Recap
Füchse Berlin welcome Porto in the Champions League under far from ideal circumstances, with the German side still dealing with significant health problems following their return from the Club World Championship in Egypt.
After a disappointing fifth-place finish at the tournament, Füchse were hit by a gastrointestinal infection that has affected a large part of the squad. The extent of the issue was evident in their match against Bietigheim, with Bob Hanning revealing afterwards that roughly half of the team had been struggling with severe stomach problems.
Their physical condition remains a concern. Superstar Mathias Gidsel was still sidelined with a thigh contusion and, even upon his return, was not yet at 100 percent. Head coach Nicolej Krickau has confirmed that there are no officially unavailable players, but acknowledged that a significant portion of the squad is still not fully fit and continues to deal with lingering problems.
This could be particularly important against Porto, who have the quality and experience to take advantage if Füchse are unable to maintain their usual intensity and tempo. The historical h2h record also suggests that a large margin should not be taken for granted: in their five previous meetings, Füchse Berlin have won by more than six goals only once.
I expect the Portuguese side to keep the game relatively close and avoid a heat.