Wednesday night (20:00) sees another big Champions League night, as Royal Antwerp host Porto in Belgium. We’ve previewed this match and given you our best betting predictions for the occasion. 

This will be the first competitive fixture between these two sides and it’s one that Antwerp will feel they need to win, having lost both their opening fixtures.

Even more frustrating for the Belgian side, would have been the manner of their last defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk, having taken an early 2-0 lead.

That leaves them bottom of Group H and desperate for points, to at least have a hope of Europa League qualification.

As for Porto, they followed up an excellent opening win, with a disappointing 1-0 loss as home, to ten-man Barcelona. They need to win here in Antwerp, to keep the pressure on the Spanish giants at the top of the table.

They followed that loss with two successive wins to nil in Liga Portugal and will come into this game full of confidence.

Team news

Ritchie De Laet and Mandela Keita are confirmed absentees for the home side and Mark van Bommel is also sweating on the fitness of as many as five other players for this huge match.

Sérgio Conceição is missing Pepe, Zeidu Sanusi and Ivan Marcano, whilst Gabriel Veron’s return date is unknown after suffering a muscle injury.

Match odds

Antwerp come into this game as outsiders at 9/4, with Porto fancied to win this one at EVS. If you are fancying this one to end in a draw, that’s available at 12/5.

Both teams to score has hit in all three of Antwerp’s recent games and that’s reflected in the BTTS odds at 4/6 for it to land again on Wednesday night.

The Betfred traders definitely expect goals, with over 2.5 goals priced at 4/5.

Porto to win and both teams to score – 11/4

As mentioned earlier, Antwerp have been involved in three straight both teams to score games, losing two of them. They have dropped down to 6th in the Belgium Pro League and are struggling for form currently.

Meanwhile, Porto are coming off back-to-back wins and should have too much here for their opponents. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Porto come from behind to pick up the three points.

Mehdi Taremi to score – 13/8

The Iranian has been a constant goal threat since moving to Portugal, first for Rio Ave and then for Porto, smashing in 82 goals at a rate of better than every other game.

Whilst he has only scored twice so far this season, the 31-year-old is class at this level and should get chances in Antwerp.

I like his chances of bagging another goal here.