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Roma v Porto Betting Tips: Conceicao’s men to snatch vital result?

| 12.02.2019
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Odds and preview of CL round of 16 clash

FC Porto racked up the highest points total in the Champions League group stage this season, with a sweet 16. But they now face a tougher test in the form of AS Roma.

I Giallorossi reached the semi-finals last year, but have been having a hit-and-miss campaign in Serie A. Can they recapture the spirit of 12 months ago, or will Porto pounce for a key away result?

Ahead of kick-off at Stadio Olimpico – live from 8:00pm on BT Sport 3 – we’ve got all the odds and info…

Head-to-Head

Past meetings have definitely favoured the Portuguese side. The clubs have faced off four times, with two Porto wins and a pair of draws.

Way back in 1981-82, Dragoes knocked the Italians out of the European Cup Winners’ Cup (RIP) with a 2-0 aggregate win. But it’s the pair’s more recent clashes which have relevance.

The sides faced off in the 2016-17 CL group stage. A 1-1 draw in Porto was followed by a 3-0 win in Italy for the Primeira Liga side. And something about this fixture makes Roma feisty – they racked up three red cards across those two matches.

Likely XIs

The hosts have a significant boost in the injury stakes, with Kostas Manolos set to be available again. That said, Patrik Schick is set to miss out having picked up a knock. Justin Kluivert is likely to fill in on the right-wing.

There are a host of ex-Premier League stars dotted around Roma’s regular XI. Aleksandar Kolarov and Federico Fazio are regulars in defence, with Steven Nzonzi in midfield and former Manchester City hitman Edin Dzko up top.

Porto boss Sergio Conceicao tends to favour a 4-4-2, and that’s likely to stay the same – despite the absence of top-scorer Moussa Marega, and talented wide man Jesus Corona.

It’s likely to be a front pairing of Francisco Soares and Fernando, with creativity out wide coming from Yacine Brahimi and Hernani.

Roma v Porto

Key Battles

The energetic Kluivert will have tracking back to do if Porto left-back Alex Telles is his usual self. The marauding defender has already chalked up eight assists this term, including two in the CL group stage.

At the other end, Dzeko is a different type of striker to those the Dragoes defence usually face in the Primeira Liga. An old-fashioned target man, his tussles with wily former Real Madrid man Pepe could be very interesting.

It’s hard to know whether Roma will be as aggressive in this fixture as they were during the pair’s 2016 meetings. But with plenty of tricky, pacy players in their ranks, Porto could well draw the hosts into some rash challenges.

Match Odds

Even without a couple of key names, Porto could snatch a win here. Roma have shipped a huge 13 goals in their last five games, so they’re patchy at the back.

Still, it’s Roma who are even-money favourites for a first-leg victory. Our traders make it 23/10 for the Draw and 5/2 for a Porto win.

All of the last six games involving I Giallorossi have seen three or more goals scored. We go 20/23 for Over 2.5 Goals again, while it’s 11/2 for a Porto victory with Both Teams to Score.

Dzeko leads the Anytime Goalscorer market at odds of 6/4, while the visitors’ most likely man to strike is Soares at 9/5.

Click here for the latest Roma v Porto odds.

Big match previews, betting tips and transfer news – Coral has it all.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

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Author

Dave Burin