FC Porto vs Barcelona Predictions

• Barcelona have lost four of their last six Champions League away games
• Porto have won ten of their last 14 home games in the group stage
• Porto’s Mehdi Taremi has scored six goals in his last eight Champions League appearances

Dragons a formidable prospect at home

Barcelona blew Belgian champions Royal Antwerp away in their opening Champions League contest but face a tougher test when travel to Portugal to face Porto.

The Dragons suffered their second defeat of the season against Benfica last Friday, but they played the majority of that match with 10-men and will be a very different prospect at the Estadio do Dragao.

Sergio Conceicao’s haven’t lost at home since February and are unbeaten in their last three outings on their own patch in the Champions League.

They’ve lost only three of their last 14 Champions League home games in the group stage and have an excellent record when hosting Spanish opponents, winning five of the last seven encounters.

Porto opened up their European campaign with an impressive 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk with Mehdi Taremi getting on the scoresheet.

That was the Iran international’s sixth goal in his last eight Champions League games and he’s an interesting anytime goalscorer option having netted four in his last five games for club and country.

Century up for Xavi

There’s a lot to like about Porto’s chances of avoiding a loss in this clash, even with Barcelona having got out of the blocks quickly both in La Liga and Europe.

Xavi, who will take charge of Barca for the 100th time on Wednesday, is yet to see his side lose with victories in seven of their first nine games.

However, recent away results in the Champions League are troubling and they’ve ridden their luck recently in La Liga, needing an own goal to beat Sevilla on Friday, while having to come from behind to salvage results against Mallorca and Celta Vigo.

The injuries are starting to mount for the reigning Spanish champions too with Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Raphinha all ruled out of Wednesday’s game.

With Robert Lewandowski fit and firing, Barca still pose a serious threat. But Porto are a difficult opponent and they can avoid defeat in what may be a low-scoring draw.