Stuttgart vs Porto Prediction: Away side embarking on special season

The Europa League last 16 has thrown together two teams who have never played each other before - as Stuttgart host Porto (17:45 GMT, TNT Sports 4). 

The Germans disposed of Celtic in the play-off round, while Porto didn’t have a play-off game, as they finished fifth in the league phase. Below you can find my Stuttgart vs Porto predictions featuring team news and more. 

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Team News

Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness is without both Lazar Jovanovic and Josha Vagnoman, but he will be able to call upon Bilal El Khannouss after his league suspension at the weekend. 

Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirovic are the familiar front two, with captain Atakan Karazor set to patrol the midfield once more. 

For the visitors, Luuk de Jong and Samu Omorodion have been ruled out for the rest of the season, with Nehuen Perez also a long-term absentee. Martim Fernandes looks likely to miss this one having picked up an issue over the weekend. 

Seko Fofana and William Gomes both came off the bench at half-time but Porto threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Benfica. Former Norwich star Borja Sainz may have to settle for a place on the bench once again, with 17-year-old Oskar Pietuszewski making a name for himself with another goal at the weekend. 

Football Odds

Stuttgart vs Porto Odds

Stuttgart are priced at 11/10 to win this game, with Porto the 9/4 underdogs. That gives the hosts an implied win probability of 48%, while a first-leg draw is up at 5/2.

Undav is 9/2 to open the scoring for the hosts, over 2.5 goals is 8/11 and BTTS is 4/6. 

Draw @ 5/2

Should be an evenly-contested game in Germany on Thursday night. Porto are arguably the marginally stronger team on paper having secured a top-eight finish in this competition, and they are on course for a magnificent season, as they sit atop Liga Portugal - four points clear of Sporting.

They’ve only lost one game in the league all season, but in Europe it was their home form that carried them through, with four wins out of four. On the road, they lost to Nottingham Forest and drew with Utrecht and Viktoria Plzen - so I can see them drawing again here, even though they should progress from the tie. 

Stuttgart have won all four of their home Europa League ties so far, but against tougher opposition and with a second leg to come, I fancy a draw. 

Today's Football Fixtures

A Penalty to be awarded @ 9/4

A left-field selection from me, but I do think we could see a penalty in this game at a decent price. Both teams enjoy attacking and should create a decent number of chances, while referee Donatas Rumsas isn’t shy at giving out cards or penalties. 

He gave Panathinaikos five yellows and one red card in his last game, and while he hasn’t given a penalty in his last eight European games, he did once go on a run of six penalties in five fixtures. An outside shot, but one I do fancy, especially with VAR.

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