Lokomotiv Moscow vs FC Porto Predictions

Porto currently lead the way in Group D, but they are in the most open group in this season’s Champions League. There is no stand-out side among the four, but as things stand Lokomotiv Moscow are the one side who look out of the running for the last 16. They have a make or break clash with the current leaders on Wednesday, as they welcome Porto. The Dragons have plenty of experience in this competition to back them up, but will they be able to come away from Russia with three points?

The hosts would have looked on at CSKA’s recent victory over Real Madrid and been inspired to kick on in Europe this season. They should have been more competitive in their first two matches, which they lost to Schalke and Galatasaray. This is probably the easiest draw Lokomotiv could have landed, so they have really made a mess of a golden opportunity. Will they be able to pick things up in Wednesday’s game?

Porto do make this trip as odds on favourites, but there are questions around their form ahead of this trip. There was little doubt about the manner of their weekend win, as they crushed minnows Vila Real 6-0 in the Portuguese Cup. That clash did bring them back from the international break with a heavy win, but it was far from a big test of their side. Heading to Moscow is a difficult trip, and it’s going to be awkward for a side who are light up front, with their main frontman, Vincent Aboubakar, ruled out through injury.

The Dragons may head here on the back of a big win, but their real test came before the international break, when they lost to a 10-man Benfica side. Their chances of retaining their title are looking shaky after a mixed start to the campaign, while their European results have been nothing special. They head here with a 1-0 win over Galatasaray and a 1-1 draw at Schalke behind them, and they may have a tough time getting a result here.

On the road in the Champions League Porto have failed to win their last four, while they have one win in seven. They don’t exactly deserve to be so heavily backed in this trip with that form behind them, especially after going four games without a win against Russian sides in Europe. We think there’s value here on Lokomotiv to avoid defeat, so we’re backing them on the double chance market.