A tantalising winner-takes-all showdown in Champions League Group H is on the menu at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday evening, as second-placed Porto host third-placed Shakhtar Donetsk for a spot in the last 16.
Both sides are neck-and-neck in the rankings with nine points to their name, although the hosts' matchday one success over their Ukrainian foes currently has them in the driving seat for qualification.
The Portuguese giants were on track to spoil Barcelona's qualification party two weeks ago, as Brazilian attacker Pepe broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, only for Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix to turn the tie on its head and inflict a 2-1 loss on Porto.
Nevertheless, thanks to a prior 3-1 beating of Shakhtar in September, Porto currently have the upper hand over their fellow last-16 chasers, and a draw on home territory this week will be enough for Conceicao's side to reach the knockout rounds as runners-up to Barcelona.
The 2021-22 tournament marks the only time in the last six seasons that Porto have failed to advance to the last 16, and that campaign coincidentally marks the only occasion since 2016 where the Dragons have not won their final group game, but recent home exploits offers hope that history will not repeat itself.
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