Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Atletico Madrid
Match Time & Date:
15/09/2021
21:00
Prediction: 2-1
Porto
After coming from behind to beat Celta Vigo in La Liga, Atletico Madrid will be aiming to give fans yet another reason for celebration when they take on Porto in their Champions League opener. Los Rojiblancos have big ambitions for the 2021/22 CL campaign, and we are positive that they will fight tooth and nail against the Dragons. Since key attacker Luis Suarez has overcome his injury, Diego Simeone should have a full squad to choose from.
Porto head into the match following a 1-1 draw with Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga derby. Anyhow, we are not tempted to put our money on the Portuguese outfit as Atletico Madrid have turned their Estadio Wanda Metropolitano into a real fortress. Goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin is the only absentee in the away team ahead of the trip to the Spanish capital.
Highlighted Player (Luis Suarez):
Luis Suarez is a controversial footballer who plays for La Liga side Barcelona as a striker. The Uruguayan forward moved to Europe in 2006, signing a deal with Groningen. After scoring 10 goals in 27 league appearances for the club in the 2006/2007 Eredivisie campaign, he joined Ajax at the end of the season. The prolific striker scored no less than 81 goals in 110 appearances for Ajax and, as a result, Liverpool chiefs decided to sign him on 31 January 2011.
Suarez became the club’s most expensive signing and he was producing thrilling performances with the Anfield outfit between 2011 and 2014. Liverpool were on the verge of winning the 2013/2014 Premier League trophy, but Steven Gerrard slipped in the decider against Chelsea and they eventually finished the season in second place in the standings.
In 2014 Suarez joined Barcelona and he was the top scorer in the 2015/2016 La Liga campaign. He won the 2013/2014 Premier League Golden Boot as well and in 2011 he clinched the Copa America trophy with Uruguay.
Highlighted Team (Porto):
Futebol Clube do Porto are one of Portugal’s biggest football clubs playing their matches in front of 50,000 people at their Estadio do Dragao. Porto form biggest rivalries with two other Big Three clubs in Portugal and regular league title contenders – Benfica and Sporting CP. Rivalries between the clubs stem from the historical, political, economical and cultural discrepancies between the cities of Porto and Lisbon. The Dragons, as they are commonly known in Portugal, are the second most successful Portuguese team with a total of 74 trophies to their name.
Porto hold a record of five consecutive league titles which are part of the total tally of 27 Primeira Liga trophies. FC Porto’s success extends to the international scene as well with seven European titles. Two-time European champions from 1987 and 2004, Porto also won two UEFA Cup/Europa League titles, the UEFA Super Cup and the International Cup on two occasions. Together with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United, Porto have the most appearances in the UEFA Champions League group stage – the total of 20.
