Porto vs Manchester City: Champions League Opener Preview and Team Updates
Porto Hosts Manchester City in Champions League Kickoff
Manchester City start their 2026-27 Champions League journey with a visit to Porto on Tuesday, marking the opening night of the new league phase. This match is a significant milestone for Enzo Maresca, as he leads City in a Champions League game for the first time since taking over from Pep Guardiola.
Both teams come into this fixture undefeated domestically, setting up a rare competitive encounter where neither has ever lost to the other. Porto return to the group stage after missing out last season, having reclaimed the Primeira Liga crown and boasting seven consecutive wins across all competitions.
Manchester City arrive off a narrow 1-0 victory over Coventry City. Their record £125m signing, Enzo Fernandez, was unexpectedly started due to an injury to Nico O'Reilly. City have won all three Premier League matches this season but have shown less consistency away from home in Europe.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, 8 September 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Venue: Estádio do Dragão, Porto
- Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
- Last Meeting: Porto 0-0 Manchester City, 1 December 2020 (Champions League Group Stage)
Team News
- Jan Bednarek is suspended after a red card last season in the Europa League quarter-finals versus Nottingham Forest. Nehuen Perez will partner Jakub Kiwior in central defense.
- Victor Froholdt remains sidelined after a head injury last weekend, alongside Vasco Sousa, Oskar Pietuszewski, Gabriel Mec, Zaidu Sanusi, and Samu Aghehowa.
- Diogo Costa continues as goalkeeper behind a defense that has conceded just once in six games this season.
- Nico O'Reilly is doubtful due to a back injury suffered during warm-up before the Coventry match.
- Jeremy Doku misses out with a calf issue, while Iliman Ndiaye should be fit despite cramp forcing him off on his debut.
- With a Manchester derby looming, Maresca may rotate his squad, possibly bringing back Phil Foden and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Current Form
- Manager Francesco Farioli’s team have won all seven matches played this season across two competitions.
- They’ve scored 12 goals and allowed just one, riding a five-game winning streak in the Primeira Liga against teams like Alverca and Moreirense.
- Porto have yet to beat City in competitive games, losing three of four meetings and drawing once.
- Under Maresca, City have claimed maximum points in the Premier League against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Coventry.
- Erling Haaland reached a personal milestone with his goal against Coventry, becoming City’s top scorer ahead of Sergio Aguero with 300 career goals.
- City secured their first clean sheet of the season thanks to Gianluigi Donnarumma, though their away European results have been patchy lately with only two wins in nine trips.
Predicted Lineups
- Porto (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Alex Costa, Nehuen Perez, Jakub Kiwior, Moura; Fofana, Rosario, Veiga; Gomes, Silva, Pepe
- Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Anderson, Bouaddi; Semenyo, Cherki, Foden; Haaland
Viewing Information
The match will be shown live in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, with radio commentary accessible via BBC Radio 5 Live.
