Swinging Around for the Second Leg Thrillers

By: Greg | November 6th, 2007

portowin Now that each team has faced one another in the Champions League groups, it’s time for the second legs of each fixture to be played out. Today features two matches with Portuga sides, let’s have a look see, shall we?

Marseille at Porto - 2:45 EST - Porto would benefit a great deal from stepping on the gas in this match. They should come out firing on all cylinders and take advantage of what will hopefully be a raucous Dragão crowd. While Lucho González will be missed, Bosingwa is back in the defense and they should still have enough firepower available to net a couple of home goals and take this one handily 2-0.

I had diarrhea of the mouth and brain the last time these two teams met and foolhardily predicted a 3-0 Porto win in France. However, a 2-0 win should be relatively reasonable given the venue and level that Porto have been playing on this season. Here’s how I see them taking the field today without their captain:

Dick Quaresma - Helder Postiga - Lisandro
Mariano Rivera - Assunção - Raul Meireles
Bosingwa When We’re Winning - Brüno Alves - Stepanov - Jorge Fucile
Todd Helton

Sektioui hasn’t played well enough in the Champions League ties thus far to warrant me including him in this side. Since I don’t think he should/will start, that means that he’ll definitely be out there come first whistle.

Benfica at Celtic - 2:45 EST - In spite of the fact that Benfica have players with the last name “Butt” and “Assis,” I don’t think they’re going to be kicking anyone’s behind today. While I did peg Celtic to shake the away form monkey off their back in the Luz the last time around, I definitely think that Benfica’s poor history here (never won) and Celtic’s great home form will combine to make for a 2-0 Celtic win. If they can beat Milan at home, they should be able to handle Benfica rather, umm, handily. Macho Camacho’s squad will probably have at least 9 of the 11 guys charted below on the pitch at kickoff…

The Law Firm of “Cardozo - Rodriguez - and Maxi Pereira”
Binya - Rui “Best Advertisment for the Mediterranean Diet’s Anti Aging Effects” Costa - Katsouranis
Luis Felipe (not Scolari) - Luisão - Edcarlos - Léo
Quim

There’s a good chance we’ll see Adu and/or Di Maria beginning around the 60th minute. I personally hate this line up and think Di Maria’s not getting his just due as far as minutes he deserves. Adu’s playing well with whatever time he’s been given and will be worth a look sometime in the later stages of the game.

Sporting face Roma tomorrow in the Alvalade. Tomorrow is also when you’ll get a preview of that game. How stunningly convenient! Kisses ALL AROUND!!! Força Portugal!!!!