FC Barcelona: Peña, Cancelo (Balde 82′), Araujo, Koundé, Martínez, Gündogan, De Jong, Pedri, Raphinha (Yamal 90′), Felix (Torres 74′), Lewandowski
Goals: 0-1 Pepé (30′), 1-1 Cancelo (32′), 2-1 Felix (58′)
Barca took on Porto in the fifth round of the Champions League group stage, where a Catalan win would mean advancement in the tournament. Xavi surprised by starting the match with Cancelo at left-back, sending Balde to the bench.
Barca set out with possession of the ball mostly against a slightly waiting Porto team, which, however, went high on the pitch. It meant a small advantage for the home team and after eight minutes came the first dangerous end of the match, when Raphinha sent a good shot, which Costa in the goal averted with a good save. There was good speed in the Catalan game and the high pressure also worked well, but Porto were always good. There were a couple of corner kicks for Barca in the beginning, but without it leading to anything.
As time went on, the Portuguese became more involved and Barca’s dominance faded. The game was played with great intensity from both sides and the game waved back and forth. In the 26th minute there was silence at the Estadi Olímpic, as Porto’s Taremi sent the ball into the net behind Peña, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside. A minute later, the visitors were close again, but here Peña showed high class in the goal. Porto had the momentum and shortly after they took the lead. First, Peña delivered another class save on a finish by Taremi, but the rebound went out to Pepé, who coolly made it 0-1. Huge disappointment for Barca.
However, only two minutes passed before the spectators could cheer. Cancelo received the ball on the left side, where he pulled well into the box and sent the ball irresistibly into the net to make it 1-1. Just two minutes later, Felix should have extended the Catalan lead when Raphinha set him up for a wide-open chance, but the ball was sent over the bar. Big burner by the Portuguese. The match continued with great intensity and evenness, but in the 42nd minute Porto’s keeper made a huge mistake by sending the ball to the feet of a free Pedri, but his shot was blocked. The ball was passed to Raphinha, who burned the field by sending it past the goal. Barca should have been ahead here. A minute later, Porto responded again with a great opportunity, with Peña again intervening with an important save. It was the end of an intense and even first half.
The second half was opened by a burst of a shot from Felix, with the ball hitting the top of the crossbar. Right after, Felix got another good opportunity from a set-up by Cancelo, but here the ball was sent wide of the goal. The match continued with the high intensity, with both teams trying to come up with something. Barca succeeded after a short hour, when Cancelo and Felix played well together, so that the latter could turn the ball nicely into the net to make it 2-1. Great scoring, created by Barca’s two Portuguese.
The goal clearly gave Barca’s players new energy and they focused heavily on the game. Porto were less on the ball and had difficulty keeping hold of it. The home team’s advantage gave Lewandowski a header opportunity in the 64th minute, but the Pole headed wide. Porto were successful in creating a number of stoppages to break Barca’s rhythm, because the pace disappeared somewhat from the Catalan game. However, they created a great opportunity after 70 minutes when Felix played Lewandowski free in the box, but the Pole hesitated. Here he lacked the sharpness at the decisive moment. Porto worked their way back into the game and moved the game further forward. With a quarter of an hour remaining, Felix was clapped off the pitch when he was replaced by Torres.
A few minutes later, Barca came to their next finish, but Raphinha’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Right after, it was Cancelo who tried, but here the ball went wide of the goal. Two minutes later it was agonizingly close to an equalizer as Barca’s defense were on their heels, but Peña again provided an important action in goal. The answer came immediately from Barca with a good attempt by Raphinha, which the goalkeeper made a save. Right after, a dead tired Canceloa was clapped off the field after a great game and Balde came in instead. It wavered back and forth in the entertaining match, where the tension was high.
Porto were forced to invest more upfield in search of an equaliser. It gave more space for Barca and it was close to scoring in the 89th minute when Raphinha scissor-kicked a Gündogan cross, but Costa in the goal pulled off a class save. Right after, Raphinha was replaced by Yamal. The referee added six minutes and Porto tried to put in a final push. It gave them a great opportunity in the 93rd minute, but the shot from Conceicao sat right in the arms of Peña. The Barca players kept their cool in the final phase and Porto did not create more. It ended 2-1 after one
