Milan seek to banish Spanish hoodoo, Porto await Lyon
In-form teams AC Milan and Porto will seek to build healthy first-leg advantages when they host Deportivo Coruna and Olympique Lyon respectively in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
In-form teams AC Milan and Porto will seek to build healthy first-leg advantages when they host Deportivo Coruna and Olympique Lyon respectively in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Holders Milan, though, need to overcome something of a Spanish hoodoo.
The six-times European champions have won only one of their last five encounters against Spanish teams at the San Siro and Deportivo have won once and drawn once on their two previous visits.
Depor, who eliminated last season's runners-up Juventus in the last round, are without the suspended midfielder Victor on Tuesday and coach Javier Irureta is content to play the role of underdog.
"There is no doubt that we are meeting Milan at the peak of their powers," he said.
Carlo Ancelotti's Milan are missing defender Alessandro Nesta and will give a late fitness test to Brazilian keeper Dida.
Their morale, though, could hardly be higher. Ten points clear at the top of Italy's Serie A and guaranteed to avoid Real Madrid and Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals, Milan are undefeated in all European and Serie A matches since December 21.
Captain Paolo Maldini will break Dutchman Frank de Boer's record of 129 appearances in European club matches if he plays.
Tuesday's other quarter-final first leg match pits a Porto team bristling with confidence after eliminating Manchester United against first-time quarter-finalists Lyon.
UEFA Cup holders Porto, who were European champions in 1987, have still to lose in the Portuguese league this season and have not lost at home to a French side since Nantes won 2-1 in the 1971-72 season.
Imposing Lithuanian Edgaras Jankauskas and razor-sharp South African Benni McCarthy should spearhead the Porto attack but the steadying influence of captain Jorge Costa will be missed due to a thigh problem.
Lyon have more than enough quality to secure a good result, with experienced Brazilian Giovane Elber leading their attack and Sidney Govou set to return after resting his thigh injury at the weekend.
The French champions replaced Monaco at the top of Ligue 1 thanks to their 1-0 home win over Nantes on Saturday and Porto coach Jose Mourinho knows his team will need to be on their mettle if he is to indulge in a repeat of his famous celebratory touchline dash at Old Trafford.
"Lyon know what they're doing," he warned. "The simple fact is we'll have to be at our best to go through."