Champions League round of 16 power rankings
By James Dudko
13. Porto
Porto likely won’t welcome the idea of taking on Juventus in the last 16. The Serie A giants are in red-hot form domestically, even if Porto are savvy campaigners in Europe.
The 2004 winners possess quality of their own, particularly in the form of winger Yacine Brahimi and striker Andre Silva. But it’s at the back where this team is improving, thanks largely to the form of ex-Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
The Spanish stopper has been in stingy form both domestically and in Europe, according to ESPN FC’s Tom Kundert: “Porto have the best defense in Portugal, conceding just 11 goals in 20 matches, and in the Champions League only three times was Casillas beaten in the six group matches.”
Porto will be buoyed by a recent 2-1 win over major rivals Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Liga. The Dragons were no slouches in the group stage either, qualifying with 11 points, even if they failed to finish above Leicester in Group G.