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| Wednesday, 23 November 2011 08:37 |
Shakhtar Donetsk v FC Porto previewDo or die for the Dragons It’s last-chance saloon for FC Porto in the 2011/12 Champions League in Ukraine tonight. Vitor Pereira’s team need to come back from Shakhtar Donetsk with three points in the bag to keep any hope of making progress to the knockout stages alive. Defeat is likely to leave Porto out of Europe altogether. It may also leave Pereira seeking new employment.
When asked if he feared for his future, the under-fire Porto boss responded: “I haven’t wasted even one minute thinking about that. I have dedicated all my time to winning this game. I believe in work, in the talent and in the character of the team.”
Despite the bravado, Pereira knows full well that the Dragons will have to put in a vastly improved display in relation to the disastrous showing in losing 3-0 to Academica on Saturday night.
“We are fully aware that we can’t repeat the game we played in Coimbra. It’s going to be a different Porto - that’s an absolute certainty. It’s a different competition. It’s a game of extreme importance for us. We are motivated, focused and prepared to fight for the right result and to bring home the three points,” added Pereira.
Jorge Fucile makes his return after overcoming recent fitness problems, while Uruguayan Christian Rodriguez is also back in the frame after several weeks with little involvement. Fredy Guarin remains unavailable after picking up an injury in international action last week.
The squad reads as follows: Helton, Bracalli, Maicon, Alvaro Pereira, Rolando, Fucile, Otamendi, Belluschi, Joao Moutinho, Defour, Fernando, Souza, Christian Rodriguez, Kleber, Hulk, James Rodriguez, Varela, Djalma
Porto have not failed to make it out of the group stage of the Champions League since 2005/06, and have a good record in Ukraine, winning two and drawing one of their three visits to the Eastern European country.
But the hosts are equally desperate to make amends for what has been a hugely disappointing campaign so far. “We were both seen as favourites in our group, but it has proved to be a more difficult tournament than anyone could have imagined,” charismatic Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu told UEFA.com. “Both Shakhtar and Porto have had big problems.”
Victories for FC Porto and Zenit St. Petersburg at home to APOEL tomorrow could theoretically pave the way for the Dragons to win the group. Anything less than three points and those problems Lucescu alluded to will start to look insurmountable for his counterpart Vitor Pereira.
Tom Kundert
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Bento's contribution to Carvalho and Bosingwa leaving the NT is another matter that was in large part his own doing as was Queiroz's consistently poor decision-making.
All to say that FCP, VP and Portuguese football in general need a win bigtime. Ever since that Champs League victory under Mourinho they have performed phenomenally in Europe and with the way Benfica are getting it done now having Porto in the mix will bring even greater prestige to Portuguese football. Good luck, they're going to need it.
The temperate is in the negatives so conditions will be harsh. The opponent will also be playing for pride and continued European play.
This will be far from easy. If we haven't yet, we will find out a lot about Porto today. Let's hope they get it done.
Good luck guys as I would love to see two Portuguese teams in the knockout stages again.
It would be amazing if Benfica and Porto both made the quarter finals. And Sporting and Braga make it deep into the Europa League. I would love to see Benfica, Porto, and Sporting in next year's champions league.
Forca Porto!Forca Quaresna!
We've heard all week of a different Porto will be coming out. Well they've been different for most of this season, lets see if they can get back to last seasons play.
This is now much more than just about Pereira. This is the Champions League, so we'll see just what kind of fortitude and pride these players have. Porto was favored to win the group, do not advancing to possibly even Europa, it would be devastating. Not just to the team, but the fans and more importantly the finances.
Due to all the scrutiny of Pereira, the players have an out. I for one hope they don't take the easy way out and produce something special.
Forca Tripeiros.