Our football match prediction:
Schalke 04
Match Time & Date:
18/09/2018
20:00 GMT
Prediction: 1-1
FC Porto
Schalke will be looking to kick off their Champions League campaign in style when they host Porto at their VELTINS-Arena on Tuesday evening. Schalke continue life without key midfielder Leon Goretzka, who joined Bayern Munchen in the summer transfer window and it is no surprise they have been struggling to find their best form at the start of the new Bundesliga campaign. Porto, on the other hand, did well to win the national championship last term and they are surely eager to continue with fine performances in the elite competition. A close encounter is on the cards in Gelsenkirchen and we predict that the two teams are going to share the spoils in their Champions League opener. When the two teams met in a friendly three years ago they played out a goalless draw and the history is likely to repeat itself.
Highlighted Player (Amine Harit):
Amine Harit is a French-born Moroccan footballer, who plays for Schalke 04 in Bundesliga. Born in Pontoise (France) on June 18, 1997, Harit began his youth career in the suburbs of Paris, learning the football basics with Argentuil C.O. After spending four years at Esperance Paris 19eme, the attacking midfielder moved to famous French club Paris Saint-Germain. However, he quickly returned to Esperance Paris 19eme and in 2011 he joined fellow French club Red Star. One year later he moved to Nantes, where he ended his youth career. Amine Harit continued playing for les Canaris at senior level and after scoring one goal in 30 league games for Nantes, he signed a contract with Bundesliga side Schalke 04. Harit made two appearances for France U21 team, but he represents Morocco at senior level. The attacking midfielder, who is used as a winger as well, made his Morocco debut on October 7, 2017 against Gabon in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Highlighted Team (FC 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.
