Champions League group stage recap: Porto summon spirit of 2004
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Article summary
Porto more than held their own against Barcelona, Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp to progress as Group H runners-up.
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Porto will be dreaming of a repeat of their European Cup/UEFA Champions League wins of 1987 and 2004 after comfortably qualifying for the round of 16 by finishing as runners-up in Group H.
Campaign so far
Group H runners-up: W4 D0 L2 F15 A8
Top scorer: Evanilson, Galeno (4)
19/09: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Porto: Kelsy 13; Galeno 8 15, Taremi 29
04/10: Porto 0-1 Barcelona: Ferran Torres 45+1
25/10: Antwerp 1-4 Porto: Alhassan Yussuf 37; Evanilson 46 69 84, Eustáquio 54
07/11: Porto 2-0 Antwerp: Evanilson 32(p), Pepe 90+1
28/11: Barcelona 2-1 Porto: João Cancelo 32, João Félix 57; Pepê 30
13/12: Porto 5-3 Shakhtar Donetsk: Galeno 9 43, Taremi 62, Pepe 75, Francisco Conceição 82; Sikan 29, Eustáquio 72(og), Eguinaldo 88
Campaign in ten words: Got the job done in style with swashbuckling Shakhtar win.
UEFA.com reporter's view
Porto were all business in what always looked set to be an open group. They picked up points where they might have expected to do so – winning away to Shakhtar and twice against Antwerp – as well as giving Barcelona a real game both home and away. Held their nerve to clinch qualification at Shakhtar's expense on Matchday 6.
How do Porto play?
Sérgio Conceição remains faithful to 4-4-2 but is flexible enough to make adjustments depending on the opponents or the game situation. His most common tweak is to go to just one striker, with Evanilson this season's primary goal-getter. The full-backs and wingers are crucial in attack, with Galeno and Pepê standing out, the latter capable of playing as a defender or forward, while the midfield duo are creative and judicious in equal measure.
Fantasy star performers
Galeno – 51 points
Evanilson, Pepe – 31 points
Taremi – 27 points
Key stats
• No player in the group stage managed more assists than Galeno's four.
• Evanilson's hat-trick against Antwerp on Matchday 4 was one of only two in the group stage, João Mário also scoring three for Porto's Portuguese rivals Benfica against Inter.
• Pepe became the competition's oldest ever goalscorer when he struck against Antwerp at the age of 40 years 254 days.
Squad changes
In: Zé Pedro, Otávio
Out: David Carmo, Fran Navarro