Having done well to pip Liverpool to a place in the first knockout stage, FC Basel will now attempt to go one step further and make an important step towards the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, FC Porto finished top of their group and they were in turn handed a pretty favourable draw that could see them qualify for the next stage.

FC Basel have made a habit of defying the odds in Europe’s elite competition and they are doing it again this season.

RotBlau impressed to beat Premier League giants Liverpool to the second place in their Champions League group, and they were quite fortunate to avoid some top teams and face Porto instead in the first knockout stage.

The problem is that Basel have since stayed without two key midfielders as Serey Die and Marcelo Diaz both left the club.

Meanwhile, Adama Traore was the only player to join this winter, but he has yet to make his first appearance for the Swiss giants.

Basel started the second part of the league campaign with a derby win over Grasshoppers, before sharing spoils with Sion at the weekend.

The hosts are without key defender Fabian Schar, who misses out through suspension, with former Inter stopper Walter Samiel set to deputize. Ivan Ivanov and Adama Traore are injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Vaclik – P. Degen, Samuel, Suchy, Safari – T. Xhaka, Elneny – Gonzalez, Zuffi, Gashi – Streller.

FC Porto have done pretty well since Julen Lopetegui took over, although it is important to note the Dragons signed a host of quality players in the summer.

In spite of some very good performances, the Estadio do Dragao outfit still trail Benfica four points in the league standings, but their Champions League campaign has been a great success.

Porto finished top of the group that also included Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao and BATE Borisov, and now have a very good chance to make it to the quarter-finals.

Seeing as how the Dragons are unbeaten in eight CL fixtures this term, they can be backed at 2.45 (29/20) to defeat FC Basel on the road.

FC Porto have been in very good form of late, winning last four matches in all competitions, keeping three clean sheets in the process.

And while back-up forward Adrian Lopez remains on the sidelines, there are no other worries for coach Julen Lopetegui.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Fabiano – Danilo, Maicon, Marcano, Alex Sandro – Torres, Casemiro, Herrera – Quaresma, Martinez, Brahimi.