Porto vs Young Boys 20/09/19

20 September 2019

Porto and Young Boys go head-to-head at the Estádio do Dragão for the opening match of Group G, which will be their first-ever meeting in the UEFA Europa League (EL).

Porto’s European adventure has begun in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round where the Russian side Krasnodar sent them into the EL group stage thanks to the away-goal rule (1-0 A, 2-3 H). But, even though the hosts featured in Europe’s second-tier group stage only once before, their last appearance in 2010/11 brings back good memories as they won the competition back then. The Dragons enjoy facing the Swiss sides at home, having won three of four European home such meetings. Interestingly, the Primeira Liga heavyweights have won five of their last six home games in the European group stage (W5, L1), all of which have seen them score three or more goals and concede at least one.

Meanwhile, Young Boys’ bid to break into the Champions League group stage for the second season in a row ended in the play-off, as they lost on the away-goal rule to Crvena Zvezda (2-2 H, 1-1 A). Uncomfortable when away from home, the reigning Swiss champions have managed just two wins in 17 EL trips (W2, D5, L10), qualifying included. One thing that could encourage the traveling side is that they’ve never lost to a Portuguese club in Europe before (D2), being held to a goalless draw by Braga in their only European visit to Portugal.