Bruno Alves warns Zenit St. Petersburg against FC Porto’s Hulk in the UEFA Champions League
Zenit St. Petersburg defender, Bruno Alves is set to miss the mouth watering tie against FC Porto in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League as he picked up a red card in the previous European encounter against FC Apoel.
Zenit St. Petersburg have been drawn against FC Apoel, Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Porto in the group stages of UEFA Champions League.
The Portuguese national has admitted that Porto are a very difficult team and highlighted the threat posed by their inform strikers Hulk and Joao Kleber. Alves revealed that Zenit needs to close down the Dragons forwards in order
to claim three points against the UEFA Europa League champions at home.
Alves revealed that the Portistas heavily depend upon their Brazilian star and highlighted his performance against Shakhtar Donetsk. Hulk scored from a 35-yard free kick against the miners.
“Porto are constantly striving to make the best use of their striker, Hulk. Kleber and Moutinho are also very dangerous in attack. But Zenit have Danny and Kerzhakov, they can decide the fate of any match. We also have home advantage.”
The Portuguese Super Cup winner was quoted as saying.
“Hulk play intelligently, he can stretch any defence by attacking from either flanks or from the centre. So 80 percent of any match depends upon him. Porto has some other talented players, but most of their movements are dependent
upon one person.” Alves went on.
Having lost their opening match of the group stages in the cup tournament, the Portuguese national insisted the importance of winning the upcoming tie against the Azuis e Brancos.
Alves admitted that the team has changed in a very short span of time. Their head coach Andre Villas Boas left Estádio do Dragão for Chelsea FC and their top scorer, Radamel Falcao made a transfer to Atletico Madrid.
Alves admitted that losing an experienced coach and a classy forward is a big loss for the Blues and Whites but insisted that the Portuguese club still has bags of talent.
The Portuguese League Cup winner revealed that he is confident that Zenit can claim maximum points in their respective group under the Roma tactician, Luciano Spalletti.
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