We’re getting down to the nitty gritty in the UEFA Champions League as we approach the final matchday for this year’s competition. All 32 clubs involved know what is at stake over the course of the next 90 minutes, with some being in control of their own destiny and others needing a favour. Today, we’ll be taking a look at what should be a fun clash between Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Porto Form GuideIt’s been almost twenty years since FC Porto’s remarkable Champions League success under Jose Mourinho and, for many, they aren’t expected to repeat that triumph anytime soon - if ever. Alas, they do always seem to do fairly well when looking at the competition as a whole, which is why they’re always a dangerous prospect to take on in the group stage.
Porto started off like a house on fire with a big 3-1 win on the road against Shakhtar. They did proceed to lose 1-0 to Barca, before bouncing back with a 4-1 win over Antwerp. They beat the Belgians 2-0 in the reverse fixture before falling to a disappointing 2-1 loss at the Nou Camp.
Shakhtar Form GuideShakhtar Donetsk have a notable history of success in European football and while this group has certainly been tough, they’re still in with a chance of qualification as we approach the final set of fixtures. The boys from Ukraine won’t be afraid of a challenge like this and although some feel like the odds are stacked against them, they’ve got the fire power necessary to make waves.
After an opening 3-1 loss to Porto, Shakhtar had to bounce back - and they did with a 3-2 win away to Antwerp. They lost 2-1 to Barca on the road, before a surprising 1-0 win in the reverse fixture. From there, they edged past Antwerp to keep their hopes alive heading into the final matchday.
Match PredictionGiven what’s at stake, we’d make the argument that this has the potential to be a Champions League classic. Porto, blow for blow, are probably the better side on paper, but Shakhtar are the ones who need to make a big result happen. In our view, this will end with over 2.5 goals scored.
