Porto look to book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals for the first time in 12 years as they welcome Stuttgart to Estadio do Dragao for the second leg of their round of 16 tie on Thursday.
The Portuguese hosts are in the driving seat following a 2-1 first-leg victory in Germany last week, when the two sides met for the first time.
This leaves Stuttgart needing to overturn a one-goal deficit if they are to reach the last eight of any European competition for the first time since their run to the UEFA Cup final in 1988-89.
Read our Porto vs Stuttgart prediction below, and make sure to check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our free expert Europa League predictions!
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Porto vs Stuttgart key stats
- Porto have won 18 of their 21 home matches (D2, L1) across all competitions this season.
- Eight of Stuttgart’s last nine away matches have produced three or more goals.
- Ten of Porto’s 15 Europa League goals this season have come before half-time.
Porto vs Stuttgart preview: Dragons to finish the job at the Dragao?
| Porto | vs | Stuttgart |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (Primeira Liga) | Position | 4th (Bundesliga) |
| 69 | Points | 50 |
| 52 | Goals For | 51 |
| 10 | Goals Against | 34 |
| 18 | Clean Sheets | 10 |
| 1st | Home Rank | 3rd |
| 1st | Away Rank | 6th |
Porto boast strong pedigree in this competition, having lifted the UEFA Cup/Europa League twice, although deep runs have been scarce in recent years.
Since their 2010-11 triumph, the Dragons have progressed beyond the round of 16 only once in their six attempts, but they are well placed to do so again following last week’s first-leg success in Stuttgart, with their formidable home record offering further encouragement.
Porto won all four of their home matches during this season’s Europa League league phase, scoring at least twice in each.
Porto’s dominance on home soil was evident over the weekend, when Francesco Farioli’s side eased past Moreirense in a 3-0 victory to extend their lead at the top of the Primeira Liga table to seven points, albeit having played a game more than second-placed Sporting Lisbon.
Despite holding the upper hand, a previous example serves as a warning for the Blue and Whites, who were eliminated by Krasnodar in the 2019-20 Champions League qualifiers despite carrying a one-goal advantage from the first leg away from home.
Looking to inflict a similar setback, Stuttgart responded to last week’s first-leg defeat with a 1-0 win over Leipzig at the weekend, leaving Sebastian Hoeness’s side fourth in the Bundesliga standings.
All three of Stuttgart’s defeats in their last 13 away matches came when they failed to score more than once.
While that result highlighted the Reds’ resilience, their defensive record on the road remains a concern, having conceded at least twice in three of their last four away matches, with the exception being a 4-1 victory at Celtic in the first leg of their playoff tie.
That victory in Glasgow remains Stuttgart’s only win in their last four away outings and one of just two successes from five Europa League trips this term (L3).
The Reds are the top scorers in this season’s UEL main stage with 20 goals, but it remains to be seen how they will fare here, having failed to win either of their previous visits to Portugal (D1, L1).
Porto vs Stuttgart form guide & betting tips
| Porto | vs | Stuttgart |
|---|---|---|
| W-L-D-W-W | Form | L-W-D-L-W |
| 10 | Goals For | 8 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 4 |
| D-W-W | Europa League form | W-L-L |
Whispers predicts: Porto 2-1 Stuttgart
This encounter pits a Stuttgart side with attacking quality against a Porto team that have built much of their success on resilience while remaining dangerous in the final third, so goals at both ends look likely; BTTS - yes at 1.61 is appealing, while combining it with over 2.5 goals adds further value at 1.95 odds.
Meanwhile, with the visitors expected to push forward in search of a comeback, spaces could open up at the back, making a home win at odds of 2.5 an attractive option given Porto’s strong record on their own ground.
Combining a Porto win with BTTS - yes at 4.33 represents a value selection, while the Dragons to score at least twice is priced at 2.10, and a correct score of 2-1 in favour of the hosts is available at 9.50 odds.
> BTTS - Yes at 1.61 | Likelihood: Probable
> Porto over 1.5 goals at 2.10 | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result - Porto to win at 2.50 | Likelihood: Possible
> Porto to win & BTTS - yes at 4.33 | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score: 2-1 at 9.50 | Likelihood: Outsider