Basel-vs-Porto

Basel vs Porto – Basel to win it 1-0 (Basel have an impressive record when it comes to upsetting European Heavy hitters, their most recent scalps include Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Porto will start as the favorites though but will be wary of the Basel side led by Paulo Sousa who almost joined Porto as a player) – It will definitely be a cracker!

Both these teams aren’t fancied to win the competition but they should provide an entertaining couple of matches over the two legs.

FC Basel

Basel-captain-Marco-Streller

Basel captain Marco Streller

Basel qualified for the round of 16’s after progressing as group runners-up from a group that had Real Madrid, Liverpool and Ludogorets Razgrad in it. They were impressive in the group stages giving Real Madrid trouble at home and beating Liverpool at home and then holding the five time European Champions to a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Last time Basel were in the group stages they got humiliated out of the competition by Bayern Munich who beat them 7-0 in the 2011/12 season.

FC Basel comes into this match on the back of a 1-1 draw versus FC Sion in the domestic league. Basel are currently top of the Swiss league 8 points clear off 2nd placed BSC Young Boys.

Basel will go into this match without Fabian Schar who is suspended after picking-up 3 yellow cards in the group stages. Either Walter Samuel or Behrang Safari maybe brought in as his replacement.

FC Porto

FC Porto-captain-Lucho-Gonzalez

FC Porto captain Lucho Gonzalez

Porto qualified for the knock-out stages as the group winners after going through the group stages undefeated -winning 4 and drawing 2 games. 2003/04 Champions League winners will be looking to extend their European form versus Basel.

Porto comes into his match on the back of a 1-0 victory versus Victoria SC in the domestic league. They are currently second in the Portuguese Primira Liga 4 points behind league leaders Benfica. Stiker Neko Martinez is surely to strike as he is one of the championship´s greatest scorer this season.

They have won 9 out of their last 11 matches and are in excellent form heading into this match. Porto has the added advantage of being able to choose from fully-fit squad but the defensive pairing of Maicon and Marcano are just one booking away from an suspension.

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