2Slick
04-12-2006, 21:26
FC Porto and Arsenal FC are level on ten points going into their final game in Group G and if their meeting in the Estádio do Dragão ends all square they will be able to stage a joint qualifying celebration. A draw would take both sides through to the knockout rounds even if PFC CSKA Mosvka, who start the evening two points behind, win their last game away to Hamburger SV.
• In the event of all three teams finishing on eleven points a superior goal difference in the matches involving them means Arsenal would win the section with Porto second and the Moscow team left to compete in the UEFA Cup. A victory for either side in Portugal would leave their opponents missing out on the next stage should CSKA win for the third time in the section.
• The balance in the group shifted considerably with Porto's stirring victory two weeks ago at the Lokomotiv Stadium. Goals in each half from Ricardo Quaresma and captain Lucho González inflicted a first loss of the campaign on CSKA while giving a huge shot in the arm to the Portuguese champions' hopes.
• After starting the campaign with a scoreless home draw and a defeat in London, Jesualdo Ferreira's team have reeled off three successive wins. If they make it four they will go through as group winners and make up for last season when they finished bottom of their section after just one win and two draws from their six games.
Henry milestone
• The Matchday 2 game between the sides at Ashburton Grove, Arsenal's first in their new home in the competition proper, went the English team's way from the 38th minute when Thierry Henry notched his 50th goal in European competition. Henry then turned provider, setting up Aleksandr Hleb to score the second. However a yellow card two weeks ago rules the Arsenal captain - the Gunners' five-goal leading scorer as they progressed to last season's final - out of the game in Portugal.
• Porto, twice European Champion Clubs' Cup winners, will also be encouraged by their record against English visitors. They have remained unbeaten in seven, winning four and drawing three. Victories by the same 2-1 scoreline came in both their last two contests, against Manchester United FC in the 2003/04 first knockout round first leg as José Mourinho's side gathered momentum on their way to being crowned champions. Then the following year, against Chelsea FC and with Mourinho now on the other side, Porto beat the London club 2-1 at home in the group stage.
Late drama
• For some time on Matchday 5, as Arsenal struggled to overturn Hamburg's early lead, it looked like a qualifying place was slipping away from the hosts. Robin van Persie (52) did eventually wipe out Rafael van der Vaart's strike but only in the final seven minutes did Emmanuel Eboué and Julio Baptista secure a significant win.
• Arsenal have only played one other UEFA tie in Portugal. It came in the 1991/92 European Cup second round when they gained a 1-1 first-leg draw at SL Benfica. However, they went on to lose the home match 3-1.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116406/index.html
• In the event of all three teams finishing on eleven points a superior goal difference in the matches involving them means Arsenal would win the section with Porto second and the Moscow team left to compete in the UEFA Cup. A victory for either side in Portugal would leave their opponents missing out on the next stage should CSKA win for the third time in the section.
• The balance in the group shifted considerably with Porto's stirring victory two weeks ago at the Lokomotiv Stadium. Goals in each half from Ricardo Quaresma and captain Lucho González inflicted a first loss of the campaign on CSKA while giving a huge shot in the arm to the Portuguese champions' hopes.
• After starting the campaign with a scoreless home draw and a defeat in London, Jesualdo Ferreira's team have reeled off three successive wins. If they make it four they will go through as group winners and make up for last season when they finished bottom of their section after just one win and two draws from their six games.
Henry milestone
• The Matchday 2 game between the sides at Ashburton Grove, Arsenal's first in their new home in the competition proper, went the English team's way from the 38th minute when Thierry Henry notched his 50th goal in European competition. Henry then turned provider, setting up Aleksandr Hleb to score the second. However a yellow card two weeks ago rules the Arsenal captain - the Gunners' five-goal leading scorer as they progressed to last season's final - out of the game in Portugal.
• Porto, twice European Champion Clubs' Cup winners, will also be encouraged by their record against English visitors. They have remained unbeaten in seven, winning four and drawing three. Victories by the same 2-1 scoreline came in both their last two contests, against Manchester United FC in the 2003/04 first knockout round first leg as José Mourinho's side gathered momentum on their way to being crowned champions. Then the following year, against Chelsea FC and with Mourinho now on the other side, Porto beat the London club 2-1 at home in the group stage.
Late drama
• For some time on Matchday 5, as Arsenal struggled to overturn Hamburg's early lead, it looked like a qualifying place was slipping away from the hosts. Robin van Persie (52) did eventually wipe out Rafael van der Vaart's strike but only in the final seven minutes did Emmanuel Eboué and Julio Baptista secure a significant win.
• Arsenal have only played one other UEFA tie in Portugal. It came in the 1991/92 European Cup second round when they gained a 1-1 first-leg draw at SL Benfica. However, they went on to lose the home match 3-1.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116406/index.html