Porto v Club Brugge: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Article summary
After a sluggish start, Porto kick-started their campaign with victory in Belgium a fortnight ago but Nuno Espírito Santo says it will count for little if his side fail to repeat the feat.
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Article body
- Club Brugge are out if they lose, or if they draw and København win
- Preud'homme serves touchline ban having been sent to stands on matchday three
- Nuno Espírito Santo's team are four European home games without victory
- Brugge are on seven-match winless run on their travels in Europe
- André Silva scored late penalty as Porto prevailed 2-1 when these sides met two weeks ago
Possible line-ups
Porto: Casillas; Alex Telles, Marcano, Felipe, Layún; Danilo, Herrera, Otávio; Óliver Torres, Diogo Jota, André Silva.
Out: none
Club Brugge: Butelle; Van Rijn, Poulain, Denswil, Cools; Claudemir, Pina; Vanaken, Vormer, Limbombe; Vossen.
Out: Simons (suspended), De Bock (knee), Engels (shoulder), Refaelov (pubis)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here
Nuno Espírito Santo, Porto coach
We had no margin for error in Belgium and my players knew it. The response to going behind was good and the celebrations at full time spoke volumes. Playing away in the Champions League and being able to turn the scoreline around is a big feat.
Now we start this second round of matches, if we can call it that, with our expectations of reaching the next stage still intact. It will be another key game but our [victory on matchday three] gives us a lot of confidence for what lies ahead.
It's not time to start doing permutations, it's time to go and get three points. The group stage is so short that every result is crucial.
Michel Preud'homme, Club Brugge coach
Being in Portugal is always something special for me. Although I am suspended, I have confidence in my assistant Philippe [Clement]. We've been through a lot together here so he will know what to do and when to intervene. We will work on the different scenarios that may present themselves in tomorrow's game.
Porto are a big name in the European game and in Portugal are akin to Club Brugge in Belgium. They have a strong reputation at home so that means we are not favourites. European competition is very important to Porto so I have no doubt they will absolutely not be thinking about their game with Benfica on Sunday. They will feel they have to take full points against us.
Weekend results
Setúbal 0-0 Porto
A stalemate ended Porto's run of four straight wins in all competitions. Óliver Torres and Diogo Jota missed decent first-half chances but, on the positive front, Porto have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five outings.
Zulte Waregem 0-0 Club Brugge
Club Brugge were held to their second draw this season in all competitions. It was their first goalless game since a stalemate at Charleroi on 9 August 2015.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Porto: DWWWWL
Club Brugge: DWWLLW
Reporter's view: Paul Bryan (@UEFAcomPaulB)
Their momentum checked with Saturday's shut-out away to Setúbal, Porto will nonetheless be hopeful of a second consecutive win against a Club Brugge side yet to pick up a point in Group G. The Dragões' attacking talisman André Silva was his team's match winner in Belgium on matchday three and how the 20-year-old striker performs could prove the telling factor once again.
Did you know?
Preud'homme played for Porto's domestic rivals Benfica from 1994 to 1999 but never managed an away victory in six attempts. Discover more interesting facts in our extensive match background.