest goal scorer. His contribution has been great so far and the striker will be hoping to put in another match winning performance.
Prediction
FC Porto have a very healthy lead from the first leg and the Russians will have to win with a four goal margin to progress further to the semi-finals, which is highly unlikely. The match is expected to end in a
1-1 draw with both sides sharing points.
Tags: