Porto finished bottom of their UEFA Champions League group last season but the coach insists his side will keep cool heads this time round. "The fact Porto did not do well last season doesn't necessarily mean more pressure for us. CSKA are going to face a team who know just how strong they are. This team may be less experienced when compared with Porto sides of the past, but you only gain experience by playing. This squad want to win and that is what defines their character, desire and motivation."
The hosts have Ricardo Quaresma back following jaw surgery, though Tarik Sektioui may be favoured in midfield. Lisandro López could feature up front in place of Hélder Postiga and Uruguayan right-back Fucile is in line to make his debut for the Portuguese champions. Raul Meireles, Ibson, Bruno Moraes, Tomo Šokota, Pedro Emanuel and João Paulo are all sidelined by injury and Marek Čech also needs to shake off a cold to start for Porto, who overcame CF Estrela da Amadora 3-0 at the weekend.
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More important than winning, drawing or losing [in Porto] is to guarantee one of the top two places in the group in order to reach the next round," said Gazzaev, who expressed his admiration for Porto players such as Anderson, Lucho [González], Adriano and Pepe. "CSKA are a much stronger team now because we have more European experience. Winning the UEFA Cup in 2005 gave this team a great lift."
CSKA continue their European campaign fresh from a competitive Moscow derby at home to FC Spartak Moskva on Saturday. Valeriy Gazzaev's men led twice but let victory slip in a 2-2 draw which kept CSKA three points clear of Spartak in third place and two ahead of FC Lokomotiv Moskva in second. The Russian club have suffered numerous injury problems and will be without defender Chidi Odiah, midfielder Kirill Kochubei and striker Jô due to injury, while Vassili Berezutski is doubtful to take his place in defence.
Probable teams
FC Porto: Helton; Pepe, Marek Čech, Bosingwa, Bruno Alves; Lucho González, Anderson, Paulo Assunção; Tarik Sektioui, Lisandro López, Adriano.
CSKA: Igor Akinfeev; Sergei Ignashevich, Deividas Šemberas, Vassili Berezutski; Miloš Krasić, Elvir Rahimić, Evgeni Aldonin, Daniel Carvalho, Yuri Zhirkov; Ivica Olić, Vágner Love.
@ UEFA.com
just want us to grab the 3 points really, in order to have a good start.
2-0
Adriano, Anderson
VAMOS PORTO!