Following a third-place finish in Group B of the Champions League, Porto dropped to the UEFA Europa League where they will look to immediately return to winning ways. Sergio Conceicao’s side are currently leading the Portuguese Primeira Liga and are set to field a strong starting XI against Lazio tomorrow evening.
Team News
Sergio Conceicao’s side have been dominant domestically this season, and they currently sit six points ahead of second place Sporting, meaning they will put up a strong fight against the Biancocelesti tomorrow evening at home.
Although their top scorer is still winger Luis Diaz (despite having joined Liverpool in last month’s Transfer Window), Mehdi Taremi is still available; he is second in scoring, having netted 12 times this season. Porto‘s most creative player is Otavio, with both Jesus Corona and Sergio Oliveira also leaving over the Transfer Window. The 27-year-old has provided eight assists in the 2021/22 campaign thus far.
Porto’s most recent match was a 2-2 draw with Sporting on Friday, meaning that they have had an extra days’ rest over Lazio. Prior to this draw, the Dragons were on an 11-game winning streak, whereby they scored 29 goals and also kept five clean sheets
Expected Starting XI
Agustin Marchesín and Wendell are both suspended for Porto vs Lazio, with Diogo Costa and Zaidu Sanusi set to take their places. In addition, Wilson Manafa and Fernando Andrade are both struggling with injury and are expected to be unavailable to Conceicao. Chancel Mbemba and Vitinha will miss the second leg if they pick up a yellow card.
Porto (4-4-2): Diogo Costa; Bruno Costa, Chancel Mbemba, Pepe, Zaidu Sanusi; Otavio, Mateus Uribe, Vitinha, Fabio Vieira; Evanilson, Mehdi Taremi.
