FC Porto returns to the Champions League hosting Manchester City at the Estádio do Dragão, in the first matchday of the competition's league phase. The dragons seek to achieve an unprecedented victory against the English side, in a match led by Francesco Farioli on the Porto side and by Enzo Maresca at City.
The head-to-head record clearly favors the English side. The two teams have met four times in European competitions, with three wins for Manchester City and one draw. FC Porto scored only two goals and conceded nine. In the 2011/12 Europa League, City won 2-1 at the Dragão and 4-0 in England. In the 2020/21 Champions, an English victory by 3-1 in Manchester and a draw in Porto.
This is FC Porto's 28th participation in the Champions, remaining the Portuguese club with the most appearances in the competition. The dragons present a positive European home record, with only one defeat in their last 14 games at the Dragão in UEFA competitions. Manchester City is competing in the Champions for the 16th consecutive season, although with only six wins in their last nine away matches in the competition.
The Estádio do Dragão holds particular significance for City, as it was there that, in 2021, they played the first Champions League final in their history, losing 1-0 to Chelsea. With two European Cup trophies won in 1987 and 2004, FC Porto thus begins a new European campaign with the challenge of achieving the first victory in their history over the English side. The match will be officiated by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, with Pol van Boekel from the Netherlands responsible for VAR.
