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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
PORTO  Helton Sapunaru, Otamendi, Rolando, A. Pereira Fernando Guarin, Moutinho Hulk, Kleber, James Rodriguez | APOEL  Chiotis Poursaiditidis, Jorge, Jahic, Boaventura Morais, Pinto Trickovski, Marcinho, Manduca Ailton |
Jorge Fucile has been ruled out of the match following his sending off against the Russian side, being replaced by Cristian Sapunaru on the right side of the defence. Fredy Guarin is back in contention after serving a two-match ban for a red card in the Uefa Super Cup against Barcelona.
APOEL are expected to stick to the same formula used in the last two European matches, seeing Ailton spearhead the team's attack, while Manduca and Trickovski keep their places down the flanks.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Porto have not suffered back-to-back defeats in European competitions since the 2008-09 season, when they lost 4-0 to Arsenal and then 1-0 to Dynamo Kiev.
- The club are joint leaders in the Portuguese Liga with Benfica, with 17 points from seven games.
- This will be the third match between the two teams after they were also paired together in the 2009-10 Champions League group stage.
- Back then, Porto posted a 2-1 victory at home and a 1-0 away triumph against the Cypriots.
- APOEL's 2-1 success against Zenit St Petersburg was their first-ever victory in the Champions League.
- The Cypriot champions have lost their place at the summit of their domestic league following a 1-0 defeat to AEL Limassol at the weekend.
- No Cypriot senior side has ever defeated Portuguese opposition, at either club or international level.
Prediction
APOEL have so far been able to impress in the competition, but Porto should be too hot for them to handle in their trip to the Estadio do Dragao as the Europa League holders are determined to get back to winning ways.
Editor's Prediction
Porto 2-0 APOEL Nicosia 
