FC Porto will face Malaga CF in the last 16 of the Champions League. Read our in depth article about this Champions League last 16 matchup
FC Porto – Málaga CF
First leg: Estadio do Dragao, Porto. Tuesday, February 19.
Second leg: La Rosaleda, Malaga. Wednesday, March 13.
Malaga are another Spanish side with off field problems. The club – invigorated by new Middle Eastern investment in 2010 – is appealing against a one year UEFA ban for financial irregularities. But the Champions League debutants cruised through their group and Porto, 2004 winners under Jose Mourinho, know Manuel Pellegrini’s side are a tough opponent.
This is Porto’s best showing since 2010 when Arsenal put them out at the quarter final phase. They took a year out of the competition in 2010-11, but won the Europa League under current Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas Boas. Last time out they failed to get out of a relatively easy looking group.
Malaga are already in dreamland. They came through the play offs to make their Champions League bow and then dominated Group C, qualifying with two matches to spare with a famous draw at San Siro, home of the mighty Milan.
Porto qualified for the knock out stages in the same round of matches too, but couldn’t beat the money men of Paris Saint-Germain for the top spot.
The two teams have never met before but both can take hope from the other’s record against their compatriots. Malaga’s only every away defeat in a European tie was in Portugal, while Porto have lost half of their home matches to Spanish opposition.
Manuel Pellegrini is already a hero to his fans and players, challenging them to shock Europe after he decided to stay on despite the club’s financial problems. With cash short, the club wasn’t able to splash out on big names for this campaign, though experienced striker Roque Santa Cruz has been at some of Europe’s top clubs including Bayern Munich and Manchester City. And Uruguayan captain Diego Lugano has just joined on loan from PSG.
Local boy Francisco Portillo is probably only in the team, at just 22, because of the shortage of cash, but is now an established star. Any visit to this passionate Andalusian arena, with many British fans from the large ex-pat community adding to the noise, will be tough.
Porto are some experts’ outside tip to go all the way to Wembley, despite not topping their group. Vítor Pereira was Andre Villas Boas deputy before the young head coach followed Jose Mourinho’s path to a short and unhappy spell at Chelsea. Pereira has little playing experience, he retired at just 29, but his side are an exciting prospect. Argentinian Lucho González pulls the strings in midfield, earning the name, El Comandante, for his leadership and an eight game Champions League scoring run is hard earned. He leads a strong South American contingent with the two Colombians James Rodríguez and Jackson Martínez tipped for bright futures.
Porto’s veteran João Moutinho says his team are keeping their feet on the ground, while Roque Santa Cruz says Malaga’s players are savouring ‘making history’ for their club. Can Malaga continue to do the impossible? They have nothing to lose.
Head to Head
Malaga CF
League position on February 4
fourth
Last five games
D, D, L, W, D
Odds
18/5
FC Porto
League position on February 4
First
Last five games
W, W, W, D, W
Odds
Evens
Odds on draw
13/5
Check out the other Champions League last 16 matchups :
Celtic Glasgow vs Juventus
Valencia CF vs Paris Saint-Germain
FC Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid CF v Manchester United FC
Arsenal FC – FC Bayern München
Galatasaray A.S. v FC Schalke 04
AC Milan v FC Barcelona