Porto v Malaga – Champions League Match Preview
Two sides that have been completely discounted in terms of winning the Champions League are Porto and Malaga. This is understandable as they are two relative minnows of European football. And Malaga have been suffering from huge financial difficulties that have seen them forced to sell several of their best players, two of which – Santi Cazorla and Nacho Monreal – have both moved to Arsenal.
Yet Porto have won the trophy fairly recently, albeit under the inspirational management of Jose Mourinho, and still boast some pretty formidable players in their squad, such as Moutinho, Otamendi, Lucho and Helton. And Malaga achieved something that the likes of Arsenal, Real Madrid and AC Milan failed to do in this year’s competition; they won their qualifying group, going unbeaten in the process. The might of Milan was seen off by one goal to nil at the La Rosaleda Stadium.
Thus, this might not be as much a battle of two also rans as one might imagine. While neither of these teams is likely to go on to the final, stranger things have happened in European football. Porto are heavy favourites to win this tie, but with the immensely talented Isco and experienced, wily campaigner Joaquin loading the ammunition for veteran Argentine international Javier Saviola, don’t rule out the Spaniards.
Porto (possible 4-3-3): Helton; Danilo, Otamendi, Mangala, Alex Sandro; Lucho, Fernando, Moutinho; Atsu, Martinez, Rodriguez
Malaga (possible 4-2-3-1): Caballero; Sanchez, Weligton, Demichelis, Antunes; Toulalan, Camacho; Joaquin, Isco, Portillo; Saviola
