Group H
Porto v Chelsea
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho heads back to Porto with the chance to knock his former employers out of this season’s Champions League.
Mourinho, who received death threats shortly before the end of his tenure with the European champions, has been given permission by UEFA to avoid the pre—match press conferences.
Chelsea have already qualified as group winners, but Mourinho will be doing no favours to his former club tonight.
He said: “I don’t even want Porto to qualify. Whoever comes second should do so because they deserve
The Premier League leaders are expected to make two changes from the side which beat Newcastle 4-0 at the weekend.
Geremi and Scott Parker are expected to come into midfield for Tiago and Claude Makelele respectively.
It means Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and Eidur Gudjohnsson will continue in a three-pronged forward-line, although Dider Drogba is likely to play some part coming from the bench.
Porto stand on five points along with Paris Saint Germain, but the French side have the better head-to-head record in the clashes between the two.
It means Porto must beat Chelsea and hope PSGdo not take full points from their encounter with CSKA Moscow.
Porto boss Victor Fernandez is boosted by the return of Brazilian Luis Fabiano who could partner Benni McCarthy in attack at the expense of the out of form Derlei.
Goalscoring has been a problem for Porto this season.
“We haven’t been scoring enough goals at home and this is something that has to be remedied,” the Porto coach said.
“Defensively we have been very good, as good as last year. Essentially the problem is a lack of goals and we are assuming that against Chelsea we won’t be given many opportunities so we have to capitalise on the ones we get.”
“This is going to be a very special match,” Fernandez added.
“We are playing against a team who bought most of our best players. There is a lot riding on this match, a lot of rivalry and it’s going to be very special. It’s going to be pretty extraordianary.”
