Preview: Club Brugge vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

With Atletico Madrid just two points behind the defending Portuguese champions, an away win could be crucial in the race for qualification for the knockout stages.

Match preview

Before a ball was kicked in the Champions League this season, you might have been forgiven for instantly writing off Belgian side Club Brugge when they were placed in Group B.

Yet, the side who have never qualified for the Round of 16 in Europe's premier competition have already achieved that feat, as a heroic 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid secured their place in the knockout stage, with two games to spare, and without having conceded a single goal.

Simon Mignolet was the hero at the Civitas Metropolitano, as he made nine saves, including five to deny Antoine Griezmann alone, to secure the all-important point.

It has not all been backs-against-the-wall defending for Carl Hoefkens's men, however, as Wednesday's opponents know all too well, with an astonishing 4-0 win for Club Brugge at the Estadio do Dragao in September underlining Blauw-Zwart's attacking credentials.

Four different goalscorers, aged 23, 22, 22 and 17 respectively, combined to inflict the joint-2nd heaviest defeat in Porto's history, as Ferran Jutgla and Kamal Sowah stole the show in Northern Portugal, before the pair would go on to score again in a historic 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid.

With the Belgians already through, and the away side in desperate need of a win, the signs suggest that we might see a different kind of contest this time around.

After winning Primeira Liga last season with just one defeat to their name, Porto have been the victims of their own high standards so far this season, as a painful weekend defeat to Benfica saw them double their number of league losses from the whole of last season, by mid-October of the current campaign.

A victory that saw unbeaten Benfica stretch six points clear at the top, Sergio Conceicao has problems to solve domestically, as a 27th-minute dismissal for Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustaquio quickly put Os Dragoes on the back foot in the big game at the top.

In the Champions League, the Portuguese side have recovered well from two consecutive defeats, following up a 101st-minute loss to Atletico Madrid, and that 4-0 thrashing by Brugge, with two consecutive wins over Bayer Leverkusen.

The latest, a convincing 3-0 win in Germany, was inspired by the excellent Mehdi Taremi up front, and the cat-like reflexes of Diogo Costa in goal, who ensured that his side's goal difference remained higher than their direct competitors for second place.

A victory here, will likely set up a grand-stand finale in Porto, just like last season, with Atletico Madrid. A year on from that 3-1 defeat to Diego Simeone's side, they do say that revenge is a dish best served cold.

Club Brugge Champions League form:

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Club Brugge form (all competitions):

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Porto Champions League form:

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Porto form (all competitions):

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Team News

The hosts will be without the suspended Sowah after his red card against Atletico Madrid last time out, as the young Ghanaian was booked for time wasting late on in that 0-0 draw.

Canadian striker Cyle Larin will also continue on the sidelines, as Hoefkens could go with a similar, strong side that secured a 2-2 draw with Union St Gilloise on the weekend.

For the visitors, right-back Joao Mario is both injured and suspended for this one, so will definitely not be taking part, while 39-year-old Pepe is carrying a knee injury.

Taremi should be joined up front by the tireless Evanilson, who will be looking for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:

Mignolet; Meijer, Boyata, Mechele, Odoi; Vanaken, Onyedika, Nielsen; Skov Olsen, Jutgla, Lang

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Sanusi, Carmo, Cardoso, Conceicao; Galeno, Eustaquio, Uribe, Otavio; Taremi, Evanilson

We say: Club Brugge 1-2 Porto

Desperate not only for Champions League progression, but also to make up for an O Classico defeat on Friday, Porto should come into this game extremely motivated to get the three points.

Club Brugge are yet to concede in the Champions League this season, and will not roll over easily, but their early qualification could open the door for a crucial away win.

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