Following an impressive victory over Braga on Friday, FC Port face a tough test on matchday three of the Champions League as they host Bayer Leverkusen in a contest that could have major implications in Group B.
The hosts enter the contest fresh off the back of their first victory in three across all competitions, while their visitors will be seeking reaction from a defeat to Bayern Munich on Friday that ended their four-game unbeaten run.
Porto have made a solid start to their domestic campaign this season, currently sitting third in the Primeira Liga table with just one defeat from their opening eight matches, while trailing leaders Benfica by three points.
Despite recently dropping points away to Estoril Praia, Porto can take confidence heading into this contest after beating Braga 4-1 on Friday and condemning their fellow high fliers to a first defeat of the season.
Sergio Conceicao’s side kicked of their campaign in dramatic style away to Atletico Madrid, when three injury-time goals and a rollercoaster finale to the game eventaully left Porto empty-handed.
Porto will need to bounce back quickly against Bayer Leverkusen if they are to realise their hopes of knockout round football after Christmas in the Champions League or Europa League.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen have been extremely underwhelming in their start to the 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign and currently sit lowly at 17th place.
Winning just one game in the league all season away to Mainz in late August, they find themselves in the relegation zone and could do with a major upturn in fortunes.
However, Gerardo Seoane’s side have been a creative force in Europe, making 32 attempts on goal so far, which is a higher tally than heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan have managed to generate from their first two games in the 2022-23 Champions League.
FC Porto vs Bayer Leverkusen head to head
These two teams have previously met on just three occasions in a friendly and the Europa League, where Bayer Leverkusen have claimed two victories while they have drawn once. Porto have scored three goals and conceded six in the process. They meet for the first time in the Champions League group stage.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Porto 27/07/16
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Porto 20/02/20
Porto 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen 27/02/20
FC Porto latest home form
FC Porto have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They defeated Sporting Braga 4-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 15 goals and conceded six.
Porto 5-1 Maritimo 06/08/22
Porto 3-0 Sporting Lisbon 20/08/22
Porto 3-0 Chaves 10/09/22
Porto 0-4 Club Brugge 13/09/22
Porto 4-1 Sporting Braga 30/09/22
FC Porto latest away form
FC Porto have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their five most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with Estoril Praia in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and also conceded six.
Vizela 0-1 Porto 14/08/22
Rio Ave 3-1 Porto 28/08/22
Gil Vicente 0-2 Porto 03/09/22
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Porto 07/09/22
Estoril 1-1 Porto 17/09/22
Bayer Leverkusen latest home form
Bayer Leverkusen have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their six most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded nine.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Augsburg 13/08/22
Bayer Leverkusen 0-3 Hoffenheim 20/08/22
Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Freiburg 03/09/22
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Atletico Madrid 13/09/22
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Werder Bremen 17/09/22
Bayer Leverkusen latest away form
Bayer Leverkusen have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their six most recent matches. They lost 4-0 to Bayern Munich in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded eight.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen 06/08/22
Mainz 0-3 Bayer Leverkusen 27/08/22
Club Brugge 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen 07/09/22
Hertha Berlin 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen 10/09/22
Bayern Munich 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen 30/09/22
FC Porto news
Striker Mehdi Taremi will be available to play for Porto on Tuesday after serving his suspension during the 4-0 defeat to Club Brugge on matchday two.
Pepe and Otavio returned from injury problems in the 4-1 victory over Sporting Braga last week and are expected to be included in the matchday squad.
Bayer Leverkusen news
Bayer Leverkusen will be without Florian Wirtz who is a long-term absentee after rupturing his cruciate ligament back in March, while Karim Bellarabi is doubtful owing to fitness issues.
Exequiel Palacios will not take part in this contest due to his struggles with a hamstring injury, forcing Seoane to consider alternative options.
Prediction and Odds
Both sides will be desperate to come flying out of the blocks and claim a result that could change the landscape of Champions League Group B.
Porto and Bayer Leverkusen will both be able to call upon plenty of talented attackers to influence proceedings, and we expect a draw on Tuesday.
Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.02 2 2.20
Probable outcomes
Porto 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Porto 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Porto 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Porto 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Porto 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
