UEFA Europa League Preview: FC Porto vs. CSKA Moscow
Andre Villas’ FC Porto take on Leonid Slutskiy’s CSKA Moscow in the second-leg of the Lat 16 clash in the UEFA Europa League. The match will be played at the Estadio Do Dragao in Porto. The Portuguese side have a first-leg advantage over the Russians as
they won courtesy a Freddy Guarin goal in the 70th minute in Moscow.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186
The Portuguese giants have had a spectacular season this term and are well on their way to win the SuperLiga. The Dragons are top of the table with a staggering 65 points and 21 wins from a total of 23 matches played. They have been unbeaten in the League
this season and conceded only seven goals so far.
Porto won the Group L with 16 points ahead of Besiktas and scored 14 goals in the process. The club defeated Sevilla in the Round-of-32 and progressed on away goals.
CSKA Moscow
CSKA started the Russian season with a win against Amkar Perm at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow with a brace from defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergei-Ignashevich-c32956. The Moscow side were runners-up in the Russian Premier League last season with 62 points and were six points adrift
from champions Zenit St. Petersburg.
The Army men topped their Group F ahead of Czech Champions Sparta Prague with 16 points. They defeated Greek side http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/PAOK-FC-c40176 in the Last-32 clash with a 2-1 aggregate.
Team News
FC Porto
The Portuguese giants will welcome back Hulk in the squad after the Brazilian returned from injury. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Radamel-Falcao-c30276 will start as the lone striker upfront with support from Hulk and Cristian Rodriguez from the wings. The first-leg hero Freddy Guarin will
partner Joao Moutinho in the centre of midfield.
CSKA Moscow
CSKA have no major injury concerns as the Russian season started last week. The away side are expected to put a strong side in the clash. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alan-Dzagoev-c4249 will play wide in midfield completing
the traditional 4-4-2 for the Russians.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hulk-c16436
The Brazilian has been sensational for his club this season despite injury concerns. He has scored an impressive 25 goals already for the Dragons and is the League’s top goal scorer. The strong forward will be looking to put his side through to the quarter-finals
and add to an already impressive goal tally.
Vagner Love
The forward had a nightmare first-leg against Porto and missed a series of chances. The stage is set for the Brazilian to lead the Russians to the next round by scoring goals.
Prediction
The Portuguese side have been phenomenal at home this season and are yet to lose at the Estadio Do Dragao in the SuperLiga, winning all 12 matches played. Porto also have the away win advantage in the first-leg and with players like Hulk and Falcao in the
ranks, the former Champions League winners have a huge advantage. Porto are expected to win 3-1 at home and qualify for the Last-8 of the UEFA Europa League.
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