Champions League: Porto Face Manchester City, Maresca Emphasizes "This Is a Completely New Competition"

At 3:00 a.m. Beijing time on September 9, 2026, Porto will face Manchester City in the opening round of the Champions League main phase. As a strong team in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Porto have shown excellent form in the new season. They have won all of their first five league matches, topping the table with 15 points and leading second-placed Sporting CP by two points. According to the statistics, Porto have scored 11 goals and conceded only one in five league matches this season, demonstrating strong performances at both ends of the pitch.

Porto have been in very stable form recently, winning every match they have played. In their previous game against Moreirense, they dominated with 70% possession and 23 shots, eventually securing a 2-1 victory. Goals from Bednarek and W. Gomes helped the team continue their winning streak.

Manchester City are a powerhouse in the Premier League and have also made a strong start to the new season. They have won all three league matches so far, sitting top of the Premier League table with nine points. Statistically, Manchester City have scored seven goals and conceded two across those three games, maintaining a high level in both attack and defense. In their most recent match, Manchester City defeated Coventry 1-0 and kept a clean sheet.

At the pre-match press conference, Manchester City manager Maresca said: "It has always been a special competition, a fantastic one. Now the format has changed, and we need to adapt to this change — in fact, this transformation has been going on for several years. This is a different competition, but our goal has not changed: to be ourselves, win the game, and then make an assessment afterwards."

Looking at the history of their previous meetings, Porto have faced Manchester City five times, recording one win, one draw, and three defeats, leaving them at a disadvantage in the head-to-head record. However, Porto are currently in excellent form, with a winning streak and strong attacking and defensive performances, while Manchester City have also been consistent and possess considerable pedigree. Based on various views, Manchester City are given some support as the away team, and considering the current strength and form of both sides, Manchester City are expected to defeat their opponents in this match.