Besiktas will host Fc Porto on Tuesday in a game whose result is likely to propel one team into the knock-out stage. In Group G of Champions League, all the clubs have mathematic chances of progressing into Round of 16 including the bottom-placed, AS Monaco. Besiktas goes into the match after being held to a scoreless draw by Akhisar Belediye Genclik Ve Spor at Vodafone Stadium in the Turkish Super Lig on Friday. Besiktas had an opportunity to ahead in the Super Lig match, but Riccardo Quaresma squandered a penalty his side earned in the eleventh minute.
FC Porto had a scare on Friday in the Portugal Cup as they faced Portimonese in a game that Porto went ahead after just five minutes only to trail their visitors in the seventieth minute. However, in a show of real characters, Porto pulled back two goals in the stoppage minute to win the game 3-2. The Portuguese giants are therefore fresh for the trip to Istanbul given that they played their domestic game on Friday and won.
Talking points
- After the Champions League draw earlier in the season, many pundits tipped Monaco and Porto as the favorites to make it to the knock-out phase of the competition. It still amazes many soccer fans how Besiktas took the group by a storm with the Turkish giants winning all their opening Champions League matches.
- Porto who have won the Champions League on two occasions find themselves on the verge of elimination should they lose in Turkey. Champions League debutants, RassenBallsport Leipzig, is just lurking behind Porto and could overtake the Portuguese club with a win against Monaco should Porto fall to Besiktas.
- A win for Besiktas is a ticket to the knockout stages of Champions League, but a draw against Porto could delay the confirmation of the Black Eagles progress. However, even if Besiktas lose to their Tuesday's visitors, the Turkish club can confirm their qualification with a win in their final group match.
- In the last six meetings between the two European clubs, Besiktas has only emerged victorious once. Porto has prevailed in three encounters with the remaining two contests ending in stalemates.
- Interestingly, the two teams have different priorities with Besiktas putting much of their focus on Super Lig more than they priorities Champions League. Besiktas are currently third in the domestic league trailing the leaders, Galatasaray by four points after Round 12 of league action. Porto leads Portugal's Primeira Liga, so their focus is on Champions League progress.
- The match pits two players who once played for Real Madrid and won the Champions League title with the Spanish outfit. Pepe who currently represents Besiktas was a Real Madrid defender while Iker Casillas was once the goalkeeper of Real Madrid.
Match prediction
A win for Besiktas will ensure that the Black Eagles make it past the group stage as the group leaders, but Senol Gunes' men still have the luxury of losing the match and winning the final group match.
On the other hand, Porto needs to win the game reduce the immediate pressure that can come should the German team in the group beat Monaco.
The game is tough to call, but Porto has an edge in the contest given the number of experienced players at their disposal. Iker Casillas who has won titles with the Spanish national team and Real Madrid can help the side revive their hope of progress.
Other experienced players in the Porto's fold are Yacine Brahimi, Andre Andre, and Oliver Torres. However, Besiktas equally have numerous players with experience like Pepe, Riccardo Quaresma, and Ryan Babel, so it isn't easy to dismiss the Turkish giants in the contest.
Full-time prediction: Besiktas 1-3 FC Porto
