Porto Preview: Need to overcome 1st leg loss for first time in 30 years 9 March, 2010

Tonight is a massive game but it hasn’t really sunk in for me yet. We haven’t overcome a 1st leg defeat in 30 years and if we don’t keep a clean sheet tonight we need to score three to go through. When you look at it like that tonight is going to be really tough. Either way tonight is going to a memorable night.

Last time Porto came to the Grove we beat them 4-0 without much of a problem. There’s no doubt that they are a better side at home but tonight with a Champions League place in their hands I think they will play a lot better. They will remember that defeat well and won’t want it to happen again.

We might find ourselves in a position where we have to score a few goals though. Our defence is, let’s face it, not great this season and to keep a clean sheet in Europe is a tough task. We really have to try tonight though. If we can shut up shop at the back then just a 1-0 is good enough to go through, concede one and then we have to score two just to take it to extra time and I don’t even want to think about us letting in two.

We’ll be without Gallas at the back but we have Sol Campbell stepping in, if it wasn’t for his goal we’d be all but out of this tie already but that away goal gives us hope tonight. Sol had a good game apart from the accidental back pass in the first leg and will be looking to build on that again tonight. I have no problems with a Campbell + Vermaelen pairing and I’m hoping that together with Almunia they can keep that clean sheet.

I told you yesterday that there’s no Cesc either. He’s out with a hamstring problem despite wanting to play through the pain. We’ll have to cope without the captain tonight and I believe we can. Nasri will probably step in for him and he’s just as capable.

Up front Bendtner will lead the line again hoping to put away some of those chances he missed at the weekend. Wenger said in his pre-match conference we’d have to make a late decision on Arshavin who has just come back from injury. I hope he makes it though, he got a good goal in his half hour on Saturday and I’d back him to do it again. Walcott will want to continue his good form with his man of the match performance at the weekend but with him playing 90 minutes just a few days ago I think he might start from the bench. With this tie having the possibility of going to penalties we need everyone in tip top condition. I’m probably completely wrong and Theo will start but what do I know? Here’s what I think it’ll be anyway:

Almunia (c)
Sagna – Campbell – Vermaelen – Clichy
Song
Nasri – Diaby
Eboue – Bendtner – Arshavin

A decent enough team even without Fabregas in there. I believe that we can do it tonight and over turn a first leg loss for the first time since 1st November 1978. As I said it’s going to be a memorable night either way – I was there a few years ago when PSV knocked us out after a first leg away loss. That hurt and is still in my mind but hopefully in the future we’ll look back on tonight with better memories. No one’s expecting another 4-0 but wouldn’t it be great?

I think we’ll be lively but cautious right from the whistle tonight. We must score so we have to go for it but at the same time conceding could prove very costly. We’ll be getting forward for sure but hopefully we’ve learned our lessons from the Man United and Chelsea games and wont get caught on the break so easily. Porto know that if it stays at 0-0 they are through but there’s no way they can play for that. They’ll probably sit back, play their own football and try catch us out just like United and Chelsea did so we need to concentrate tonight and not show any gaps. An early goal would do us a world of good.

We’re on Sky Sports 2 tonight so I’ll be down the pub for this one. Enjoy the game those of you going, RedAction has been campaigning this week for fans to try and get in the stadium early tonight whether that means one less pint at the pub or leaving work a few minutes early. It’s not very nice seeing us kick off to a half empty stadium. With half the atmosphere and late arrivals coming in throughout the first ten minutes of the game it’s a bit distracting for the players too. So if you can, try be at your seat for 7:30pm tonight and cheer the boys on to a famous European victory.

COME ON YOU REDS.