Man City opens Champions League at Porto

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has stressed the need for a "perfect" performance as his side prepares to face FC Porto in their Champions League opener on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The match at the Estadio Do Dragao marks the beginning of City's European campaign under Maresca, who took over from Pep Guardiola. The English champions have begun their domestic season with a flawless record, securing three wins from three Premier League matches. Their latest victory came on Saturday, September 5, 2026, a narrow 1-0 win over Coventry City. However, Maresca acknowledged the significant step up in competition against Porto, a team that has also started its domestic league campaign strongly, winning all five of its opening Primeira Liga fixtures. "We are here to do our best. This is a hard place to come to," Maresca told reporters. "In the last 14 or 15 games in Europe, I think they have lost one. That shows its a difficult place to go to, but we are going to try our best to win the game." He added that Porto possesses a "clear style" and is particularly strong on set pieces, emphasizing that City must be "perfect in your game.