Porto have made a perfect start, but City look stronger: Porto vs Manchester City prediction
The opening-round Champions League match between Porto and Manchester City will take place on 8 September at the Estádio do Dragão. Both teams have started their domestic campaigns with a perfect record, but the Portuguese side now face their first truly serious test.
Porto: six consecutive wins and an almost flawless defence
Francesco Farioli's side have won all six of their competitive matches this season. After beating Torreense in the Super Cup, Porto began the league campaign with five straight victories, scoring 11 goals and conceding only one.
However, their current winning run has come against lower-level opposition. Another concern ahead of the meeting with City is the absence of suspended Jan Bednarek and the injury to Victor Froholdt.
Manchester City: three wins after Super Cup disappointment
Enzo Maresca's side lost 3-0 to Arsenal in the English Super Cup but then won all three of their Premier League matches. City beat Bournemouth 2-1, Crystal Palace 4-1 and Coventry 1-0.
Erling Haaland has already reached the milestone of 300 career goals and once again remains the main attacking threat. However, City's away record in the Champions League is far from perfect, with the team having lost six of their last nine away matches in the competition.
Probable line-ups
- Porto: Diogo Costa, Alberto Costa, Pérez, Kiwior, Moura, Fofana, Rosário, Veiga, Gomes, Silva, Pepê.
- Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Guéhi, Dias, Aït-Nouri, Anderson, Bouaddi, Semenyo, Cherki, Foden, Haaland.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Porto have won all six of their competitive matches this season.
- Manchester City have won their last three Premier League matches.
- Porto have never beaten City in a competitive match, suffering three defeats in four meetings.
The visitors' quality could decide the outcome: Porto vs Manchester City prediction
Porto head into the match in excellent form and are sure to cause problems for the English club's defence at home. However, the hosts' current winning run has yet to be tested against an opponent of this calibre.
City have more individual quality in attack, while Haaland is capable of deciding a moment almost single-handedly. Porto are certainly capable of scoring, but the visitors' greater squad depth and attacking potential should tip the match in their favour.
