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[monks data]
Porto
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 29, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

2-1

Andre (39'), Maicon (52')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Willian (45')

Preview: Porto vs. Chelsea

Sports Mole previews the Champions League match between Portuguese side Porto and Premier League champions Chelsea.

Chelsea will be hoping to make it two wins out of two in the Champions League when they travel to Group G rivals Porto tomorrow evening.

The Portuguese side will be looking for their first win of the campaign as they welcome former manager Jose Mourinho back to Estadio do Dragao.


Porto

Players of FC Porto reacts after a goal during the UEFA Champions league group G football match between FC Dynamo Kiev and FC Porto at Olimpiysky stadium in Kiev on September 16, 2015© Getty Images

Porto are still looking for their first win in the Champions League this season, after having to come from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Dynamo Kiev last time out.

The team's domestic form has also been mixed at the start of the campaign. They are unbeaten in their opening six matches in the Primeira Liga, but dropped points at the weekend in a 2-2 draw with Moreirense.

The club won the tournament under Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho during the 2003-04 season before he left for his first stint at Stamford Bridge. They reached the quarter-finals last season, but were beaten by Bayern Munich.

Vincent Aboubakar has been in strong goal-scoring form early in the season for Porto, netting four goals in six appearances in the league, and a brace in the draw with Dynamo.

Despite bringing in goalkeeper Iker Casillas from Real Madrid over the summer, Julen Lopetegui's side have struggled to keep clean sheets so far this season, while letting in six goals in seven outings so far.

Porto progressed from the group stage of last season's Champions League without losing any of their fixtures, while also scoring 16 goals and keeping three clean sheets to finish at the top of their group.

Recent form: DDWWLD
Recent form (all competitions): DWWDWD


Chelsea

Jose Mourinho Manager of Chelsea gestures during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James' Park on September 26, 2015 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.© Getty Images

Chelsea come into this match looking to make it back-to-back wins at the start of their Champions League campaign, having thrashed Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 in their opening fixture earlier this month.

The performance in that match was a stark contrast to the Premier League champions' league form, with Mourinho's side having won just two of their eight matches in the English top flight so far this season.

The Blues are unbeaten following their win over the Israeli side though, beating London rivals Arsenal 2-0 before coming from behind to share a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United on Saturday, while also knocking League One side Walsall out of the League Cup.

There have been plenty of distractions for Chelsea in the first month of the 2015-16 campaign, with controversy surrounding the exit of first-team doctor Eva Carneiro and the dropping of club captain John Terry drawing criticism.

Chelsea have had an impressive run in Europe over the last four years, winning the Champions League in 2012 before claiming the Europa League title a year later. They stumbled at the round of 16 last season though, losing to Paris Saint-Germain in extra time.

Chelsea had the same record as their opponents in the group stage of the competition last year, winning four and drawing twice to finish at the top of their group.

Recent form: DWWDDW
Recent form (all competitions): LLWWWD


Team News

Diego Costa of Chelsea in action during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Chelsea and Maccabi Tel-Aviv at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2015© Getty Images

The visitors will still be without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is expected to be out for several months while recovering from knee surgery.

Striker Diego Costa will be available to return though, as the domestic ban that he is serving does not prevent him from playing in European games.

For the hosts, striker Andre Silva will be missing as he was ruled out for a month last weekend after picking up an ankle injury while playing for the reserves.

Yacine Brahimi is also a doubt for the match, having missed training at the weekend after picking up a knee injury during the draw with Moreirense.

Porto possible starting lineup:
Casillas, Pereira, Maicon, Marcano, Layun, Never, Andre, Imbula, Corona, Aboubakar, Brahimi

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Begovic, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Costa


Head To Head

Chelsea and Porto were drawn in the same group during the 2009-10 season, when Chelsea won both fixtures 1-0 thanks to goals from Nicolas Anelka.

This will be the fourth time in 12 seasons that the two clubs have been in the same group, with Porto having won just one of the six matches between the two sides.

Chelsea have won four of their previous meetings with Porto, but have been victorious on just one of their three previous trips to Estadio do Dragao.


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We say: Porto 1-2 Chelsea

Chelsea have not been playing their best form in the early stages of the season, but with so many dropped points in the Premier League, Mourinho cannot afford to take the Champions League lightly. Chelsea have a strong head-to-head record against their opponents, and have eased through the group stage of the Champions League in recent seasons.



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Written by
Sian Cowper
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Porto's Brazilian defender Danilo celebrates after scoring during the Portuguese league football match FC Porto vs Nacional at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, on November 1, 2014
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