Porto managed to narrowly escape an early elimination from the Europa League. They advanced to the playoffs as one of the 16 teams ranked between ninth and 24th in the final league - phase table of the competition.

The last matchday of the league phase was crucial for Porto. Their 1 - 0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv, though a nervy one, turned out to be of great significance. Had they drawn that game, they would have been knocked out by their fellow Portuguese side, Braga.

Martin Anselmi, the new coach who had recently joined from the Mexican club Cruz Azul, made a successful debut on the sidelines. He guided the Dragons to victory, helping the team recover from a demoralizing home loss to Olympiacos just a week before.

After that, in the Primeira Liga, Porto was held to a 2 - 2 draw by Rio Ave. Then, last weekend, they faced their long - standing rivals Sporting Lisbon. It was a highly dramatic encounter. Just when it seemed Sporting was about to win at the Dragao for the first time in nine years, Danny Namaso scored an equalizer in the 94th minute, salvaging a point for Porto.

Sitting a distant third in the standings - in addition to crashing out of both domestic cups - Porto have now failed to win in five straight league matches for the first time this century.

So they will be intent on progressing further in the Europa League, despite being weighed down by a dismal record. The Dragons have won just five of their last 25 knockout matches in UEFA competition, losing 16 - albeit four of those wins came on home turf.

In another respect, history will be on their side, as all three previous ties against Roma have seen the Portuguese side go through: in the 1981-82 Cup Winners' Cup, then the 2016-17 Champions League qualifiers, and finally the Champions League's last 16 six years ago.

On that occasion, Porto eked out a 4-3 aggregate win after extra time, but Roma's recent European feats suggest the Italian club may be ready to end that streak.

The Giallorossi - who finished one point above their hosts in the league phase - were Conference League winners in 2022, before reaching the final and then semi-finals of UEFA's second-tier tournament in successive seasons.

Not guaranteed to survive even the first phase this term, Roma produced an impressive 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on the final matchday, thereby booking their playoff place and setting up a potential last-16 clash with city rivals Lazio.

Like Porto, the capital-city club are performing below par on the domestic scene, sitting ninth in Serie A after Sunday's 1-0 win over Venezia, and having recently exited the Coppa Italia.

After a prolonged period of instability at Stadio Olimpico, interim coach Claudio Ranieri - who will lead his boyhood club until the end of the season - has steadied the ship, and he would love to sign off a storied career by lifting some silverware.

However, to do so, the 73-year-old must improve two dire records: Ranieri has lost nine of his last 11 knockout matches in continental competition, and all three games he managed in previous spells as Roma boss ended in 3-2 defeats.

Furthermore, before setting off for northern Portugal, the Giallorossi have won just three of their last 19 Europa League fixtures away from home.

Martin Anselmi has deployed a back three since arriving at Porto, and that should continue against opponents who usually line up in a similar manner, with goalkeeper Diogo Costa starting behind a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Ivan Marcano, Marko Grujic and Martim Fernandes are still sidelined by injury, while the hosts can no longer call upon Nico Gonzalez, who scored the winner in their final league-phase fixture before moving to Manchester City.

Up front, star striker Samu Aghehowa may not have scored in any of his last six appearances, but the Spain international has already notched five times in this season's Europa League. Teenage sensation Rodrigo Mora could play part of his supporting cast.

With Brazilian centre-back Otavio returning from suspension, Ze Pedro may drop out of the starting XI.

While Danny Namaso would miss the second leg if he is booked, Roma pair Mats Hummels and Alexis Saelemaekers will also walk that tightrope on Thursday.

The latter and Leandro Paredes were rested at the weekend, but both are now set to return, alongside midfielder Manu Kone, who served a one-match ban against Venezia.

Recent signings Devyne Rensch and Victor Nelsson are also available, but fellow new boys Lucas Gourna-Douath and Anass Salah-Eddine have been left off the visitors' UEFA squad list.

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Djalo, Perez, Otavio; Mario, Eustaquio, Varela, Moura; Pepe, Mora; Aghehowa

Roma possible starting lineup:

Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Kone, Paredes, Angelino; Dybala, Pisilli; Dovbyk