Who will win in the clash of crisis clubs?

Tension reigns in Group B of the Champions League! After two matchdays, outsiders Brugge are leading the table with two wins, behind them is the extremely struggling Werkself, who are level on points with group favourites Atletico Madrid. FC Porto has to be content with fourth place. Of course, this is not enough for the traditional Portuguese club. Will the hosts manage to get their first point against the Pillendreher on Tuesday in Porto vs Leverkusen? The odds see the home side as favourites.

The 2004 Champions League winners have already suffered two painful defeats this top flight season. First a 1:2 against Atletico Madrid and then a completely indisputable 0:4 at home against the Belgian representatives from Bruges. If they are to reach the last 16, they need a win against Leverkusen, otherwise things will look bleak for coach Conceicao’s men. Porto vs. Leverkusen is definitely worth considering for a bet on the men from the port city. Mainly because Bayer 04 is currently in an extreme crisis and because the Portuguese won a top match in the league on Friday.

Mamma Mia Bayer 04! In a relegation place in the domestic league, already eliminated in the DFB Cup and in the Champions League also already conceded an extremely unnecessary defeat against Brugge. Only the victory against Atletico, who have not been a consistent world class team this season, stands out. Bayer has to catch itself! And right now on Tuesday against Porto. A bad performance could also cost the very popular coach Gerardo Seaone his job. Kick-off at the Estadio do Dragao for the CL duel is on Tuesday evening at 21:00.

Porto – Statistics & current form

Porto has never conceded four goals at home in the first 21 years of Champions League history. Then in the last five years it has actually happened four times. Three times against the great Liverpool FC and now on the last matchday against the internationally not so renowned players of FC Bruges. After the bitter defeat, coach Conceicao’s car was also attacked. All in all, things don’t seem to be going so well for FC Porto. But fortunately there is still the league.

Get back in touch with the top of the league

Here the Portuguese are in third place after eight games, just three points off the top. According to the reigning champions and cup winners’ own self-image, first place should of course be conquered again in the near future. Since the disgrace against Brugge, there was a 1-1 against Praia and a 4-1 against Sporting Braga last Friday. Above all, the duel with Brage is encouraging for the reigning champions from Portugal, as they beat the second-placed team in the table. All in all, this is reason enough for the bookmakers to tip the scales in favour of the home side.

From eight CL home games against German teams, FC Porto has only failed to win one. Seven wins and one draw stand in the eternal record of the Portuguese champions, who have put Schalke and Bayern, among others, in their place in the past. Will this continue with Porto vs. Leverkusen? A bet on FC is certainly not out of the question, but the odds are not really lucrative. The Portuguese team’s performances are too inconsistent to predict a home win.

The most valuable man in the squad of the former Champions League winner is the Brazilian Pepe, who arrived from South America in summer 21. He scored twice in the top match against Braga on Friday. But both he and the whole team have yet to perform in the Champions League. Will FC get their first win against Bayer?

Predicted Porto line-up:
Diogo Costa – Rodrigo Conceicao, Pepe, David Carmo, Wendell – Uribe, Bruno Costa, Eustaquio, Pepê – Evanilson, Mehdi Taremi

Last matches played by Porto:

Liga Portugal
01/10/2022 – FC Porto 4 – 1 Braga

17/09/2022 – Estoril 1 – 1 FC Porto

Champions League Grp. B
14/09/2022 – FC Porto 0 – 4 Club Brugge

Liga Portugal
11/09/2022 – FC Porto 3 – 0 Chaves

Champions League Grp. B
08/09/2022 – Atletico Madrid 2 – 1 FC Porto

Leverkusen – Statistics & current form

Before the season, Leverkusen were considered one of the challengers to FC Bayern Munich in the battle for the German championship title. Not on an equal footing, but as a team that could definitely tickle the German industry leader. Last Friday, both clubs met and the gap could hardly have been bigger. The Werkself lost without a chance with 0:4 and is in second last place in the German Bundesliga. They need a win against Porto to regain their self-confidence. Or is it already too late for Bayer?

How long will Seoane stay?

Even the CL win against Atletico, by far the best performance of the season, has not had a lasting effect at Bayer. Heads are hanging and the chest has cooled noticeably. Many other coaches would have been relieved of their duties in such a situation. But Bayer values Seoane and wants to hold on to him. For that, the Swiss coach urgently needs results now (!). In the best case, a win at Porto vs. Leverkusen. A prediction on the guests is risky due to their current form.

Florian Wirtz? Still injured! Patrik Schick? Currently a shadow of his former self! Lukas Hradecky? Not his usual support at the moment! There are problems all over the place at Bayer, and the three players mentioned are just a few examples. Above all, courage and a self-image of their own are currently not in evidence at the otherwise so proud Bundesliga club. Coach Seoane tried out many tactical things in the last few games, but was unable to find a system that worked in the long term.

Even the strong newcomer Callum Hudson Odoi has not yet been integrated into the team and the bright spot Jeremie Frimpong is not yet performing consistently enough. By the way, Frimpong set up both goals against Atletico and was the first Werkself player since Hakan Calhanoglu to do so in a CL match.

So is there a final for the coach with Porto vs. Leverkusen? A bet on a win for the visitors can certainly be considered due to the squad quality and potential, but somehow everyone at Bayer must finally manage to release the handbrake. At the moment, there is little to suggest that this will happen on Tuesday in Porto. Before the Atletico game, however, similar things were written and there the Rhinelanders suddenly performed. A bet on Leverkusen is an option for risk-loving betting enthusiasts.

Predicted Leverkusen line-up:
Hradecky – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba, Bakker – Andrich, Demirbay, Frimpong, Hudson-Odoi, Diaby – Schick

Last matches played by Leverkusen:

Bundesliga
01/10/2022 – Bayern Munich 4 – 0 Bayer Leverkusen

17/09/2022 – Bayer Leverkusen 1 – 1 Werder Bremen

Champions League Grp. B
14/09/2022 – Bayer Leverkusen 2 – 0 Atletico Madrid

Bundesliga
10/09/2022 – Hertha BSC 2 – 2 Bayer Leverkusen

Champions League Grp. B
08/09/2022 – Club Brugge 1 – 0 Bayer Leverkusen

Porto – Leverkusen Direct comparison / H2H-Balance

Two games and two wins! The Rhinelanders hardly have such a positive record against any other European top team as against FC Porto. In the 19/20 Europa League season, both games against the Portuguese were won.

In Porto they won 3:1 and at home they triumphed 2:1. Replay on Tuesday evening? Porto vs. Leverkusen offers excellent betting odds for a Leverkusen win.

Porto – Leverkusen betting tip

FC Porto and Bayer Leverkusen have one big thing in common: they have already been to a Champions League final! While Bayer lost to Real in 2002, Porto won the title under legendary coach Jose Mourinho in 2004. Those days are long gone, however, and both teams belong to the extended European top flight.

In itself, one would expect a match at eye level on Tuesday at the Dragao. But while Porto is struggling in the CL, the Werkself can’t get a foot on the ground in domestic competition. If you believe in a turnaround, you can certainly consider a tip on Bayer 04. The odds are quite interesting. However, the mental performance that FC Porto showed in the top match on Friday speaks against it. It can go in all directions, even a draw is within the realm of possibility. Due to the all in all unclear situation, we will go with the goals in our tip.

Club Brugge are top of Group B after two matchdays! Probably nobody would have bet a penny on that before the season. Leverkusen and Porto therefore have a lot at stake on Tuesday and each team will throw everything into the balance if they fall behind.

Due to the struggling defences, we therefore believe that both sides will score at least one goal. Porto have been strong again recently, but have always conceded a goal themselves. Leverkusen’s offensive could have scored ten goals more if they had made better use of their chances, but at the same time their defence is extremely spotty.

We therefore place our bet on the option “Both score: Yes” and take a bit of a risk with an investment of five units.