These two players have common characteristic feature that definitely relates to the forthcoming game.
Miguel Veloso: harnessed “dragons” in different ways
Dynamo supporting midfielder Miguel Veloso has played more matches against Porto in his career than other Kyivans with the majority of them in Portuguese league as he performed for Sporting Lisbon. The first one of those games took place on March 17 2007 at Dragons’ arena. Sporting won 1:0.
Twice Miguel and his teammates won trophies in battles against Porto. On September 11 2007 Marat Izmailov scored the only goal of the game after Miguel’s cross and handed Sporting Portuguese Super Cup. In a year – on September 16 2008 – Veloso’s team defeated Porto in the match for Super Cup again – 2:0.
Our midfielder also performed an assist featuring for Dynamo as Kyivans opposed Porto within the Champions League group stage on October 24 2012. 20 minutes into the match he created a chance Oleh Husiev used.
Veloso has already played 12 games against Porto. His teams won five of them and lost six. One more match ended in a draw. Goal difference is 13-15.
Speaking about the forthcoming fixture Miguel stated: “We’ll fight till the final whistle in every group stage game and I’m sure that can help us succeed”.
Iker Casillas: new challenges in Porto
Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas has the most significant experience of matches against Dynamo among all Porto performers. Featuring for Real Madrid he faced the White-Blues three times and conceded five goals in those Champions League games.
The first time he conceded twice on March 14, 2000 in the game, which ended in a draw - 2:2.
The second took place in Madrid on October 19 2004. The only goal of the game was scored by home side striker Michael Owen. In the return match that was played on November 3 2004 in Kyiv Casillas conceded twice after shots by Ayila Yussuf and Maris Verpakovskis. Still that game ended in a draw – 2:2.
Iker’s last match against Dynamo took place on September 26 2006 in Madrid. The last Kyivan to upset the famous keeper was Artem Milevskyi.
As for aims he wants to reach with Porto, Casillas has stated: “Leaving Real Madrid was a serious challenge for me. I moved to Portugal because I have experience and ambitions. Our tasks are to win the domestic title, the national cup and to perform successfully in the Champions League”.
By the way, the goalkeeper of Porto may set-up in forthcoming game in Kyiv a new record for the number of matches in the Champions League. Now he, like Xavi that played for Barcelona has 150 matches.
Last time Veloso and Casillas faced each other in Ukraine as Spain defeated Portugal on penalties in Euro-2012 semifinal.
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