About Barcelona vs Porto, With a thrilling comeback led by Joao Cancelo, Barcelona defeated Porto 2-1 to advance to the Champions League knockout stages.
At the top of Group H, both teams had nine points apiece, and Barca knew that a win would guarantee qualification.
But after inconsistent play recently and a loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in this competition, Xavi’s team looked unconfident. Porto was expected to score first until right-winger Pepe broke the tie in the thirtyth minute.
Cancelo responded quickly, slipping past Joao Mario to cut in from the left flank and curl an unstoppable shot past Diogo Costa. Just before the hour mark, the Portugal full-back switched roles and assisted his countryman Joao Felix in scoring his first goal since September.
The Blaugrana remained often all at sea in a defensive manner. Although the favorites for the European title were not intimidated by this performance, they at least now have time to get better before reentering the conversation in the new year.
Highlights of Barcelona vs Porto: In this Group H matchup of the UEFA Champions League, Porto had the upper hand, but Barcelona ultimately emerged victorious.
On November 28, 2023, in Barcelona vs Porto, Spain, during FC Barcelona vs. FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League, Joao Felix of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal.
Highlights of Barcelona vs Porto: FC Barcelona didn’t exactly achieve the kind of easy, convincing victory they would have preferred. Barca had to work hard, but in the end, they overcame FC Porto by coming back from a deficit. As a result of the outcome, they have guaranteed their spot in the competition’s knockout round, and this will be their first time participating in the main round of the competition under Xavi Hernandez.
The La Liga powerhouses, thanks to their tenacious performance against Porto at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium, need only one point to win Group H. While Joao Cancelo’s goal in the 32nd minute gave Porto the lead, Joao Felix’s goal in the 57th minute gave Barcelona the lead. Pepe’s goal in the 30th minute gave Porto the lead. With one game remaining, Blaugrana’s three points from this match have guaranteed their spot in the knockout stages.
Following their victory over Porto in the UEFA Champions League match, the Catalan giants will immediately shift their attention to La Liga, where they currently sit fourth in the standings and have a few pivotal matches ahead of them. Barcelona, who have played 14 games and amassed 31 points, will first face third-place Atletico de Madrid before playing Girona, who are presently occupying the second spot in the domestic league standings.
In the meantime, Porto will return to their native Portuguese league. Before playing GD Estoril Praia, they had a match scheduled against FC Famalicao. With 25 points, Porto is ranked third in the Liga Portugal standings.
Tuesday night, Barcelona beat Porto 2-1 and qualified for the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in three seasons, saving them from a potential banana skin.
Halfway through the half, Pepe scored Porto’s first goal after Mehdi Taremi’s effort was rebounded. However, Barca equalized in the next two minutes when Joao Cancelo dropped his shoulder and struck the ball from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
After that, Cancelo played a key role in Barcelona’s second goal. He found Joao Felix by driving down the left flank, and Felix finished with style. While Porto repeatedly found themselves in promising positions but were let down by poor finishing, Barcelona was at times chaotic. The Catalan giants maintained their lead thanks to several crucial saves made by Inaki Pena.
