Preview: Barcelona vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

Barcelona are currently at the top of the section, level on nine points with second-placed Porto, while third-placed Shakhtar Donetsk are just three points behind in what is a fascinating group.

Match preview

Barcelona would have booked their spot in the knockout stage of the Champions League with two games to spare had they managed to overcome Shakhtar on November 7, but the Ukrainian outfit recorded a 1-0 victory, with the result putting firm pressure on the La Liga champions.

Xavi's side remain top of Group H, but they are far from comfortable, with Porto in second on the same points (nine), while Shakhtar in third are just two points behind.

Barcelona would book their spot in the last-16 stage of the competition if they win on Tuesday, while a draw would also be enough if Shakhtar either draw or lose to Royal Antwerp in the other match in the section.

A defeat for the Catalan side, coupled with a win for Shakhtar, would leave the two sides on nine points heading into the final matchday, with Xavi's team finishing away to Antwerp, and they will be desperate to avoid having to wait until December 13 to decide their fate.

Barcelona will enter this match off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, with the result leaving them down in fourth position in the table, and they have only managed to win two of their last five matches in all competitions.

Xavi is also yet to lead the Catalan side into the knockout round of the Champions League, failing in his two attempts, so there is major pressure on the 43-year-old when it comes to this competition.

Porto have also been in strong form in Group H, winning three and losing one of their four matches to collect nine points, which as mentioned, has left them in second position in the table.

A win for the Portuguese giants on Tuesday would see them advance to the knockout round of the competition if Shakhtar draw or lose to Antwerp, while a draw would be enough for the Portuguese giants if Shakhtar lose to the team currently at the bottom of the group.

Porto have beaten Antwerp twice in this section, in addition to recording a 3-1 success over Shakhtar, but they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona in the reverse match in the early stages of October.

Sergio Conceicao's side will enter this match off the back of three straight wins in all competitions, including a 2-1 success over Vitoria Guimaraes in the league on November 11, an a 4-0 success over Montalegre in the Taca de Portugal on Friday.

Porto have won this competition on two occasions, lifting the trophy in 1987 and 2004, and they advanced to the round of 16 last season, losing to eventual finalists Inter Milan 1-0 on aggregate.

Barcelona Champions League form:

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Porto Champions League form:

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Porto form (all competitions):

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Team News

Barcelona could again be without number one goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for this match; the German missed out against Rayo on Saturday due to a back issue, and he did not train with the main group on Sunday, so Inaki Pena may continue between the sticks.

Gavi is also out for the rest of the campaign with a serious knee injury, but the experienced Sergi Roberto could make the squad after a spell out with a calf issue.

Head coach Xavi will make changes from the side that started against Rayo in the league, with Joao Felix, Ilkay Gundogan, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and Raphinha all potentially coming into the XI.

Frenkie de Jong was able to play the full 90 minutes against Rayo after recovering from an ankle problem, and the Netherlands international is set to remain in the starting side for this game.

Porto, meanwhile, will be missing Samuel Portugal, Ivan Marcano, Gabriel Veron and Ivan Jaime due to injury.

Wendell also remains a major doubt for the Portuguese team due to a muscular problem, and it is thought that he will only make the bench in the best-case scenario.

There will be changes from the side that started against Montalegre in the cup on Friday, with David Carmo, Pepe Aquino, Mehdi Taremi and Diogo Costa among those set to return, but there will be another start for Evanilson, who has struck nine times in all competitions this season.

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Pena; Cancelo, Araujo, Kounde, Balde; Gundogan, De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Felix

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Mario, Pepe, Carmo, Sanusi; Galeno, Varela, Eustaquio, Aquino; Evanilson, Taremi

We say: Barcelona 1-1 Porto

Barcelona's performances in recent weeks have been disappointing, and we are struggling to back them to beat a talented Porto outfit on Tuesday night. A point would not be enough to guarantee their spot in the next stage, but Porto have enough quality to secure a share of the spoils in this match.

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