MX23RW : Monday, December 23 15:34:38| >> :120:58802:58802:
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Atletico Madrid logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Dec 11, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Porto

2-0

Garcia (14'), Costa (38')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Porto

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Champions League Group G clash between Atletico Madrid and Porto.

Porto travel to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday evening needing to secure all three points to stand a chance of advancing from Group G.

Atletico have won four and drawn one of their five group matches, leaving themselves top of the table on 13 points. Zenit St Petersburg are second with six points, while Porto sit third with five.

As a result, the away side need to beat Atletico and hope that Russian outfit Zenit slip up at bottom side Austria Vienna to advance into the knockout stages of Europe's premier competition.

Unbeaten Atletico were 2-1 winners when the Iberian rivals met in Portugal in September – a result that ended the home side's long unbeaten European run on their own patch.

The Spanish outfit are enjoying a quite remarkable start to the season with Diego Simeone's side sitting second – level on points with leaders Barcelona – in La Liga. Porto, meanwhile, sit second in the Primeira Liga, just two points behind leaders Sporting Lisbon after 12 matches.

Atletico will be without the services of first-choice right-back Juanfran through suspension, meaning that youngster Javier Manquillo could start after impressing in the club's Copa del Rey win over Sant Andreu at the weekend.

Diego Costa and David Villa are also both expected to start, but Raul Garcia is not expected to be risked with the Spanish midfielder one booking away from a suspension. This means that Frenchman Josuha Guilavogui could figure.

Porto, meanwhile, have no fresh injury concerns from their 2-0 win over Braga in the league at the weekend.

Jackson Martinez, who has scored 12 times in all competitions this season, will lead their line, while the experienced Lucho Gonzalez will captain the team from midfield.

Recent form

Atletico: DWDWW

Porto: DDDLW

Possible starting lineups

Atletico: Courtois; Manquillo, Godin, Miranda, Luis; Gabi, Koke, Tiago; Turan, Costa, Villa

Porto: Helton; Danilo, Mangala, Maicon, Sandro; Lucho, Defour, Herrera; Varela, Martinez, Josue

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Written by
Matt Law
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Atletico boss Diego Simeone on the touchline against Rayo on August 25, 2013
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