Arguably the most interesting tie in the Champions League play-off stages will see Portuguese giants FC Porto take on Serie A powerhouses AS Roma.

The first leg takes place on Wednesday evening at Estadio do Dragao, with both sides hoping to create an advantage ahead of the return match at Stadio Olimpico.

FC Porto have been regular in Champions League group stages in recent years, and they even reached the quarter-finals two years ago.

However, having ended the league campaign in third place, the Dragons were forced to go through the qualifying stages and they were pitted against none other than AS Roma.

FC Porto haven’t signed too many new footballers this summer, as Felipe and Laurent Depoitre were the only ones to join, although the club are in the market for new recruits.

The biggest problem at the moment is that key men Yacine Brahimi and Vincent Aboubakar are heavily linked with summer exit, meaning they will not be in the best frame of mind if coach Nuno Espirito Santo decides to include them in his starting line-up.

Having won seven of last nine Champions League fixtures at home (D1 L1), FC Porto have been made 2.30 (13/10) favourites to win the first leg.

New signing Laurent Depoitre is the only unavailable footballer at the moment, while Yacine Brahimi and Vincent Aboubakar are unlikely to start.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Casillas – Maxi Pereira, Felipe, Marcano, Telles – Andre Andre, Danilo Pereira, Herrera – Corona, Andre Silva, Otavinho.

Having finished the previous league campaign two points behind second-placed Napoli, AS Roma will be vying youthful FC Porto side for a place in the Champions League group stages.

The Giallorossi have got to be considered favourites to go through, having kept hold of all key men apart from Miralem Pjanic, while signing a number of quality footballers.

The likes of Alisson, Juan Jesus, Federico Fazio, Mario Rui and Thomas Vermaelen were recruited to improve the shaky back line, while Luciano Spalletti is a bit short of options in midfield and attack.

Torino full-back Bruno Peres is on the verge of completing a move to AS Roma, meaning he could be registered for the FC Porto clash, where AS Roma are 3.40 (12/5) to emerge victorious.

The latest reports suggest that Alisson will start in goal, while Kostas Manolas and Thomas Vermaelen will form the centre-back pairing.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Alisson – Florenzi, Manolas, Vermaelen, Juan Jesus – Nainggolan, De Rossi, Strootman – Perotti, Dzeko, Salah.