European champion Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are, in theory, the most difficult rivals for FC Porto in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
Unlike Benfica and Sporting de Braga, who ‘fell’ in the Europa League, the ‘dragons’ secured qualification for the ‘eighth round’ today, after beating Shakhtar Donetsk, 5-3, in the sixth and final round day of the season. .
The Portuguese runner-up finished the round in second position, behind Spanish FC Barcelona, knowing that they will face one of the other seven group winners.
Only the Catalans will not be able to face the Porto fans, being the English Manchester City, led by Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva, who won Group G with barely any victories, being, in theory, the most difficult rival that could bring luck to FC Porto. in Monday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
The Spanish Real Madrid, record holder of titles and who faced Braga in Group C, also finished the group stage with six victories and is always a fearsome rival, like Bayern Munich, who only conceded one draw and registered his 40th game without losing. in the group stage.
According to the history of the competition, the most accessible rival would be the Spanish Real Sociedad, but they had an excellent group stage, without defeats and in which they beat Benfica twice.
Also from Spain, Atlético de Madrid brings good memories to FC Porto and will not be a completely inaccessible rival, like the Germans in Borussia Dortmund or the English in Arsenal.
The end of the group stage of the ‘Champions’ also allowed us to find out Sporting’s possible rival in the play-off for access to the round of 16 of the Europa League.
With second place in Group D of the Europa League already secured, the ‘lions’ know that they will face one of the teams that finished third in the ‘Champions’, and will not be able to face the other two Portuguese clubs in the competition – Benfica and Sporting de Braga.
Rafael Leão’s Italian AC Milan, a semi-finalist in the Champions League last season, is the opponent to avoid in Monday’s draw.
The Turks of Galatasaray, the French of Lens, the Dutch of Feyenoord, the Swiss of Young Boys and the Ukrainians of Shakhtar Donetsk are Sporting’s other possible rivals.
Champions League draw pots:
– Pot 1: Bayern Munich (Ale), Arsenal (Eng), Real Madrid (Esp), Real Sociedad (Esp), Atlético de Madrid (Esp), Borussia Dortmund (Ale), Manchester City (Eng), FC Barcelona (Esp ) ).
– Pot 2: Copenhagen (Din), PSV Eindhoven (Hol), Naples (Ita), Inter Milan (Ita), Lazio (Ita), Paris Saint-Germain (Fra), Leipzig (Ale), FC Porto (Por) .
Source: TSF
