Read our prediction for Lokomotiv Moscow vs FC Porto below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Lokomotiv Moscow vs FC Porto and you can increase your winnings!
Lokomotiv Moscow vs FC Porto Prediction & Betting tips
Four matches were played in each of the eight groups in the UEFA Champions League 2018/2019 season. While teams like Paris St. Germain or even FC Barcelona have already come up with eight goals after two games alone, only a meager seven goals have been added in the four Group D matches. FC Lokke 04 and Lokomotiv FC FC FC had a single goal against Galatasaray Istanbul at the last matchday to fix the three points. On Wednesday evening it comes in the Russian capital now for the meeting between Lokomotiv Moscow and Porto. Again, we see in the odds of less than 2.5 hits the most lucrative value, as simply many arguments speak for a rather scorching direct duel.
Locomotive Moscow:
Lokomotiv Moscow is one of the most consistent under-teams in the current Champions League season. This can be read both in the numbers in the Russian league, as well as in the premier class. In the Premier League scored the reigning champions in eleven games only a meager 13 goals. For comparison: front-runner Zenit St. Petersburg comes with the same number of games already 20 hits. On the other hand, the defense worked in most cases quite well, because eleven goals are a decent score, especially considering that the team of Yuriy Semin conceded five goals in a direct duel with St. Petersburg and keeper Guilherme accordingly in the remaining ten matches only six times had to get the ball out of the case.
By the way, this does not really come as a surprise, because the red-and-white Greens prefer a rather restrained orientation in the current season. Priority number one is the compactness on the defensive. Only then does the Semin-Elf think about offensive solutions, usually in the form of counter situations. How hard it is to crack the experienced defense to the former international Benedikt Höwedes, especially in front of home crowd, the Schalke had to learn on the second matchday. Despite more possession over long stretches of the game, it took until the 88th Minute before Weston McKennie scored the redeeming winning goal to 1: 0 head. Offensively, the Russians remained largely harmless, which should be another indication that on Wednesday similar is to be expected. To top it all off and weakening the already qualitatively average attack, Jefferson Farfan and Fedor Smolov are injured by two key players. Even seasoned center-back Vedran Corluka had to be substituted at the weekend in a narrow 2-1 win against Rostov and is questionable.
FC Porto:
Together with FC Schalke 04, FC Porto are currently leading Group D with four points. To kick off the reigning German runner-up and the Portuguese parted with a performance-based 1-1 draw. On the second match day, the team of coach Sergio Concecaio struggled to a close 1-0 win at home against Galatasaray. Due to the starting position in this quartet constellation not very big pressure on the shoulders of the former Champions League winner. Porto does not have to win with all its might and therefore attack “hell, come out”. This will, in our eyes, mean that the “dragoes” are likely to control possession, but will not take undue risk to take the lead early. Qualitatively, the guests are to assess more, so they will get from their coach, the keyword “patience” in the hand.
In order to statistically prove our tip for a maximum of two hits between Lokomotiv Moscow and Porto, let’s take a look at the latest three league games of the alleged favorites. Before the international break the Concecaio-Elf lost in the top match at Benfica Lisbon with 0: 1. Previously, also against the underdog Tondela only 1: 0 won. At Vitoria Setubal, only one goal in the final phase ensured a 2-0 away win. The initial joy of playing has been lost in recent weeks something, so we believe that the Portuguese will be very difficult with the aggressive and strong fighting Russians.