Porto will host Arsenal in the first leg of UCL's last 16

The Portuguese club Porto will host the English side Arsenal in the first leg of the last 16 of the 2023/2024 Champions League on Wednesday, 21 February 2024 at Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal. The Dragons were runner-up in Group H and the Portuguese club representative finished with 12 points, the same as group winners Barcelona. Meanwhile, the English club Arsenal appeared quite strong in Group B and they won the competition against PSV, Lens and Sevilla. In the Portuguese League last weekend, Porto won 2-0 at home to Estreal da Amadora. Porto won through goals from Galeno and Joao Mario.

In the Premier League, Arsenal is currently in second place and they performed fantastically recently when they thrashed Burnley 5-0 at home. Mikel Arteta-led side won through goals from Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka (2), Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz on Saturday. In the last five matches, they won all of them. In those five matches, the Gunners also scored a total of 21 goals against their opponents.

Porto, during the phase this season won four matches, lost two matches and none of their match ended in a draw while scoring a total of 15-8 in the league phase. The Portuguese club's home matches in the Champions League group phase this season they won 2-0 against Antwerp, 5-3 against Shakhtar and lost 0-1 to Barcelona. The 2-time UCL winner has lost only one match in the last 10 matches in all competitions and their two matches ended in a draw. The Conceição-led Portuguese club has scored at least two goals in six of the last 7 matches in all competitions.

Arsenal, during the UCL group phase this season won four matches, lost one match and shared a point in a game while scoring a total of 16-4 in the league phase. The Gunners' home matches in the Champions League group phase this season they won 2-1 against Sevilla, lost 0-1 to Lens and held on 1-1 against PSV. The 13-time EPL winner Arsenal is unbeaten in the last 5 matches in all competitions. The 41-year-old coach Arteta-led side has always scored at least three goals in four of the last five matches in all competitions and they have not conceded three games in the last 5 matches in all competitions.

Match Details

Match: Porto vs Arsenal

Date: Thursday, 22 February 2024

Time: 01:30 AM IST

Venue: Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal

Meeting records in the European Cup/UCL

Porto wins: 2
Draws: 1
Arsenal wins: 3.

6 Meetings So Far b/w Porto vs Arsenal

- Arsenal 5-0 Porto (Champions League)
- Porto 2-1 Arsenal (Champions League)
- Porto 2-0 Arsenal (Champions League)
- Arsenal 4-0 Porto (Champions League)
- Porto 0-0 Arsenal (Champions League)
- Arsenal 2-0 Porto (Champions League).

Last 5 Matches of Porto

- Porto 5-0 Moreirense (Portuguese League)
- Farense 1-3 Porto (Portuguese League)
- Porto 0-0 Rio Ave (Portuguese League)
- Arouca 3-2 Porto (Portuguese League)
- Porto 2-0 Amadora (Portuguese League).

Last 5 Matches of Arsenal

- Arsenal 5-0 Palace (Premier League)
- Forest 1-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
- Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
- West Ham 0-6 Arsenal (Premier League)
- Burnley 0-5 Arsenal (Premier League).

Probable Playing XI: Porto vs Arsenal

Porto: Diogo Costa; Joao Mario, Pepe, Otavio, Wendell; Varela, Nico Gonzalez; Galeno, Pepe, Francisco Conceicao; Evanilson.

Coach: Sergio Conceicao.

Squad info: Marcano (injured), Zaidu (injured), Taremi (doubtful).

Arsenal: Raya; White, Lintasa, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.

Coach: Mikel Arteta.

Squad info: Partey (injured), Timber (injured), Zinchenko (injured), Jesus (doubtful), Vieira (doubtful), Tomiyasu (doubtful).

Match Prediction: Porto 1-2 Arsenal