Barcelona vs FC Porto prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-27 20:00.
Barcelona needed a Rayo Vallecano own goal to snatch a 1-1 draw last weekend, the third instance in their last five games in which they’ve dropped points (W2, D1, L2). One of those was a 1-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk on UEFA Champions League (UCL) matchday four, as Xavi’s side missed the chance to confirm their spot in the last 16 for the first time in three seasons. Another opportunity to secure their safe passage swiftly presents itself here, with Barça knowing victory here will rubber stamp their ticket to the knockouts.
A return to Estadio OlĂmpico should provide a timely boost to the Catalans, who have won all but one of their nine competitive games (L1) this season at their temporary home. That’s not to say they’ve been particularly convincing though, as their last five wins there have all come via a single-goal margin.
A first-half Ferran Torres strike that saw Porto fall to a 1-0 defeat in the return fixture against ten-man Barcelona is all that keeps them off top-spot in Group H, with Barça currently holding that due to their superior H2H record. That was their only defeat of this UCL campaign so far (W3), and with seven wins across eight competitive matches since that loss (L1), the visitors appear in great form to get their revenge.
An average five-game recent record against Spanish clubs (W1, D1, L3) appears to lessen their chances of avenging that loss, but Porto have shown that they can travel well in this competition. Seven wins across their last 13 away games in the UCL proper (D3, L3) suggests the Dragons could be confident of posting their first-ever travelling H2H win in this competition, having lost each of the three prior such matches.
Key battle: João Félix scored twice in Barcelona’s matchday one win against Antwerp at this venue, but having been carded in his last two games as well as the return fixture, the Barcelona forward is a thorn in the referee’s side. Tracking him could be Pepe, who played Barcelona 23 times as a Real Madrid player (W10, D4, L9) and is fresh off scoring Porto’s last UCL goal, making him the oldest scorer in the competition’s history at 40 years and 254 days.
Hot streak: Barcelona received the first card in their last seven home competitive matches.