Porto vs. Chelsea – Champions League, April 7, 2021

Following a shock triumph over Juventus in the previous round, Porto will be looking to claim another high-profile European scalp when they come up against Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The two sides meet at Sevilla’s Roman Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Wednesday, April 7, with the first leg being played at a neutral venue.

Keep reading to see my prediction and betting pick for Porto vs. Chelsea.

It’s fair to say that 10bet hasn’t sprung any major surprises with the odds for this matchup. Porto (5.25) may have stunned Juventus in the Round of 16, yet Chelsea (1.74) is the bookmakers’ clear favorite to win this first leg.

Let’s take a closer look at both teams and decide whether there is value in going against the bookies on this occasion.

Earlier in the season, Porto finished ten points clear of Olympiacos and Marseille in UCL Group C and even managed to hold tournament-favorite Manchester City to a goalless draw on Matchday 5.

But when the Portuguese champions were drawn against Juventus in the Round of 16, it looked as though their Champions League campaign was over.

However, the Dragons defied the odds against the Italian giant and advanced on away goals. Sergio Oliveira bagged a brace in the second-leg 3-2 defeat, with Porto progressing thanks to a 2-1 win in the first leg.

Having lost two of their opening six domestic matches this season, Sergio Conceicao’s men are now enjoying a 19-game unbeaten run in Liga NOS – picking up 14 wins and five draws in that sequence.

Of course, extending their hot streak against Chelsea won’t be easy. But Porto can take confidence from the fact that Thomas Tuchel’s side was hammered 5-2 by relegation-stricken West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

Tuchel’s unbeaten start as Blues boss came to an abrupt end on Saturday as Chelsea was crushed by the Baggies. Thiago Silva’s early red card meant that Chelsea was reduced to ten men inside 30 minutes. Still, the manner of the loss was inexcusable.

Before Saturday’s thrashing, the London outfit had kept 12 clean sheets in 14 games under Tuchel. But the team’s seemingly sturdy backline was exposed last time out.

Regardless of their previous result, the Blues have obviously improved dramatically since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge hot seat. Not only has the German coach made Chelsea a genuine top-four contender in the EPL, but he has also enhanced the club’s chances of Champions League success.

Scoring goals has been a slight problem recently, with top-scorer Tammy Abraham sidelined through injury. Olivier Giroud has netted six goals in five UCL outings this term, although Timo Werner is clearly lacking confidence.

If players like Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, and Christian Pulisic can chip on Wednesday, Chelsea should be able to get the job done.

Following Saturday’s rare blip, Tuchel will be looking for a big response from his players this week – and I can see them rising to the challenge against Porto. After all, the Blues have been almost faultless since Tuchel arrived back in January.

Porto will understandably be brimming with belief after seeing off Juventus in the previous round, but I think Chelsea will be far too strong for the Portuguese champs on Wednesday.