Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League Group G clash between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Porto.

Julen Lopetegui's men recorded a 2-0 victory over the Israeli side in their last meeting in Group G two weeks ago. First-half strikes from Vincent Aboubakar and Yacine Brahimi were enough to fire Porto to a 2-0 victory over Tel Aviv, securing their second win of the group stage and leaving them in top spot ahead of Dynamo Kiev, Chelsea and Slavisa Jokanovic's side.

The victory put Porto in a strong position in the group following their win over Kiev and their draw with Chelsea in their previous two contests. Lopetegui's men have seven points after three matches and they enter tonight's match knowing that a win would all but secure their place in the knockout phase of the competition.

Maccabi Tel Aviv have struggled in the group stage are bottom of the table after three matches. Their hopes of reaching the knockout stage are all but over, bar a late miracle, following three defeats in their opening games. Jokanovic will need to motivate his team in order to get a performance this evening, otherwise it could be a long night for the Israeli side.

The team news has been announced and we'll start with the visitors.

PORTO STARTING XI: Casillas, Maxi Pereira, Martins Indi, Marcano, Layun, Ruben Neves, Evandro, Andre Andre, Danilo, Aboubakar, Tello
SUBS: Helton, Herrera, Imbula, Varela, Corona, Andre Silva, Alberto Bueno

MACCABI TEL AVIV STARTING XI: Rajkovic, Tibi, Ben Harush, Ben Haim I, Carlos Garcia, Alberman, Zahavi, Rikan, Vermouth, Peretz, Ben Haim II
SUBS: Lifshitz, Shpungin, Miha, Azulay, Mitrovic, Igiebor, Ben Basat

Porto have made three changes from their last match against Tel Aviv as Evandro, Danilo and Cristian Tello come into the lineup to replace Gilbert Imbula, Jesus Corona and Brahimi from the 2-0 win. Jokanovic has made two changes to his team from their loss in Porto two weeks ago as Gil Vermouth and Avi Rikan come into the side, with Nikola Mitrovic and Michar Dor dropping out of the lineup.

Lopetegui has insisted that his side need to retain their focus ahead of tonight's clash in Israel to ensure they put themselves in a strong position to qualify from Group G.

He told reporters: "My main concern is reaching the next round and tomorrow we can take a big step towards it. We have a lot of respect for Maccabi; they are a good team with good players and will have a lot of fans behind them. We will have to be at our best."

Jokanovic has vowed to put in a strong performance for his side's supporters to earn their first points in the competition this season.

He told reporters: "I'm anticipating our best performance yet and looking for nothing less than a win. For many of our players, taking on teams like this is a new experience – you pay for every mistake. We want to show our supporters who we are and give something back to them. We will try to be focused and clinical. Our situation means we can't afford to take our chances."

The players have made their way on to the pitch and we should be underway shortly.

KICKOFF! We're underway in this Group G clash.

CHANCE! Early threat from the home side as Zahavi slides the ball into the path of Ben Haim II in the penalty area, and the forward takes a touch to turn away from his marker, but can only slam his left-footed strike into the sidenetting.

Zahavi makes a surge into the final third and cuts back on to his left foot in the box to try to fire at goal, but Marcano comes in with a good tackle to dispossess the forward and quell the danger.

Martins Indi allows the ball from a Maccabi clearance to travel back to Casillas, but Rikan races to close down the keeper. Casillas clears the ball but it strikes the winger to deflect up into the air, fortunately for the visitors it lands at he feet of the Netherlands man, who is able to clear.

Porto earn a chance to threaten from a free kick in an advanced position down the right as Ben Harush needlessly brings down Andre Andre near the corner flag.

The delivery from Andre Andre proves to be poor and an attempted strike from the edge of the box is blocked with ease by Ben Haim as the home side work the ball to safety.

CHANCE! Neves feeds the ball to Aboubakar on the edge of the box and the forward turns his man before rifling an effort towards the top corner. Aboubakar's effort looks destined for the top corner before Rajkovic palms his effort past the post. A great save from the Tel Aviv keeper.

CHANCE! Layun comes close for the visitors now as he attempts a low effort from distance, but Rajkovic gets down low to his left to tip the ball out wide. However, Aboubakar pounces and fires a strike from close range, but he sends his effort just over the bar. Porto are coming to life in this game.

CHANCE! Casillas's turn to make a fine save as he denies the home side the lead by turning Ben Haim II's effort past the post. The forward cut inside from the right wing to curl an effort towards the bottom corner, and Zahavi moved in front of the shot but did not make contact on its way to goal, but the Spaniard maintained his concentration to make the stop.

CHANCE! Zahavi whips the ball into the box from the resulting corner and Carlos Garcia wins the flick at the near post to send the ball into the direction of Ben Haim II at the back stick. The forward beats his man in the air, but can only guide his headed effort inches past the post. So close to an opener for Maccabi.

Tello hands Porto the lead as he lifts his effort over the advancing Rajkovic with a neat finish. The goal came from a poor clearance from the home side which was seized upon by Andre Andre and he played the ball into the path of the unmarked forward on the left wing. Tello drove into the box and first touch lifted the ball into the air, Rajkovic came off his line to close down the angle, but his attempt made the finish simpler for the former Barcelona man to go over his and send his strike into the net.

Porto have taken charge of the match since the goal and have not allowed the visitors a sniff of the ball by dominating possession in the midfield. Solid play from the visitors to quell an instant response from Jokanovic's men.

Total domination from Porto at the moment as they have done an impressive job of retaining possession. The home crowd is doing its best to try and motivate their by their constant whistling of the visitors when on the ball, but it hasn't worked yet.

CHANCE! Porto eventually open up space in the final third as a result of their passing game and Tello beats Tibi down the left flank before sending the ball across the face of goal. Ben Haim gets a touch to stop the cross from reaching Aboubakar, but almost diverts it into his own net, forcing Rajkovic into a save.

Another chance for the home side to threaten as Tibi brings down Layun down the left flank. The Maccabi players assemble their wall by holding hands like their at a peace rally. As you do!

Layun sends the ball into the box, but Aboubakar sees his header at the back post blocked, while the home side manage to scramble the ball clear. Maccabi have to stay in this game at half time, a 1-0 scoreline going into the break would not be a bad effort from Jokanovic's men from the opening 45 minutes.

CHANCE! Aboubakar misses a glorious chance to double his side's lead as he misses an open goal from two yards out. Tello breaks down the left as a long ball from Pereira sends him clear. The forward unselfishly puts the ball across the face of goal for his teammate to finish, but the Cameroonian fires his left-footed strike on to the post and wide. Huge opportunity spurned for Lopetegui's side.

Danilo tries to send the ball long to the back post, looking for the run of Aboubakar, but Rajkovic senses the danger and comes off his line with success on this occasion to claim the ball with ease.

Tel Aviv have been neutralised as an attacking threat by the Porto defence as Ben Haim II tries to raid past Pereira in the final third, but the right-back wins the ball with an inch-perfect tackle to quell any danger to his side.

CHANCE! Tello collects a pass from Layun and displays his quality with a fine piece of skill to beat the challenge of Tibi. The forward sends a low ball across the face of goal, but Ben Haim reacts to divert the ball over the bar, with Aboubakar lurking.

YELLOW CARD! Ben Harush goes into the book for the home side for a challenge on Evandro.

From the resulting free kick, the ball lands at the feet of Pereira in the box, but he is forced to check back on to his left foot to get his strike away, which sees his effort deflected past the post.

CHANCE! Neves lifts the corner to the near post and Evandro gets across his man to head at goal, but Rikan is there to block is effort on the line to save a certain goal. Good positioning from the winger.

The visitors take a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to Cristian Tello's strike in the 19th minute. The first 15 minutes of the game were even as both teams had good chances, but Porto produced the quality needed in the final third to break the deadlock. From that point Julen Lopetegui's men dominated the contest and should have taken a 2-0 advantage when Vincent Aboubakar fired wide from close range. However, the Porto boss will be pleased with his side's first-half display.

Maccabi Tel Aviv held their own in the opening 15 minutes of the match and were unfortunate to be denied the lead as Tal Ben Haim II saw one strike well saved by Iker Casillas, while he then put another effort inches wide of the post. However, they offered nothing after falling behind to Tello's strike, which will infuriate Jokanovic and he will be demanding a response in the second half.

UPDATE: Chelsea hold a 1-0 lead in their match against Dynamo Kiev this evening at Stamford Bridge in the other Group G game as an own goal from Aleksandar Dragovic handed the Blues the advantage. To read our half-time report click here.

The players have emerged for the second half, so we should be back underway shortly.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Ben Basat replaces Ben Harush and Mitrovic comes on for Vermouth for the home side.

RESTART! We're back underway in the Sammy Ofer Stadium.

CHANCE! Porto open the home side up down the right flank and Andre Andre slides a through ball into the feet of Neves, who fires a strike at the near post. However, his shot lacks power, but Rajkovic still has to turn the ball past the post.

Porto double their lead on this occasion as Pereira beats the challenge of his man down the right and he sends a cross to the back post, where Andre Andre runs in front of Tibi and heads into the bottom corner. A good move from the visitors, but pretty abject defending from Maccabi.

Tibi makes a good run with the ball down the right and he checks back on to his left foot to send an arcing ball towards the back post, where Ben Basat gets in between Marcano and Martins Indi. However, the forward cannot make contact with his attempted header and appeals for a penalty, which is dismissed by the referee.

Zahavi raids towards the edge of the box and tries to beat the challenge of Marcano, but the defender gets a foot the ball. The rebound falls to Peretz 35 yards from goal and he tries an ambitious strike that sails well over the crossbar.

CHANCE! Zahavi should bring his side back into the game as Casillas makes a calamitous error from the goal kick as he fires his effort straight to Peretz. The midfielder slides a through ball into the path of the forward, but Casillas atones for his mistake by getting just enough on his strike to guide it past the post.

CHANCE! Porto should put the game beyond doubt as they break in numbers following a failed attackby Tel Aviv and Tello drives through the middle. The forward tries to curl his effort into the bottom corner, but Rajkovic makes the save and palms the ball out wide. However, Evandro seizes possession and tries to fire the rebound into the net first time, only to put his strike over the bar.

Aboubakar wins the ball off Ben Haim in the final third and drives towards goal, but he takes a heavy touch when he advances into the box and Rajkovic races off his line to smother the ball.

Maccabi continue to pose problems for the visitors as they look to seal their victory. Zahavi raids in from the left and Casillas's concetration is tested as the forward's strike takes a huge bobble on its way to goal, but the Spaniard makes the claim without fumbling.

SUBSTITUTION: Herrera replaces Evandro for the visitors.

Marcano shows why he chose a career as a centre-back as he tries to fire at goal after collecting a loose ball from a corner, but scuffs his strike wide of the post.

CHANCE! Zahavi comes within inches of firing Maccabi back into the game as his effort creeps inches past the post. It was a well-worked move from the hosts as they exchanged several passes in the final third to create room for the forward, but he just couldn't hit the back of the net.

Porto managed to stifle the creativity of the home side in the final third by dominating possession, but that is proving to be a much harder task in the second half. Lopetegui's men have lost their rhythm and Tel Aviv are knocking on the door in search of a way to get back into the game.

Game over! Porto notch their third goal of the evening by showing their clinical edge in the final third as Tello picks out the run of Layun down the left. The left-back takes a touch back on to his right foot and curls the ball beyond the reach of Rajkovic into the bottom corner. An impressive finish from the former Watford man, surely there is no way back for the home sdie now.

Maybe there is way back for the home side as Zahavi wins a penalty and then dispatches his strike into the bottom corner, just past the despairing dive of Casillas. There was no way Maccabi should have been awardede the spot kick as the forward went down far too easily as he tried to latch on to a lofted pass from Mitrovic, but he showed his class from the spot by burying his effort into the net.

SUBSTITUTION: Varela comes on for the visitors to replace Tello. It looks as though Lopetegui maybe be shutting up shop.

CHANCE! Layun causes further havoc down the left and his cross to the back post almost finds Aboubakar, forcing Rikan into action to divert the ball over his own bar. The ball came inches from finding the back of the net, leaving Rikan and Rajkovic to embrace in a sigh of relief.

CHANCE! From the resulting corner the ball lands at the feet of Aboubakar, who unleashes a powerful volley at goal, only to be denied by the crossbar. Not the Cameroonian's night!

SUBSTITUTION: The home side make their final change as Igiebor replaces Peretz.

Andre Andre shows nous by taking valuable time off the clock by buying the visitors a free kick down the left from a challenge from Ben Haim II.

Layun arcs his cross to the back post looking for the head of Martins Indi, but his cross misses everyone in the box and sails just wide of the target.

YELLOW CARD! Ben Haim II goes into the book this evening.

SUBSTITUTION: Gilbert Imbula comes on for the visitors to replace Andre Andre.

Imbula makes an instant impact from the bench as he gets brought down on the edge of the box Carlos Garcia. Neves has the chance to add to the scoreline this evening.

Neves lines up the effort and sends his effort well over the bar. The strike did not have much going for it there.

We've played a minute of the two minutes of stoppage time.

Porto put themselves into an incredibly strong position at the top of Group G and may need only a point from their final two matches to secure their place in the knockout phase of the competition following their victory this evening. The match proved to be an entertaining contest as both teams had plenty of chances, but Julen Lopetegui's men's finishing in the final third proved to be the difference towards securing the three points.

Maccabi showed glimpses of ability but their poor finishing in the final third was to prove costly Eran Zahavi and Tal Ben Haim II missed good opportunties, which on another day could have earned their side a positive result. However, Slavisa Jokanovic will be pleased with his side's effort this evening and they did notch their first goal in the group stage when Zahavi scored from the penalty spot.

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.