Date: Wednesday 21st February, 2024
Time: 9:00 pm
Stadium Estadio Do Dragao
Referee Serda Gozubuyuk (Netherlands)
Goal Scorer:
FC Porto
Porto’s win at the weekend against Estrela came at a considerable cost, as left-back Zaidu Sanusi suffered an ACL tear and will now miss the remainder of the season and beyond. The Nigerian is the second such casualty this season, with fellow defender Ivan Marcano also suffering from a similar problem earlier. However, there are slim hopes that he will return before the season ends.
As a result, Sergio Conceicao should call upon Jorge Sanchez to his defensive setup, and he should take that vacant left-back slot. Striker Mehdi Taremi is another one set to miss this clash with a thigh injury, which has seen him miss the most recent training session.
There are also concerns over midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, who was absent for the weekend’s clash. Conceicao will choose Alan Varela, who completed the full 90 against Estrela, should he miss it. Beyond that, Porto will likely undergo fewer changes to their personnel, as injury issues force the manager to make the necessary altercations.
At the back, 40-year-old veteran Pepe will undoubtedly start the clash, while in midfield, Varela will have Pepe Aquino and Nico Gonzalez on either side. Porto will rely on Evanilson to lead the line and get the goals, with the Brazilian set to have Francisco Conceicao and Galeno in support from the wide areas.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Costa; Mario, Pepe, Otavio, Sanchez; Aquino, Varela, Gonzalez; Conceicao, Evanilson, Galeno
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is not expecting many changes to his squad that beat Burnley at the weekend, with the manager set to be without the same set of injured stars. This means that the likelihood of the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko returning is slim, while Takehiro Tomiyasu’s status may not have changed either.
Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira have been in training, which certainly boosts Arsenal’s squad. However, there is little chance of Arteta involving the duo from the get-go, although if the Gunners manage to take a solid lead, then a few minutes in the end might seem possible.
Beyond that, Arteta might name a similar eleven that beat Burnley, although there are suggestions that the manager might look for a way to include Jorginho. The Italian international last started in the win over Liverpool, and should he come into the picture, Kai Havertz might see the face of the bench.
Ideally, Arteta might stick with the same lineup with two huge away wins under their belt and should have no reasons to change that. Hence, Arsenal could name the same lineup to take on Porto away from home.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Rice, Trossard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Prediction: FC Porto 0-2 Arsenal
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