The UEFA Europa League round of 16 throws up a first as VfB lock horns with Portuguese giants FC Porto for the first time. Porto are a major force in European football, meaning Thursday evening’s meeting at the MHP Arena has an almost Champions League feel to it.
Champions League winners in 2004
The Dragons qualified directly for the last 16, underpinning their ambitions on the international stage. After all, the Portuguese club won the Europa League 15 years ago and also claimed the UEFA Champions League title in 2004, beating AS Monaco in the final in Gelsenkirchen.
That team from the early 2000s remains one of the best in the club’s history, as evidenced by not only the Champions League success but nine Primeira Liga titles between 2003 and 2013. Players such as goalkeeper Vitor Baia, later Chelsea legends Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho, captain and defensive leader Jorge Costa, midfield orchestrators Costinha and Deco – who like Ferreira with Chelsea also won the Champions League again with Barcelona – or former Bundesliga players Maniche (1. FC Köln) and Carlos Alberto (Werder Bremen) became true club legends. Whether anyone from the current Porto side has what it takes to earn that status remains to be seen.
Normally play in a 4-3-3 system
Current coach Francesco Farioli tends to set his team up in a 4-3-3 system. Portugal keeper Diogo Costa is the firm number one in goal. Polish duo Jakub Kiwior and Jan Bednarek are the preferred partnership in central defence, although Arsenal loanee Kiwior has missed a few games recently through injury, so young Croatian Dominik Prpic could also be an option. Alberto Costa is set to start at right-back with Martim Fernandes currently sidelined. On the left, Francisco Moura is usually preferred to Zaidu Sanusi.
Argentinian Alan Varela normally anchors the midfield, while Deniz Gül and Nigerian international Terem Moffi, on loan from Nice, are currently vying for the centre-forward position with veteran Luuk de Jong and top scorer Samu both out for the rest of the season because of cruciate ligament tears. Whoever starts, it’s clear that VfB face a very challenging assignment against Porto.
