19 December 2023 , 14:00
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Porto will have to perform a miracle to overcome Arsenal in their “unequal” fight in the last 16 of the Champions League, according to the club’s vice-president Vitor Baia.
The Gunners drew the Portuguese side in the knockout stages after finishing top of Group B. Mikel Arteta ’s side are playing in the Champions League for the first time since the 2016-17 season, but will be heavy favourites against Porto over the two legs in February and March.
Arsenal are flying high at the top of the Premier League table and breezed through a group containing Lens, Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven. Porto came through second in Group H, narrowly behind Barcelona, despite winning four games – the same number as Arsenal.
Reacting to the draw, Baia has heaped praise on Arsenal and highlighted the financial gulf that exists between top Premier League clubs and those on the continent. “They have young players who form a quality team with a very interesting dynamic,” he told Porto Canal. "They have strengthened well and play in one of the main leagues in the world.
“Arsenal have weapons that unfortunately we don’t have. Their financial capacity allows them to buy the best players and talents with the highest quality, as was the case with our Fabio Vieira. But we never hide from this issue. It is, in fact, an unequal fight, but we have performed authentic miracles with what we have.”
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Vitor Baia gave his reaction to Porto's draw in the Champions League (Kristian Skeie/UEFA via Getty Images) HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Arsenal comfortably beat Porto in the last 16? Comment below.
Arsenal signed Vieira from Porto for £34million in the summer of 2022, and while he was a star in his native country, he has been a peripheral figure at his new club, where competition for places is fierce. The Gunners will be hoping for a repeat of their most recent meeting with Porto in the knockout stages when they meet on February 21 and March 12.
The Gunners faced them in the 2009-10 season, losing the first leg 2-1 before thrashing the Portuguese side 5-0 in the second to progress. In the six meetings they've had in Europe, Arsenal have three wins and Porto two, with one draw.
“They will be extremely complicated games, but we have a very specific DNA in this competition,” former Porto goalkeeper Baia added. “We are not afraid of anyone and we will do our best. We are very competitive and we enjoy these moments. I have complete confidence in what could happen.”
Porto are third in the Portuguese top flight, three points off leaders Sporting Lisbon after 14 matches. They finished second last season and were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by eventual finalists Inter Milan, who prevailed 1-0 on aggregate. Porto won the Champions League back in 2003-04 when Baia was in goal and the team was managed by Jose Mourinho and they reached the quarter finals back in 2020-21.