Champions League - Schalke 04 v FC Porto Football betting preview
19 February 2008
FxDiamond from Portugal writes on
Football
Champions League
Schalke 04 FC Porto
Game: Schalke04 vs F.C. Porto
Day: 19 February
Time: 19h45
The one major absentee for Schalke is full back Christian Pander.
Heiko Westermann continues to deputise.
Mladen Krstajic, Ivan Rakitic and Rafinha will take their places against Porto
Jermaine Jones is available again after being suspended for Matchday 6.
Winter signings Zé Roberto, Albert Streit and Vicente Sanchez have all been added to the list of players registered for the Champions League, so should all make the squad.
Schalke comes from a home lose by 1-2 against Wolfsburg on the last fixture. A bad result for sure.
The team is playing a little irregular this year as they feet on 5th place on the table.
The home record counts also 3 draws and 2 loses. Schalke on group stage also conceeded a home lose against Valencia and several draws.
The major loss for trainer Jesualdo Ferreira is that of defensive ace Bosingwa. Jorge Fucile looks set to switch flanks to deputise.
Defender Bruno Alves has recovered from the thigh injury and should be fit enough to take his place in the team.
Tarik Sektioui is available again after returning from African Cup of Nations duty.
Porto is living a very good moment. High potential, several wins in a row, good results by 4-0 against Leiria and 0-3 away at Maritimo on there last matches.
Porto are in full force for this match, and with Tarik back i expect a more attacking side.
I sincerly don´t believe that Porto will lose in Schalke's stadium.
Porto is stronger then germans i think a X2 would be safer enough.
Day: 19 February
Time: 19h45
The one major absentee for Schalke is full back Christian Pander.
Heiko Westermann continues to deputise.
Mladen Krstajic, Ivan Rakitic and Rafinha will take their places against Porto
Jermaine Jones is available again after being suspended for Matchday 6.
Winter signings Zé Roberto, Albert Streit and Vicente Sanchez have all been added to the list of players registered for the Champions League, so should all make the squad.
Schalke comes from a home lose by 1-2 against Wolfsburg on the last fixture. A bad result for sure.
The team is playing a little irregular this year as they feet on 5th place on the table.
The home record counts also 3 draws and 2 loses. Schalke on group stage also conceeded a home lose against Valencia and several draws.
The major loss for trainer Jesualdo Ferreira is that of defensive ace Bosingwa. Jorge Fucile looks set to switch flanks to deputise.
Defender Bruno Alves has recovered from the thigh injury and should be fit enough to take his place in the team.
Tarik Sektioui is available again after returning from African Cup of Nations duty.
Porto is living a very good moment. High potential, several wins in a row, good results by 4-0 against Leiria and 0-3 away at Maritimo on there last matches.
Porto are in full force for this match, and with Tarik back i expect a more attacking side.
I sincerly don´t believe that Porto will lose in Schalke's stadium.
Porto is stronger then germans i think a X2 would be safer enough.
Possible Elevens:
Schalke04: Neuer, Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Westermann, Ernst, Jones, Rakitic, Kobiashvili, Asamoah, Kuranyi
FC.Porto: Helton, Fucile, Pedro Emanuel, Bruno Alves, Cech, Lucho Gonzalez, Paulo Assuncao, Raul Meireles, Sektioui, Lisandro Lopez, Quaresma