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Porto with much to prove

We take a look at the form and season so far of UEFA Champions League participants FC Porto.

  • Each day until 31 December uefa.com will assess the fortunes of a UEFA Champions League participant. Today we look at FC Porto.

    Something strange happened in the 1. Liga in Portugal in 2000/01. Neither FC Porto, SL Benfica nor Sporting Clube de Portugal won the title. The last time that a club from outside of the traditional 'Big Three' had won the Portuguese league was way back in 1946. Porto, the last Portuguese club to have won the European Champion Clubs' Cup 14 years ago (when they came from behind to defeat FC Bayern München 2-1) were simply grateful to finish second to Boavista FC and earn themselves a place in the qualifying rounds for the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League, a competition that they have become regular participants in since its inception in 1992/93.

    Qualifying hurdle
    In the second qualifying round of the Champions League, Porto saw off League of Wales outfit Barry Town AFC 9-3 on aggregate, although an embarrassing 3-1 reverse in Barry showed the club's propensity to fall victim to occasional bouts of travel sickness that have always hampered attempts to stamp their authority on European club football. In the crucial third qualifying round, Porto squeaked through 5-4 over the two legs, having been given an almighty scare by Nationalliga A champions Grasshopper-Club, which was a relief to everyone involved with the team following their costly defeat to RSC Anderlecht at the same stage the previous year.

    Taste of things to come
    The four matches that Porto played in making it through to the Champions League proper highlighted the club's strengths and weaknesses: Porto have always been a formidable side to play in their Das Antas stadium, where their more inventive South American players are given license to roam and create, hence the ten goals scored in the two qualifying games played. However, as soon as the squad departs Porto, problems inevitably arise and one win in their four away matches, with just three goals scored in the process, puts too much pressure on wining at home. Octávio Machado also relies too heavily on last season's top scorer in the league, Jesus Pena, for goals and Brazilian Deco for assists, whilst club captain Vítor Baía's experience and calming influence have been sorely missed, although his return to first-team action last week is a boost for the club.

    FIRST GROUP STAGE: Rare away win

    Before Group E got underway, Porto were favourites to join Juventus FC in qualifying for the second group stages, although both Celtic FC and Rosenborg BK were sure to provide stiff opposition. Machado and his team had to travel to Trondheim followed by Glasgow for the group's opening two fixtures, with Juventus awaiting in their third match at home. Four points from a possible nine was a fair return and the performance against one of the strongest teams in the competition, Marcello Lippi's Juventus, was encouraging. The game ended goalless, but only thanks to a string of fine saves from the world's most expensive goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.

    Celtic conquered
    Upon completion of Group E, Porto found themselves just a point ahead of Celtic and it was their 3-0 triumph in Porto over the Scottish Premier League champions that was perhaps the club's most important result of the first group stage, as well as their best performance. Three goals inside an hour blew away Martin O'Neill's team, with Clayton's aerial ability in particular impressing.

    Down to the wire
    Clayton even gave Porto the lead in the Delle Alpi stadium in their next match, but yet again Porto returned home with no points and needing a victory in their final group game at home to Rosenborg to stay in the competition. Pena's first half strike was enough for a 1-0 win, but Machado could not have been convinced by his team's performance, especially that of reserve team goalkeeper Paulo Santos.

    SECOND GROUP STAGE: Happy with the draw

    Although disappointed to have been paired with the favourites and eight-times winners of the competition, Real Madrid CF, Machado would also have been relieved to have avoided the likes of Liverpool FC, FC Barcelona, RC Deportivo La Coruña and AS Roma when the draw for the second group stage of the Champions League took place in Switzerland in November. Alongside Porto, effectively fighting for the one remaining qualifying place, were AC Sparta Praha and Panathinaikos FC. Having avoided defeat at the O.A.K.A. stadium in their opening fixture, an excellent result against a side that had won all of their home games in the first group stage, Porto let themselves down badly when the champions of the Czech Republic visited the Das Antas for the final fixture before the winter break. A goalkeeping error by Santos handed the visitors all three points, a mistake that could prove very costly indeed.

    REMAINING GAMES: Rain in Spain

    Porto return to action next February with a trip to the Spanish capital and the Santiago Bernabéu, with Madrid then making the return journey back to Porto in what could prove to be two very testing fixtures for the Portuguese due to the recent return to form of the Primera División champions. On the positive side though, the last time the two sides met in October 1999, six months before Madrid won their last Champions League crown, Porto actually beat them 2-1 at home. However, it is the club's final two games of the group that should decide whether they qualify for the last 16, at home to Panathinaikos and away in Prague and with Madrid likely to be taking points off most Group C contestants, six points from those matches should secure second spot for them.

    THE COACH: Octávio Machado

    For Porto fans, Machado's arrival back at the Das Antas in June 2001 was like a return to the good old days, especially after a period in which the club had failed to win the Portuguese first division title for the second successive year, having being crowned champions seven times in eight years from 1992. Not only was he a former player with the club, but he was also the assistant manager during the team's finest hour, in 1987 when they lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup in Vienna.

    Be number one
    Machado's brief was simple: make Porto number one in Portugal again, while also ensuring progress to the last 16 of the Champions League. In replacing Fernando Santos, the former Portuguese international signed a two-year deal with club president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa. Like his predecessor, Machado insisted on playing 4-4-2, a system that suited the players at his disposal, especially wide man Nuno Capucho.

    THE PLAYER: Deco

    Having moved to Portugal in 1997 from Brazilian side Corinthians Alagoano, Deco played regional football in FC Alverca's second team before joining SC Salgueiros and then Porto in the middle of the 1998/99 season.

    Who needs Zidane?
    His influence on Porto's Champions League campaign this season has been enormous and even his coach was moved to compare him to former FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane following an exhilarating solo performance against Grasshoppers in August 2001 which took them through to the group stages of the Champions League.

    Vital cog
    The playmaker is certainly forging a name for himself at a club that is still desperately mourning the sale of fellow Brazilian Mario Jardel in the summer of 2000. His prodigious work-rate and commitment have made him extremely popular with the Porto's supporters. While he has the attacking flair one would associate with a Brazilian, he has also won the respect of his team-mates through his willingness to assist in all areas of the field. A 'heart and soul' player, Deco has notched up five goals in eleven appearances in Europe this season, as well as setting up countless other strikes for Pena and Clayton.

    DOMESTIC FORM: It's anybody's title

    With only two points currently separating the top four teams in the 1. Liga this season, it is threatening to become one of the closest championship races in decades. However, with both Porto and Boavista returning to European action next February, the advantage could be handed over to Sporting Clube de Portugal and SL Benfica, who will be able to solely concentrate on the championship run-in without the distraction of crucial Champions League matches.

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