Porto look to set the record straight as they fight against history on Thursday night
On Thursday night, FC Porto host Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Europa League quarter final at the Estádio Do Dragão and they will do so knowing that history is not in their favour.
The Portuguese league leaders have five European trophies in their cabinet, but their record against English sides is far from encouraging for fans of the Dragons.
The weight of history
That’s the trend that Porto must seek to reverse, starting tonight when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Porto for the first time in a knockout tie. They will be the ninth English team to face Porto in the knockout rounds of European competition.
The Dragons have previously faced Manchester United (four times), Liverpool (three times), Arsenal and Chelsea (both twice), as well as Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. They have only beaten Wolves and Manchester United (twice).
The last time Porto knocked an English side out of Europe was Manchester United in 2003/04 in the Champions League last 16 thanks to a 2-1 home win and then a dramatic late equaliser from Costinha at Old Trafford to secure passage to the quarter-finals.
If there’s a good omen for Porto, it is that the last time they knocked out an English team, they went on to win the competition.
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Home advantage key
The importance of tonight’s game is heightened by Porto’s historical record at home against English teams. In 24 competitive games on English soil, they have never won a single game, so taking an advantage from the home leg could be key.
The flip side to that is that in 25 home games against English teams, Porto have won nine, drawn nine and lost just seven. Francesco Farioli’s side will be looking to take a lead to Nottingham next week, where they have already lost this season.
It is in knockout football where the concern really lies. In 15 knockout ties against English opposition, Porto have emerged victorious just three times, and they have been eliminated in each of their last eight such ties.
A score to settle
Aside from trying to redress the historical imbalance between themselves and English opposition in such ties, Porto also have a score to settle with Forest, who are the only team to have beaten them in Europe this season. The Premier League strugglers won 2-0 back in October in the Europa League group stage.
An added factor in this tie is that Porto’s title bid suffered a setback at the weekend with the 2-2 draw at home to Famalicao. While they remain five points ahead of Sporting CP, they have played a game more and have a reduced margin for error.
That could affect Farioli’s thinking when it comes to team selection and the importance he gives the Europa League in the coming days.