FC Porto host Chelsea on Wednesday with a massive chip on their shoulder. The club officials sat bemused and probably, a little embarrassed during the Champions League quarter-final draw. They had to watch the Chelsea delegates slap each other on the back and celebrate their “good fortune” in drawing FC Porto.

Ironically, FC Porto has more Champions League clout than Chelsea as two-time winners, Chelsea, has won the competition once. Jose Mourinho, the manager during their 2004 triumph, went on to begin his tenure as the “Special One” at Chelsea the following season but was unable to bring them
continental glory despite a considerable budget.

Despite domestic struggles that see them trailing Sporting Lisbon by eight points and suspensions to influential players, the Dragões remain highly motivated to challenge Chelsea at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in Seville, Spain. Manager Sergio Conceicao and his team will be looking to teach Chelsea a
lesson in humility and continue the recent trend of an unfancied team reaching the semi-finals.

Chelsea tasted some humble pie with a shocking defeat to relegation fighting West Brom last weekend. Despite his tactical nous and defensive solidity, Thomas Tuchel has struggled to get his team to score more goals. Chelsea, in 5th place, now find themselves in a dead heat race with as
many as seven other teams for the final Champions League berth in the EPL. Chelsea may have to win the current Champions League competition to qualify for next year’s edition.

Chelsea have won five of the eight encounters with FC Porto. Thomas Tuchel is also seeking to become the first manager to win the first three knockout stages matches after taking over a new club since Roberto Di Matteo winning run with Chelsea. FC Porto have also failed to win five of the six quarter-final matches since they last won the Champions League.

Porto will miss Mouhamed Mbaye with injury, while Sérgio Oliveira and Mehdi Taremi serve suspensions. N’Golo Kante is out injured for Chelsea while Christian Pulisic faces a fitness review.

Porto will line up with the traditional 4-4-2. They will look to be compact and retain discipline. It has been very taxing on the players when they lose a teammate during games. In Mariga, who leads the line, they have a player with pace and strength who can hold up the ball and link play. Chelsea linked Jesus Corona will use his speed and creativity to cause trouble for the Chelsea defence.

It is debatable how many players will be missing for Chelsea because more than one managers have described N’Golo Kante as operating like two players. He is so adept at breaking down the opposition’s attacks. Like he was on Saturday, he will again be a big miss. Tuchel will ask his team to
be compact and use his fullbacks to create space on the flanks. Chelsea will press the ball, but Porto will likely sit deep due to their central defender’s slowness. Playing Giroud as a target man would be Tuchel’s best bet to break down Porto. He will hold up the ball and link play with Werner, Mount, Ziyech and Havertz.

Porto have a big point to prove, and they showed against Juventus that you should never write them off. In the absence of Kante, they will have opportunities to get at the Chelsea defence. Look for Porto to win by a 2-1 margin.