Juventus v Porto predictions: Juve face an uphill battle after first-leg defeat

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Juventus v Porto in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Porto to qualify
2pts 29-20 Betfair, Paddy Power

Team news

Juventus
Danilo is suspended after being booked in the first leg. Rodrigo Betancur (coronavirus) is sidelined along with Paolo Dybala. Centre-backs Giorgio Chiellini and Matthijs de Ligt are doubts.

Porto
Centre-backs Chancel Mbemba and Ivan Marcano are major doubts. Pepe and Jesus Corona are hoping to overcome knocks suffered at the weekend.

Match preview

Juventus's last two Champions League campaigns ended with surprise defeats to Ajax in the 2018-19 quarter-finals and Lyon in last season's round of 16.

And the prospect of another disappointing last-16 exit is looming over the Old Lady after a 2-1 first-leg defeat to Porto.

Federico Chiesa's 82nd-minute strike reduced Juve's deficit, tilting the tie back in their favour according to bookmakers.

However, Porto kept clean sheets in their last five group matches, beating Marseille and Olympiakos to nil at home and away and holding Manchester City to a goalless draw at Estadio do Dragao.

That run of shutouts suggests Juve will not find it easy to turn things around and there should be no sense of inferiority in the Porto camp after their performance in last month's first leg.

Juventus are renowned for their defensive excellence but Porto's Mehdi Taremi pounced on a woeful mix-up between Rodrigo Betancur and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to give his side the lead after just one minute.

Porto also roared out of the blocks after half-time as Taremi's strike partner Moussa Marega fired past a shocked Szczesny 19 seconds into the second half.

Iran international Taremi scored 18 goals in 26 Primeira Liga starts for Rio Ave last season and has nine in 15 for Porto this term while Portugal midfielder Sergio Oliveira has notched ten league goals and three in the Champions League.

That attacking threat should concern Juventus, particularly given last season's experience against Lyon. Trailing 1-0 from the away leg, Juve conceded an early penalty which was converted by Memphis Depay and ended up going out on away goals despite a Cristiano Ronaldo brace.

Chiesa's strike in Portugal means Juve are in a stronger position this time and they have serious goal threats in the shape of Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata, who scored six times in six group games.

However, Andrea Pirlo's plans have been disrupted by a positive coronavirus test for midfielder Betancur and the absence of suspended defender Danilo.

Both are first-team regulars and fitness doubts over Matthijs de Ligt and veteran Giorgio Chiellini provide further headaches for Pirlo, who has had a mixed debut season as a manager.

Juve have reached the Coppa Italia final but are off the pace in their hunt for a tenth straight Serie A title and they may struggle to beat a Porto side who have lost just three times in 29 Primeira Liga and Champions League matches this season.

Key stat

Porto have conceded one goal in their last six Champions League matches.

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