Straight onto my predictions…
v FC Porto
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Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11, which would have been 10 had Nico O’Reilly not pulled up having felt a back niggle during the warm up.
A fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-2-3-1 / / 4-3-3:
_____________________Haaland(VC)__________________
__Semenyo_______________________________Ndiaye__
_________________________________Cherki__________
__________Fernandez______________________________
_____________________Anderson___________________
Gvardiol_________________________________Khusanov
___________Guehi(VC)_______________Dias(C)__________
___________________Donnarumma(VC)________________
Subs: Bettinelli, Rulli, Ait-Nouri, Lewis, Nunes, Reis, Bouaddi, Kovacic, O’Reilly, Foden, Elias and McAidoo.
Gianluigi in goal.
I’m going for a same back-4 as our last game of Josko, Marc, Ruben and Abdukodir.
Elliot and Enzo are likely to team up as fire suppressants in midfield with Rayan-C- given more licence to start the fires further up the pitch. Antoine and Iliman are likely to be our flank men.
Erling up front and, therefore basically, the same line-up all round!
With 12 allowed on the bench for this one, our manager may choose to have the luxury of two reserve keepers or he may choose just one and go with an extra youth outfield player instead. I’m guessing the former and, so, both Marcus and Geronimo get seats on the side just in case something happens to Gigi. Rayan-A-, who I was a little surprised to see on the bench at the weekend having had it made clear that Enzo Maresca would have been happy to see him leave in the summer, Rico, Matheus and Vitor make up four defenders in ‘the 12’, leaving us with six midfielders and wingers in the shape of Ayyoub, Mateo, Nico, Phil, Allan and academy product, Ryan.
Notable absences:
- Jeremy Doku – Still out with a calf injury. Expected return was 2 to 3 weeks from 21st August 2026. There’s a chance he might make the matchday squad for Sunday’s game.
Do I agree with Enzo’s (predicted) line-up?
Yep.
Result?
With a tough Champions League group stage draw, in my opinion, and with no disrespect intended to some of the other teams; I see tonight’s competition opener as our 3rd-toughest of the 8 fixtures ahead of us.
Unbeaten in their opening 5 league games of the season with 5-straight wins, 11 goals scored and just 1 conceded, our hosts also had the luxury of playing their last match on Friday night; giving them a precious few extra hours and a full Saturday off in the build-up to their clash with us.
They also, of course, don’t have to travel / fly and we do.
There are quiet a few ticks in the positive column for them there but there is a mark in the negative column next to injuries; with a number of players out including one from their last outing who was taken off with concussion.
With less recovery time and our one an’ only striker apparently posting on his YouTube page that he was feeling a little jaded already, whether through very little rest time between the World Cup and back-to-club training OR the fact that he’s now a dad; I can’t see us looking overly fresh tonight after disembarking into some Portuguese humidity.
I’m going for a draw tonight.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:
Prediction: N/A
Result: N/A
Expected weather conditions during the game: After a dry and sunny morning and for the most part, afternoon too, rain then moves into the region and remains for the match. So there’s a damp feel inside the stadium but it’s a warm night for all involved, with the thermometer showing 21C but with a muggy feel of 23C or higher (73 to 79F in proper money is possible). 🌮🐟🍥🌶️🥮🍺⚽
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| Solidarity |
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