Atletico Madrid v Porto is a match valid for the first day of the group stage of the Champions League and is played on Wednesday at 21:00
The strange “tricks” of the ballot box. Like last year, Atletico Madrid and Porto will do battle in the group stage. But with a not insignificant difference: at the time it was a real iron group, in which Liverpool and AC Milan were also included (Stefano Pioli’s Rossoneri even started from the fourth bracket). This time, however, the Colchoneros and Dragoes will be able to sleep more soundly, as neither Club Brugge nor Bayer Leverkusen seem – at the moment – to be able to put a spoke in their wheels. The challenge at the Civitas Metropolitano therefore has all the air of being a sort of ‘play-off’ for the first place, the one that could allow a less insidious draw in the round of 16.
A year ago, in the Spanish capital, the first leg ended 0-0, while in the return Atletico went to Portugal to take the three decisive points for qualification, obtained by the skin of their teeth. But how will Diego Simeone’s team get there? After a good pre-season, the Colchoneros suffered a few setbacks in the first four days of La Liga, losing at home to Villarreal and drawing in the away match in San Sebastian with Real Sociedad. Better, however, with Getafe and Valencia, beaten 3-0 and 1-0 respectively.
In the standings, however, the men of the ‘Cholo’ are only seventh, five points behind the leading Real Madrid. Nor did Sergio Conceiçao’s team get off to a poor start, unable to keep a full points lead after last week’s defeat – the only one so far – against Rio Ave. Immediate redemption for the Dragoes, who downed Gil Vicente 2-0 on Saturday, but Benfica already have three more points. In any case, Porto will face an Atletico Madrid side with a full squad: goalkeeper Oblak is in doubt, as are Savic, Lemar and Cunha, while the injured Reguilon and the disqualified Felipe will certainly be absent.
Toni Martinez
The Prediction
Last year’s match (in Spain) was a deadlocked one, in which Atletico Madrid and Porto cancelled each other out, preferring not to expose themselves too much. The conditions seem to be in place for a similar match, although the Lusitanians have appeared less solid and organised than usual in the first few days of the season, and at the Metropolitano they will struggle to keep their goals unbroken. Let’s assume a narrow victory for Simeone’s side in a match with less than four goals overall.
Atletico Madrid v Porto matchday squad
- ATLETICO MADRID (5-3-2): Oblak; Carrasco, Reinildo, Witsel, Giménez, Molina; Koke, Kondogbia, Marcos Llorente; João Félix, Morata.
- PORTO (4-4-2): Diogo Costa; Zaidu, David Carmo, Pepe, João Mário; Uribe, Eustáquio, Pepê, Otávio; Taremi, Evanilson.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0