FC Porto start Champions with 0-2 defeat to Manchester City | OneFootball

FC Porto began the Champions League league phase with a defeat against Manchester City (0-2). Francesco Farioli’s side are now preparing for their trip to Casa Pia in Rio Maior for the sixth round of the Liga Portugal, scheduled for Saturday at 18:00.

Nehuén Pérez, Martim Fernandes and Alan Varela started, taking the places of Jan Bednarek — suspended following his sending-off at Nottingham —, Francisco Moura and Victor Froholdt — who is following the recovery protocol after a concussion. The Dragons were the first to threaten, with a shot from Gabri Veiga saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the move was eventually ruled out for offside.

In the 20th minute, Diogo Costa denied Erling Haaland, and shortly afterwards he again kept out the Norwegian striker, also saving the rebound from Rayan Cherki. In the 41st minute, Gabri Veiga was struck in the face by Marc Guéhi in a heavy challenge that drew no intervention from the referee. The score remained unchanged until half-time.

Haaland put Manchester City ahead at the start of the second half (0-1), forcing FC Porto to step up their search for an equaliser. Following a corner taken by Gabri Veiga from the left, Alberto Costa flicked the ball on at the far post, but André Silva came very close to reaching it (53'). Three minutes later, Alan Varela received the ball from Pablo Rosario on the edge of the box and hit a powerful shot that went very close to the goal.

William Gomes won the ball back after a pass from Donnarumma, but the rebound went wide of the target. In the 67th minute, Borja Sainz came on in his place, while Inbeom Hwang replaced Alan Varela. Francisco Moura and Santiago Gimenez were introduced in the 73rd minute for Martim Fernandes and André Silva. Later, in the 83rd minute, Seko Fofana returned to the pitch at the Estádio do Dragão to replace Gabri Veiga. FC Porto kept pushing for an equaliser, but Haaland scored again in the closing moments to make it 0-2.

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