Casillas Class Contributes to Porto Win

An inspired performance by goalkeeper Iker Casillas and a second-half goal from Vincent Aboubakar helped give Porto a 2-1 win at Benfica on Friday.

Benfica, who had won their previous eight Primeira Liga games, went ahead through Kostas Mitroglou only for Hector Herrera and Aboubakar to hand the visitors their first victory at the Stadium of Light for four years.

Porto, who completed a league double over their arch-rivals, are now within three points of Sporting and Benfica who are level at the top of the tabl

Midfielder Renato Sanches, 18, the revelation of the season, set up the opening goal for the hosts with a delightful dinked pass to Mitroglou who beat Casillas with a scuffed shot.

Herrera replied 10 minutes later when he was given too much space on the edge of the area and the Mexican midfielder drilled a low diagonal shot wide of Júlio César.

Casillas then sprang into action as he prevented Benfica taking a half-time lead by tipping a powerful Jonas drive over the bar.

The former Real Madrid goalkeeper again came to the rescue early in the second period when he brilliantly stopped Nicolas Gaitan who had a clear run on goal.

Aboubakar then burst past a defender and buried an angled shot past Júlio César in the 65th minute.

Casillas twice denied Benfica an equaliser, saving from Bruno Martins Indi after the Porto defender deflected a cross towards his own goal and making a point-blank stop with his feet from Mitroglou.

Related articles

• Football Transfer News: Colombian Martinez Set to Become the Most Expensive Player in China's Football History, Surpasses Ramires' Record
• Pothole paradise
• Newspaper Gossip: Man United Had £145m Offer for Neymar
• Diego Costa will see out his Chelsea contract, says Jose Mourinho
• Watching Soccer While American: NFL Conference Championship Edition

Porto v Bayern Munich

Porto will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run in this season’s Champions League when tournament-favourites Bayern Munich visit on Wednesday.

The Portuguese champions are seeking a first semi-final appearance since their 2004 run to the final, when they won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho, against the five-times European champions from Bavaria.

Porto routed Swiss champions Basel 4-0 at home in the last 16, second-leg, having drawn 1-1 in Portugal and they will be looking for a repeat performance. Manager Julen Lopetegui has said his side will not adopt the role of the underdog against Munich.

"We are talking about one of the best Bayern teams in the history of the club," said Lopetegui.

"We have a great respect for Bayern, but we have the ambition to be protagonists. We have a huge challenge ahead of us.”

Bayern are missing a host of stars including wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, plus German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, but the Bundesliga giants could still name five World Cup winners at the Estadio do Dragao.

Philipp Lahm is expected to start in midfield in a game, but the reshuffle may have little impact on a side who stormed into the last eight with a 7-0 demolition of Shakhtar Donetsk. 

Team news

Bayern Munich head into their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Porto in the midst of an injury crisis. 

Alaba, Benatia, Martinez, Ribery, Robben and Schweinsteiger are all currently injured as boss Pep Guardiola will have to call on some of his fringe players to get past a dangerous Porto side who are yet to taste defeat in the competition this season.

Porto are sweating on the fitness of forwards Jackson Martinez and Cristian Tello ahead of the first leg. Both are struggling with hamstring injuries, while centre-back Ivan Marcano is suspended.

Bayern Munich are odds-on favourites at 3/4, with Porto considered 100/30 outsiders establish a first-leg lead and 13/5 to hold the favourites to a draw. Pep Guardiola’s men head the Champions League outright at 15/8, while their hosts are considered the biggest-priced outsiders left in competitions at 66/1. 

Robert Lewandowski is the 4/1 favourite in the first goalscorer betting closely followed by Thomas Muller (9/2), while Jackson Martinez is rated the visitors’ biggest threat at 8/1.

Related articles

• Bayern's Schweinsteiger to miss cup tie vs. Leverkusen
• Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery to miss Bayern Munich's Champions League quarter-final clash against Porto
• Bastian Schweinsteiger joins list of Bayern injured
• Manchester United transfer news: Lewandowski bid, Cavani talks, Depay deal
• Thomas Muller: 'Injuries will not be used as an excuse'
• Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery ruled out of Bayern Munich-Porto clash

City to Report Porto Fans Racism

Manchester City claimed that Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure were racially abused during their UEFA Europa League clash against Porto, media reports said.

Barclays Premier League leaders City came from a goal down to beat the defending champions 2-1 at the Estadio do Drago, but the BBC reported that club officials had informed them that the two black players had been targeted by sections of the home crowd.

After the final whistle, City manager Roberto Mancini said he had heard nothing unusual.

"I didn't hear the noise, because I was concentrating on the game," he said.

But it was claimed that after the game Balotelli had told a City official that he was subjected to racial abuse from the stands. The club then announced that they intended to report it to UEFA.

Mancini added later: "I didn't hear (any racist chanting), sorry."

"I think Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure are too strong (to be affected by it)."

Toure confirmed he had "heard something" from the stands.

"That's why we all like the Premier League, because it never happens there," he told Sky Sports.

"Maybe in foreign countries they don't expect black players. I think in future it will be okay, they will change their minds and the game will become more open."

"Football is football and the fans come to enjoy the game, and we don't want things like this to happen."