Club Brugge v Porto: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Monday, October 17, 2016
Article summary
Club Brugge have conceded seven without reply in Group G and have several players out injured, but coach Michel Preud'homme is urging them to come out fighting against Porto.
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Article body
- Club Brugge coach Michel Preud'homme: "I hope we can get out of this corner"
- Belgian hosts without a point or goal in first two Group G games
- Preud'homme played for Porto's rivals Benfica for five years
- Diogo Jota (Porto) and André Silva (Portugal) have both scored hat-tricks this month
Possible line-ups
Club Brugge: Butelle; Van Rhijn, Poulain, Denswil, Cools; Claudemir, Simons; Vanaken, Vormer, Gedoz; Vossen.
Out: Refaelov (pubic bone), Engels (shoulder), Izquierdo (groin), De Bock (knee), Mechele (shin), Bruzzese (stomach)
Doubtful: Diaby (unspecified)
Misses next match if booked: Simons, Vormer
Porto: Casillas; Layún, Felipe, Marcano, Alex Telles; Danilo, Herrera, Otávio, Óliver, Diogo Jota; André Silva.
Out: none
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here
Michel Preud'homme, Club Brugge coach
It is special to play against Porto. I do not have to explain that they were our big rivals in my time [as a player] at Benfica. It's a shame we can't field our strongest side but we will do the best we can.
In every battle – and a football match is a battle – you have to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent. Unfortunately we haven't shown what we are capable of in the Champions League yet. I hope we can get out of this corner where we are taking the punches.
We need to try and put ourselves in a situation where we still have everything to play for come Tuesday night. If we have three defeats after three matches, it's virtually over. It would still be an honour to play the final three matches, but it wouldn't be the same.
Nuno Espírito Santo, Porto coach
Our goal is to dominate and control the match, a very important one for us. We arrive with plenty of confidence and we have a lot of faith in the team. We certainly won't be underestimating our opponents, though.
We have a lot of respect for Club Brugge, they are the Belgian champions. But Porto have been in a lull in recent years – without a championship for three – and this is something that must change.
Weekend results
Charleroi 1-0 Club Brugge (Bédia Christ 90)
Club Brugge lost for the fifth time in six away games in all competitions.
Gafanha 0-3 Porto (Otávio 32, Corona 70, Depoitre 90)
Otávio and Laurent Depoitre both scored their first domestic goals of the campaign to help Porto into the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Club Brugge: LWWWWL
Porto: WWLWDD
Reporter's view: Berend Scholten (@UEFAcomBerendS)
After 3-0 and 4-0 defeats by Leicester and København respectively in this section, it is imperative Club Brugge get a result against Porto. Preud'homme is not helped by the injuries besetting his squad – he was without ten players for Friday's trip to Charleroi – but will know that victory against the Dragons could totally transform his side's chances in Group G.
Did you know?
As Standard Liège goalkeeper, Preud'homme got the better of Porto in the 1981/82 UEFA Cup quarter-finals (2-0 h, 2-2 a). Find out more in our extensive match background.