Dinamo out to spring a surprise on Porto
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Article summary
Vítor Pereira wants FC Porto to "be dynamic and play with intensity" as they seek to top Group A, with GNK Dinamo Zagreb's Ante Čačić desperate to end a run of ten group stage defeats.
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FC Porto may be undefeated, top of UEFA Champions League Group A and already through to the last 16, but coach Vítor Pereira is taking nothing for granted against GNK Dinamo Zagreb. Though the Croatian champions head to Portugal on the back of ten straight group stage defeats, coach Ante Čačić remains hopeful his side can finally open their account.
Porto
Vítor Pereira, coach
We've achieved our first goal, sealing our place in the next phase. Now we have to finish first in the group, because we deserve to be among the best clubs in Europe.
There are no such things as favourites in this competition – you do not need to remind me about last year, when APOEL knocked us out of the group phase along with Shakhtar, so we're keeping our guard up to prevent any more surprises.
We know Zagreb want to end their losing streak here, so to win we'll have to be dynamic and play with intensity. We're completely focused on this match as there are no easy games in the Champions League.
Weekend result
Saturday: CD Nacional 0-3 Porto (Lucho 27, Mangala 71, Kléber 89)
Fabiano; Lopes, Ba, Otamendi, Mangala (Danilo 81); Defour (Moutinho 63), Lucho, Castro; Iturbe (James Rodríguez 64), Atsu, Kléber.
• Porto extended their unbeaten start to the season to 16 games in all competitions with victory in the Portuguese Cup fourth round on Saturday. Eliaquim Mangala and Kléber were on target with their first goals of the campaign.
Team news
Maicon has been ruled out with a right foot problem, while Fernando and Alex Sandro are expected to sit out proceedings as they recover from minor muscular strains.
Dinamo
Ante Čačić, coach
Our team will give their all to turn the game into a competitive one in order to get a good result. There are surprises in football and we have to believe we can end our losing streak in this competition. In Zagreb we showed we could take on Porto and we only conceded the second goal in the final minutes. Now we're focused and we'll avoid schoolboy errors and watch out for counterattacks. Porto are the strongest team in the group and I think they'll be first.
Weekend result
Saturday: Dinamo 5-0 NK Zadar (Kovačić 5, Halilović 35, Beqiraj 70, Pivarić 73, Krstanović 78)
Kelava; Vrsaljko, Vida, Puljić, Pivarić; Ademi (Brozović 77), Kovačić; Čop (Alispahić 77), Sammir, Halilović (Krstanović 58); Beqiraj.
• Mateo Kovačić and Josip Pivarić scored their first goals this term as Dinamo improved on a run of three defeats in four outings in all competitions.
Team news
Domagoj Vida (toe), Alen Halilović (calf), Arijan Ademi (ankle) and Kovačić (tendon) all missed training on Sunday yet are available, though Ante Rukavina misses out with flu.
Match fact
• Porto have won six of their last nine European home games, losing only to Manchester City FC (1-2) in last season's UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg.