Prediction: Porto vs. Royal Antwerp – Champions League Preview and Analysis – Nov 7, 2023
Porto is aiming to secure their place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League as they host Royal Antwerp on November 7, 2023, at 8:00 pm UK time. Porto currently sits in second place in Group H with six points, while Royal Antwerp is at the bottom of the group, having lost all three of their matches.
Porto’s Quest for Progression:
Porto started their Group H campaign with a 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk but suffered a 1-0 home loss to Barcelona in their second match. However, they returned to winning ways with a 4-1 triumph over Royal Antwerp, with Evanilson scoring a second-half hat-trick. Porto cannot secure qualification this week, but a win against Antwerp would put them in a strong position.
Porto currently holds the third position in the Primeira Liga table, with 22 points from their opening 10 matches of the season. Despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to Estoril in their recent domestic fixture, Porto has a strong record in European competitions, particularly at home.
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Antwerp’s Uphill Battle:
Royal Antwerp has found it challenging in their first-ever appearance in the Champions League group stage. They began with a 5-0 defeat to Barcelona and followed it with a 3-2 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk. In their last encounter with Porto, they suffered a 4-1 defeat. Antwerp needs a victory to stay in contention for a top-two finish in the group, as a draw or loss would eliminate them.
In the Belgian Pro League, Antwerp is currently in sixth place, with 20 points from 13 matches. Their defensive vulnerabilities have been exposed in the Champions League, as they have conceded 12 goals in three matches, the highest among all teams in the competition.
Team News:
Porto has several players sidelined due to injuries, including Galeno, Wendell, Ivan Jaime, Zaidu Sanusi, Ivan Marcano, and Gabriel Veron. Pepe Aquino is expected to start in a wide position, and Evanilson will lead the attack alongside Mehdi Taremi. Jorge Sanchez could feature in defense in place of the injured Wendell.
For Royal Antwerp, Mandela Keita, Jacob Ondrejka, Anthony Valencia, and Bjorn Engels will miss the match due to fitness issues. Arthur Vermeeren is expected to play in central midfield, and Vincent Janssen will lead the attack. Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who has scored six goals in all competitions this season, is likely to start as well.
Royal Antwerp: Butez; De Laet, Alderweireld, Coulibaly, Bataille; Vermeeren, Yusuf; Muja, Ekkelenkamp, Balikwisha; Janssen
Analysis:
Porto enters this match as the clear favorite, having already beaten Royal Antwerp convincingly in their previous encounter. The Portuguese side is in a strong position to secure progression to the knockout rounds, while Antwerp faces an uphill battle to stay in contention.
Key Battle:
Evanilson, Porto’s top scorer in the Champions League with three goals, will be a player to watch. Vincent Janssen, with seven goals this season, will be Royal Antwerp’s main attacking threat.
Hot Stat:
Only one of Porto’s last seven matches has seen both teams score, highlighting their defensive solidity.
Prediction: Goal.mu/Mauri.bet predicts: Porto 3-0 Royal Antwerp
Porto is expected to dominate this match and secure a comfortable 3-0 victory. Their superior quality and recent form give them a significant advantage over Royal Antwerp.
Other Betting Predictions:
Both Teams to Score: No
Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Under 2.5
Hot Stat: Porto has a strong record of winning against Belgian clubs in European competitions.
(Odds are taken from bet365 and are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.T&Cs apply, 18+)
74 average Markets available for FC Porto v Antwerp
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