Real Madrid C.F. and F.C. Porto

Real Madrid go to Portugal looking to build on their 4-2 victory over Olimpique Marseille on Matchday 1. However the 2002 Champions League winners were brought down to earth on Saturday, falling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Valencia in the Primera Divisi?n. Coach Carlos Queiroz lost the services of England captain David Beckham in that match, while defender Rubén Gonz?lez is also ruled out with a dislocated shoulder. Leading scorer in Champions League history, Ra?l Gonz?lez, has recovered from a hip injury enough to make the bench however. Real will hope to improve on their dismal recent record away from home in Europe, a run which has seen them win only once in their last seven European trips.
Porto coach José Morinho has been dealt a blow with the loss of captain Jorge Costa, who misses the game with a knee injury. Russian playmaker Dmitri Alenichev is also absent through injury. Last season's UEFA Cup winners make two changes from the side which beat Vit?ria Guimar?es 2-1 on Saturday, with Pedro Emanuel and Maniche replacing Costa and Edgaras Jankauskas, who drops to the bench. Porto have a great recent record at home in European competition having won six of their last seven games at Antas.
Welcome to the Antas Stadium for this evening’s UEFA Champions League Group F encounter between FC Porto and Real Madrid CF. This Iberian derby will be the tenth meeting between the two sides, all of which have been in the European Champion Clubs’ Cup and the Champions League. The Spanish champions have come out on top, winning eight compared to Porto’s two wins in those encounters. Real Madrid also won on their last visit to Antas, a 2-1 victory in 2001-02.