Porto - Inter (14 Mar 23) [0-0]

In the 2013-14 season, Porto knocked Napoli out of the Europa League in the quarter-finals, winning 3-2 on aggregate.

In the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the 2018-19 campaign, the Portuguese outfit eliminated Roma with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Two years later Porto again showed an Italian team the door, this time sending Juventus home after a 4-4 aggregate win in the Champions League quarter-finals, when away goals still came into play.

Finally, Porto repeated their work in the Champions League group stages in the 2021-22 season, when they beat and drew Milan in two group stage clashes, leaving the Rossoneri at the bottom of their group.

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After hours of tense negotiations, all but 150 Inter fans will be allowed into the Estadio do Dragao for tonight’s Champions League game with FC Porto, but they cannot bring Nerazzurri scarves or flags.

It kicks off at 20.00 GMT and there had been real concerns that circa 1,000 fans who made the trip would not be given permission to enter the arena.

This is because they had tickets for areas other than the specifically-assigned away section and there were fears of crowd trouble.

A diplomatic solution was found after talks and most will be allowed into the stadium.

The only exceptions are the 150 who got tickets that were set in the section where the most passionate home supporters are camped out.

There is one issue, as the Inter fans who do enter in these ‘neutral’ sections of the stadium must not bring with them any scarves, flags or other items of clothing that will make them easily identifiable as Nerazzurri supporters.

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Inzaghi admitted: “We know we’re facing a quality team. We saw them in the first leg, they’re strong in one-on-one situations. We know Porto’s statistics, the Italians have always suffered in recent years but we have prepared in the best possible way, respecting Porto and above all focussing on ourselves.
“We know it’ll be a very meaningful match, between two teams that have fully deserved to be here after overcoming two very difficult groups. It will be a proper showdown”.

“We know that we can make a big step and return to the last eight. It hasn’t happened in a long time and we want to go even further. The second leg will be even more stimulating, we will need concentration because we’re up against a team who are used to these sorts of matches”.

“We’ll see tomorrow about the attack, there is also Correa. We’ll see how the situation develops.”

“Skriniar has been out for two and a half weeks, today he did his first full group training. I know what he has done to be available for this match. He hasn’t been able to train since the first leg. He’s a high-quality player, but he’s been off for 15 days.” - Inzaghi

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Sergio Conceicao first touched on his expectations for Porto’s clash with Inter.
“It will be a balanced match, very difficult, against a team full of good players. We know our opponent but above all we know what we are capable of doing. We want to be intense, good at pressing, aggressive and, above all, intelligent.”

He commented on any differences from the first leg, where the Nerazzurri secured a 1-0 win.
“The matches may be similar, but they will never be the same. It will also depend on the players who will play for Inter, for example I think there are doubts about whether Skriniar will be there or not.
“I don’t know if Dumfries will play, if Gosens will be there…. Then up front they have Dzeko, Lukaku and Lautaro, only two of these will play. Then it will depend on the strategy we adopt.”

The Portuguese coach touched on Porto’s preparations for the decisive Champions League match.
“We prepared for it in accordance with what are our characteristics as a team. In these top-level matches we have to play the way we know, the way we feel most comfortable. If we adapt too much to our opponent, things might not go as well as we want.
“We are halfway through the game. We have 90 minutes to try to overturn the result but to do that we will have to be smart throughout the match. It will be important not to go on the attack, we will need to be patient and with the right aggressiveness.”

Conceicao was asked if his coaching style is suitable for the Champions League.
“I don’t think about that. My growth has to do with the challenges we have every day, with the quality of the players, with the changes in the squad year after year. I try not to look at what I like but to study a system that can extract the maximum potential from the players.
“This is what makes a coach grow. If you ask me which football I like best I’d answer German football, it doesn’t make me sleepy. Then I have a great passion for Italy, that’s where I lived the best moments of my career as a player and that’s why I have a strong bond with Italy.”

Finally, Conceicao was asked if Inter’s inconsistent results in the league would affect them in Europe.
“I’m not the Inter coach, but all defeats are tough for a club used to winning like Inter. However, Champions League matches are different, on a mental level the problems from the league defeat will not come into play tomorrow.”

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.h. said:

did i miss something happening to de vrij?

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Armes said:

Sergio is saying they won't attack and be patient but playing in that stadium I doubt that will be the case, maybe first 15 minutes or so they'll stick to that plan. I have a feeling this game will go into extra time. We should be able to get a goal here and force them to attack relentlessly. If Simone decides to park the buss at kickoff we're doomed.

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ADRossi said:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1635024363417407488

This is...something.

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