Champions League reality check for Porto after a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City | OneFootball

Porto’s UEFA Champions League campaign began with a 2-0 loss to Manchester City at Estádio do Dragão.

City’s class was evident for all to see and the visitors went close to taking the lead in the 20th minute. Phil Foden’s cross picked out Erling Haaland who looked certain to score before Diogo Costa slapped his header away from goal.

Haaland headed Antoine Semenyo’s cross over the bar and Foden’s shot was saved by Costa, the goalkeeper continuing to keep Porto in the game after denying Haaland and Rayan Cherki in quick succession.

Marc Guehi caught Gabri Veiga with a forearm to the head before the break, the Spaniard bleeding badly and requiring treatment but no foul awarded by referee Szymon Marciniak.

Man City took the lead three minutes after the restart and it was no surprise who found the net. A counter attack ended in Enzo Fernandez sending a cross into the box where Haaland rose above Jakub Kiwior and headed the ball off the post and over the line.

Porto enjoyed their best spell of the game with Alan Varela going close, Enzo Maresca recognising his side had lost control by bringing on Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye for Cherki and Semenyo.

William Gomes went close after charging down Gigi Donnarumma’s clearance, Francesco Farioli introducing Hwang In-Beom, Borja Sainz, Francisco Moura and Santiago Giménez in the space of five minutes.

The managers continued to trade blows from the bench, Maresca bringing on Rayan Aït-Nouri and Mateo Kovacic.

Haaland headed Ndiaye’s cross over the bar, Aït-Nouri fired wide, Rúben Dias headed Enzo Fernández’s free kick over the bar and Anderson saw his effort tipped wide by Costa as City tried to land the killer blow.

It came in added time when Porto couldn’t clear a corner, Aït-Nouri finding Haaland who fired through traffic to give Costa no chance.

Haaland reacted to a cheap shot from Pablo Rosario which saw both players booked, Fernández going close on two occasions as the English club closed it out in style.

Porto Outclassed

Porto have become used to bossing games and hardly giving their opponents a chance.

The gulf in class was too much to overcome however, Manchester City ending the contest with 64% possession and 20-5 shots including 10-0 on target.

Diogo Costa’s reputation and value continues to increase but there was no stopping Erling Haaland, the Norweigan hitman too much to handle for Nehuén Pérez and Jakub Kiwior.

Porto came up short on the few occasiosn they created goalscoring opportunities and Haaland took six shots, one more than the Dragons combined.

Francesco Farioli admitted that Haaland made the difference: “We put on a fantastic display. We had our chances, and in the second half we put them in serious trouble.

“We defended very well, but we can’t give space to the best striker in the world. He had eight or nine touches on the ball, seven shots and two goals. His finishing ability is unbelievable.”

Gabri Veiga commented on the difference in competitions: “The Portuguese league is undervalued, it always creates difficulties for us, but this is the highest level. We played against one of the best teams in the world.

“Now we have to think about Casa Pia, we know it will be very difficult, we have learned our lesson from last year [Porto lost the corresponding fixture last season]. Our priority will always be the championship.”

The humbling defeat could prove to be a worthwhile exercise for Farioli who will surely make changes, the first to ease Santiago Giménez into the starting side for André Silva. Samu is back in training and soon to be another option up front.