Porto would be pardoned for believing that they already have one foot in the Round of 16 of the Europa League. The Portuguese giants’ 2-1 defeat of Sevilla in Spain in the first leg last week has put them firmly in control of this tie.
The Dragons are unbeaten in nine games in Europe under coach Andre Villas-Boas and also have yet to lose a match in the Portuguese Liga. Porto have an eight-point lead at the top of the table in the Portuguese first division and are on course to win the title.
However, Villas-Boas has warned his side against complacency and said on Tuesday: “It’s important to convey the message that the win in Seville was an important one, nonetheless it hasn’t decided this round of 32.
“There’s a feeling amongst supporters that the job has been done but I totally reject that idea. Sevilla embrace many strong points. FC Porto have to be completely competent in order to beat this team.
“The victory in Spain was great, but anything can still happen. Thus, it’s imperative that supporters unite and back the team and that FC Porto are adequately competent to go through to the next phase.”
In Desperate Times
Sevilla are in desperate times these days as, besides performing poorly in the domestic arena, the Andalucian giants are on their way out of the Europa League. The Rojiblancos failed to thread their way into the Champions League group stage, losing to Braga in the play-offs, and are now on the verge of being knocked out of Europe altogether by another Portuguese team.
Sevilla warmed up for today’s encounter at the Estadio do Dragao with a 1-0 victory over Hercules at home in the Spanish Primera Division and are now three points behind Espanyol, who currently occupy the final Europa League slot.
Winning in Porto, though, is going to be far from easy and with a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Seville, Gregorio Manzano’s side face an uphill struggle. However, club president Jose Maria del Nido remains confident and said on Tuesday: “No one has forgotten that the elimination stage is more difficult than when it began.
“Porto carry the advantage from the first game, but no one is going to stop us from fighting until the end to advance to the next round. Sevilla will give their last drop of sweat in order to achieve their goal.”
TEAM NEWS
Porto
Maicon has returned to the team but Sereno, Walter and Souza are unavailable.
Sevilla
Manzano has a 21-man squad at his disposal for the match but Andres Palop, Martin Caceres and Ndri Romaric are not part of the team because of injury.
Prediction
Sevilla do have the passion but winning in Porto will be tough. The Portuguese giants have it all covered from the first-leg and should wrap up the tie with a comprehensive victory.
Porto 2-0 Sevilla 
