Respect the watchword for Porto

FC Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira warned his players to show APOEL FC plenty of respect as the Portuguese titleholders look to build on their Matchday 2 win against Club Atlético de Madrid as their Cypriot counterparts visit the Estádio do Dragão. APOEL, however, have already proved dogged Group D opponents in their first UEFA Champions League campaign. They drew at Atlético and lost only 1-0 to Chelsea FC and their coach, Ivan Jovanović, is confident his side will have their opportunities.

Jesualdo Ferreira, Porto coach
It's APOEL's first time in the Champions League and we know what that means to them. They played against Chelsea and Atlético and only conceded one goal so we have to respect them. Five days ago Cyprus played Italy and lost 3-2. Five APOEL players were in the Cyprus team, and one of them [Chrysostomos Michail] scored. They will make us play like we play every match: to the limit. We have to be patient, intelligent and calm, and face them with great optimism but also with great respect. Every game is different in the Champions League; it's another problem to solve. I know Paulo Jorge well because he was my player for many years, I also know Hélio Pinto and Nuno Morais, but they're all strong and play to a good standard.

Ivan Jovanović, APOEL coach
This is going to be a difficult game, just like every one we had until now in this competition. Porto and Chelsea are the strongest teams in our group so we are going to give our best. Porto are a very interesting team and have many good players so it's going to be a good challenge. Porto have their own style which they play in both Portugal and Europe, and have a good midfield and a good attack. A draw would definitely be a good result although in the first two games we didn't think like that. Against Atlético we got one point, against Chelsea we got none – but it isn't easy against these three teams. What got us to this phase was the will of our players and our organisation. I know we aren't favourites, but we will have our chances.

Weekend results
17/10/09 Porto 4-0 Sertanense FC
(Hulk 6 86; Farías 10pen 39)

• It is the third successive season that Porto have beaten Sertanense 4-0 in the cup. As in their past two meetings, Ernesto Farías scored twice against the third division outfit.

• At 17 years, four months and 15 days Sérgio Oliveira became the youngest player to feature for Porto, surpassing club legend Fernando Gomes (17 years, nine months and 26 days).

• Although only third in the Liga, Jesualdo Ferreira's men are five points better off than at this stage last season.

APOEL
• There were no fixtures in Cyprus at the weekend.

• APOEL have played once since Matchday 2, coming from behind to claim a 2-1 win at Ermis Aradippou FC on 5 October. With the top four all drawing, APOEL closed to within three points of the Division A summit.

• APOEL have lost four matches in all competitions this season, as many as they suffered in the whole of last term.

Team news
Porto
Out: Miguel Lopes (thigh), Silvestre Varela (thigh), Tomás Costa (broken nose) Diego Valeri (ankle), Fernando Belluschi (ankle)
Doubtful: Cristian Săpunaru (thigh)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

APOEL
Out: Paulo Jorge (leg muscle tear), Adrian Sikora (knee), Savvas Poursaitides (calf), Christos Kontis (thigh)
Doubtful: Altin Xaxhi (calf)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

• Kontis pulled out of training on Tuesday because of his ankle problem and has been ruled out of the game against Porto.

Background
• Porto bounced back from their 1-0 opening loss at Chelsea FC by downing Atlético 2-0 at home on Matchday 2. That lifted them to second in the section ahead of third-placed APOEL, who were beaten 1-0 at home by leaders Chelsea last time out.

• This will be the first time the teams have met in a competitive fixture and the first time Porto have encountered opposition from Cyprus.

• APOEL will not recall their only previous visit to Portugal with any relish as it ended in a 16-1 defeat at Sporting Clube de Portugal in the 1963/64 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first round – this remains a record loss for any side in UEFA club competition. It was followed by a 2-0 reverse at home.

• No senior side from Cyprus has ever beaten or even drawn with Portuguese opposition at club or international level.

Did you know?
The game represents a homecoming for three Portuguese members of the APOEL squad with Nuno Morais (FC Penafiel), Paulo Jorge (SC Braga) and Hélio Pinto (SL Benfica) having all begun their careers in Portugal.