Porto v Juventus: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Article summary
Something has to give as two sides on impressive winning runs go head to head in Portugal – with Massimiliano Allegri claiming his Juventus team could not have had a worse draw.
Article top media content
Article body
- Porto have won last six games, Juve on seven-match winning run
- Chiellini and Barzagli shake off thigh problems but Bonucci overlooked
- Juventus beat Porto 2-1 in 1984 European Cup Winners' Cup final
- Bianconeri won all three away fixtures in Group H
- Get the latest from Porto in our match blog
Possible line-ups
Porto: Casillas; Maxi Pereira, Marcano, Felipe, Alex Telles; Danilo, Herrera, Óliver Torres; Brahimi, André Silva, Soares.
Out: none
Misses next match if booked: Felipe, André Silva
Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Rugani, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Pjanić, Khedira; Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandžukić; Higuaín.
Out: Bonucci (discipline)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Nuno Espírito Santo, Porto coach
We are ready and our players are up for this. We are going to see a great game between two of the best 16 teams in Europe. This Porto side is ready to battle against fantastic opponents. This is a big challenge.
The Estádio do Dragão is going to be filled with passionate fans who will get right behind us, and we want to capture that energy and channel it through the team. We shouldn't underestimate any team but we shouldn't feel inferior either. We must play to our greatest strengths.
Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus coach
Porto are a team and a club accustomed to being in the Champions League. They are unbeaten since September, having conceded only 14 goals all season. They have beaten Bayern and Chelsea at home in the last three years. They have an excellent record, so this is a difficult test. We know the problems we'll run into.
We have to keep focused on the most important thing, which is the game. These will be 180 very difficult minutes, because Porto are the worst side we could've drawn in the round of 16. We do not want to be distracted by a situation that does not exist [with Leonardo Bonucci, who will watch from the stands as a disciplinary measure following an incident on Friday].
Weekend results
Porto4-0 Tondela (André Silva 43pen, Rúben Neves 54, Soares 63, Diogo Jota 90+2)
Francisco Soares scored for the fourth time in three matches since joining from Guimarães and André Silva struck his 13th Liga goal of the campaign as Porto won their sixth contest on the spin on Friday, stretching their unbeaten Liga streak to 19 games in the process.
Juventus 4-1 Palermo (Marchisio 13, Dybala 40 89, Higuaín 63; Chochev 90+3)
Paulo Dybala registered twice – one a brilliant free-kick – hit the post and set up Gonzalo Higuaín for his 19th Serie A goal of the term as Juventus eased to a sixth consecutive league success. Their unbeaten competitive home run stands at 43 matches.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Porto: WWWWWW
Juventus: WWWWWW
Reporter's view: Paul Bryan (@UEFAcomPaulB)
A work in progress for large parts of the season, Porto are peaking at the perfect time for the visit of Juventus. Espírito Santo has seen his side strengthen in defence and blossom up front while the addition of combative attacker Soares really has bolstered Wednesday's hosts. With their Italian guests widely regarded among the favourites to reach this season's final in Cardiff, an even contest can be expected at the Dragão.
Did you know?
Juventus's 11 meetings with Portuguese sides have ended W5 D2 L4 (W1 D1 L3 away). All four of those defeats came against Benfica. Read more in our extensive match background.