FC Porto vs Chelsea Match Preview

Porto comes from a winning streak of 4 games, but their performances can be considered attractive, they were just average. In their most recent game against Santa Clara, they struggled to get all three points, with their opponent creating many goal-scoring chances. However, they found the winner in the dying seconds, avoiding a false step at their home. However, in the Champions League competition, things are way different for Porto considering their huge qualification against Juventus in the previous round. One of the crucial missings today will be Sergio Oliveira, while Taremi and Mbaye will be unavailable as well.

After Thomas Tuhel's arrival on Chelsea's bench, their defense improved a lot, since Frank Lampard's period where the visitors kept conceding 0.90 xG per game. Now, this index has dropped to 0.45 xG per game, except the recent match against West Brom at Stamford Bridge, where they lost 2-5, creating a total of 2,56 goal-scoring chances while their opponent created 1,35. Noteworthy is that they were playing with a player less since the 29th minute of the game. Kante will be the only missing player in today's match for Chelsea.

Porto seems to be in a declined form lately, while Chelsea on the opposite, continues to perform well and in my eyes, they have a huge chance here to qualify to the semi-finals of the UCL. The missing of Oliveira is crucial here for Porto, and I expect both sides to play very defensively in this first leg. Under 2.5 goals to be scored is currently offered at 1.65 odds, but my final call is Chelsea to win offered at decent 1.75 odds.