FC Porto held to a draw, but finish with 19 shots and 67% possession | OneFootball

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FC Porto held to a draw, but finish with 19 shots and 67% possession | OneFootball

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·6 November 2025

FC Porto held to a draw, but finish with 19 shots and 67% possession

Article image:FC Porto held to a draw, but finish with 19 shots and 67% possession

In a match that saw 19 shots and 67% possession, FC Porto left Utrecht with a draw (1-1) in the fourth round of the Europa League group stage, totaling seven points and occupying ninth place in the standings.

Francesco Farioli made eight changes compared to the lineup used against SC Braga, and four of those starters were involved in the first chance created at Stadion Galgenwaard: Prpić connected directly with Gül, who immediately set up Eustáquio to release Gabri Veiga behind the Dutch defense; already on the left, the number 10 shot just wide of the far post (12’).

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Despite playing as visitors, FC Porto dominated the first half – as shown by 69% possession at the 30-minute mark – creating a high volume of attacks without managing to open the scoring. Borja Sainz tried to go around the goalkeeper but had no angle to shoot (17’), Deniz Gül fired hard into Barkas’ hands (19’), Gabri missed again in the 35th minute, and Eustáquio, set up by Pepê after a high recovery, saw his shot blocked by the keeper. Utrecht only threatened in the 44th minute, and halftime arrived with no goals.

In the second half, FC Utrecht took the lead from a rehearsed set piece: Miguel Rodríguez shot and a deflection off Prpić deceived the goalkeeper (1-0, 48’). Francesco Farioli made changes shortly after; William Gomes came on for Pepê, was fouled in the final third, and in a play where the ball was put out, referee John Beaton chose to restart the game after protests from Porto’s bench.

The lead didn’t last long: in the 65th minute, Gabri Veiga won the ball in the opposition half and drove forward before passing to Deniz Gül, whose shot hit the post and was saved by the goalkeeper; the rebound fell to Borja Sainz, who tapped in and scored, celebrating for the second game in a row. After the goal, Gabri was assaulted by Barkas, who was shown a straight red card.

Alberto Costa and Victor Froholdt came on for Eustáquio and Martim Fernandes, the number 10 threatened again with a powerful half-turn shot (76’), Deniz Gül was replaced by Samu and Michael Brouwer – the substitute who took over in goal after Barkas was sent off – denied Borja Sainz a goal in the final five minutes, as well as Prpić in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.

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