Porto have won each of their last four European games against German opposition (Bayer Leverkusen x2, Hoffenheim, Stuttgart), their joint-best run versus such teams (also 4, 1993-2000).
This will be Stuttgart’s third away trip to Portugal in major European competition, previously drawing 2-2 with Vitória Setúbal in the 1973-74 UEFA Cup and losing 2-1 at Benfica in the 2010-11 UEFA Europa League.
Porto have won each of their last four UEFA Europa League home games, last winning five in a row on home turf in major European competition in February 2003. They have also progressed from eight of their nine major European two-legged knockout ties when winning the first leg away from home.
Stuttgart have been eliminated from each of their last six two-legged knockout stage ties in major European competition when losing the first leg, since progressing past FC Wacker Innsbruck in the second round of the 2000-01 UEFA Cup (0-1 away first leg, 3-1 home second leg).
Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav has been directly involved in nine goals in this season’s UEFA Europa League (3 goals, 6 assists) – the most of any player in the competition this term and a new single-season record for a German player.