FC Porto, traditionally a regular in the Champions League, finds itself in the Europa League this season, where its performance has not met expectations. The Portuguese club has struggled to find its rhythm, securing only a single win over Hoffenheim (2-0) in late October.
Currently ranked 23rd in the group standings, Porto has since suffered a 2-1 loss to Lazio and settled for a 2-2 draw against Anderlecht. Their domestic form has also been inconsistent, highlighted by a heavy 4-1 defeat to Benfica, followed by a 2-0 victory over Casa Pia. They will face Famalicao in their upcoming league match.
On the other hand, FC Midtjylland, though not a well-known name in European competitions, has performed better in the Europa League, earning two more points than Porto after the first five matches. The Danish team has claimed wins over Maccabi Tel Aviv (0-2) and Union Saint-Gilloise (1-0) but lost to FCSB (2-0) and Eintracht Frankfurt (1-2).
In their domestic league, Midtjylland is still in contention for the title, sitting just three points behind leaders FC Copenhagen. They aimed to extend their winning streak with a victory over Lyngby last weekend.
Both teams are coping with injury concerns. Porto will be missing key players such as Ivan Marcano, Fran Navarro, Marko Grujić, and Francisco Conceição, while Midtjylland is without Simsir, Franculino, Osoro, Marrony, and Gue-sung Cho.
Despite these absences, both sides have notable players to watch, including Porto’s Samu Omorodion, Galeno, and Nico González, and Midtjylland’s Buksa and potentially Franculino, if fit.
Prediction
Despite Midtjylland’s struggles away from home, having lost six of their last eight away games, Porto has shown solid form, particularly at home. With Porto’s attacking strength and Midtjylland’s weaker away record, a 2-0 win for FC Porto is a likely outcome for this match.
