11 years ago Porto achieved the impossible as Jose Mourinho guided an unfancied squad to Champions League glory. Now, the Portuguese side are looking to make that dream a reality once more
Julen Lopetegui has assembled an exciting team, a squad based around technical ability and a high-pressing game, a side that demolished Basle 5-1 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009.
Usually Porto are the club the so called bigger teams in Europe would want to be drawn against, now they may be one to avoid. With other teams stumbling, could they really go all the way again?
At the fore on Wednesday night was Algerian winger Yacine Brahimi, who netted a sublime free-kick to take his goal tally to five in the competition.
Brahimi has also racked up three assists and in fact, only Lionel Messi, Luiz Adriano and Cristiano Ronaldo (10) have been involved in more Champions League goals than him this season.
The 25-year-old, born in Paris, was the driving force behind Algeira in the World Cup and Porto look to him to dazzle from the left wing. The fast tempo they play at, coupled with a return to form, has also seen them cut the gap in the Premeira Liga to four points having won their last six games.
After finishing third behind current leaders Benfica and Sporting Lisbon last season, the 'Dragons' took quite a risk in opting for Lopetegui. The 48-year-old had only managed two seasons at club level with Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid B before impressing as coach in the Spanish youth ranks.
That style of play has been embraced in Porto, while his popularity in his home country may have been a factor in Casemiro and Cristian Tello opting for loan moves in Portugal.
The Real Madrid and Barcelona duo have relished the first-team opportunities that have come their way, with the Brazilian midfielder at the base of a midfield which features several smaller, technical players. He allows the playmakers around him to strut their stuff, and also got on the scoresheet against Basle with a free-kick of his own.
But that is not to say Porto have lost an identity which has seen them balance their books while remaining successful on all fronts. Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez and Eliaquim Mangala are just three of a whole host of players who were sold for over £30million, after being bought, comparatively, on the cheap.
There are now many more talents who could make a transfer window. Maruading right back Danilo is linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United, Jackson Martinez is seemingly constantly a Premier League target, while Alex Sandro and Hector Herrera are also highly regarded.
That is not to mention Brahimi, who Man United and City are said to be chasing. His influence in the Champions League season would not go amiss at the Etihad Stadium as Manuel Pellegrini's side look to make their mark in Europe.
On the aim for success this season, Porto are certainly outsiders. Coral place them as 33/1 to go all the way and beat Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Chelsea to the top prize.
'We have achieved a beautiful goal and it's very important for the players and for the club to be among the top eight teams in Europe,' Mexican midfiielder Herrera said after Tuesday's victory.
'We must continue to work in this way to stay in the competition. We're not only thinking of the quarter-finals, we're thinking of reaching the final.
'We started strong and focused, confident and certain in what we wanted to do. This team has been working well. We knew that we must always be at 100 per cent, with balance, for these kinds of games.
'In the Champions League, any team can surprise you.'
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