Porto - Arsenal summary: score, goals, highlights, Champions League

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Napoli - Barcelona summary: score, goals & highlights, Champions League

Napoli and Barcelona draw in Italy

Was today's other game any better? Napoli and Barcelona both got on the scoresheet in Italy. Here's Joe to tell you more. 

Porto 1-0 Arsenal: what do the stats say?

65% possession for Arsenal, but they created next to nothing throughout the game, as shown by the big, fat '0' next to 'shots on target'. Porto were marginally more threatening throughout, although a draw would probably have been a fair result. 

When is the second leg of Arsenal - Porto?

With just one goal separating the teams, this tie is obviously far, far from over! The second leg in London will be played on Tuesday 12 March.

That's going to be tasty (much better than today's game, I'd suspect). 

Porto take slender lead to the Emirates

Hand up if you saw that coming? Be honest! A pretty awful game (let's not lie) settled by a brilliant, dramatic strike in injury time!

A completely forgettable match will live long in the memory now if you're a Porto fan!

Full time: Porto 1-0 Arsenal

What an end to the game! Unbelievable scenes. Galeno strikes right at the death!

It's all over!

Incredible. 

That could be HUGE in this tie! What a finish!

Huge chance for Gabriel!

What a chance! Rice whips the ball into the box and Gabriel heads over when he should've done better! That was Arsenal's best opportunity!

Another free kick in a decent position, this time for Arsenal!

Four minutes of injury time to be played. 

The less said about that Porto free kick, the better, I'm afraid. 

Porto change

Canadian international Stephen Eustáquio comes on for Wendell before the free kick can be taken. 

Here's a chance for Porto! White fouls Jaime and the hosts have a free kick about 40 yards out!

Wendell is down with a knock, further disrupting the flow of the game after the recent subs.  

Plenty of huffing and puffing from both teams, but this seems destined to end goalless. Prove me wrong, please, guys!

Porto changes

Evanilson and Conceição head off, Toni Martínez and Borges replace them.

Varela again playing the role of chief firefighter to stop Martinelli from making progress down the left. 

Conceição's cross from the right loops up off Kiwior and into the danger area, but Raya comes off his line to claim. 

Porto change

Iván Jamie replaces Nico González for the hosts. 

Saka has cut a frustrated figure throughout and has hardly been involved, especially in the second half. Once again, Wendell sticks to his task and snuffs the Arsenal winger out. 

Can we get a winner in the closing stages? I think both sides would be fairly pleased with a draw at this point. 

Arteta furiously giving instructions down by the touchline. He won't be too displeased with a draw, though, I'd imagine. 

Another couple of Arsenal corners come and go, with the habitual pushing and shoving followed by Costa claiming the ball. 

Arsenal substitution

The first in what will no doubt be a million subs in the last 20 minutes. Jorginho replaces Trossard, which might mean Havrtez goes up front. 

Arsenal have regained the control they lost a little earlier. They're still not creating anything, though. 

Rice curls a corner into the box and it's well flick away from danger by Costa. 

Otavio takes a HUGE risk, Cruyff turning away inside his own box under pressure from Trossard. The Porto defender was dying to hear the whistle go for a free kick, and he did. 

Kiwior tries to get Havertz in behind Pepe but the pass has a little bit too much on it and runs through to Costa. 

Trossard is in acres of space on the left and White has plenty of time to find him but passes straight out of play. Arsenal are not clicking in the final third at all. 

Evanilson shot deflected over!

Brilliant work from Pepê! The Porto midfielder skips past Havertz and into the box, cuts it back for Evanilson, whose first-time short is deflected over by Rice. A crucial block!

We've not seen much of Galeno since that double chance in the first half, but he has a chance to run at Saliba here. He tries to go round the outside, but the Frenchman, cool and calm as ever, mops up the danger. 

Martinelli does get away from Pepe this time and races into the box but Varela comes across to snuff out the danger, as he has done all game. 

Havertz is involved again but this time González sees yellow for pulling the German back.

Havertz is next in the book for catching Pepê with a stray arm in midfield. Not sure the Arsenal man knew too much about that. 

The good news, dear reader, is the tempo of the game has picked up a bit!

Wendell has a chance to put Arsenal under serious pressure form the free kick but sticks the ball into row Z. 

Brilliant trickery from Conceição and Kiwior brings him down. Yellow. 

Trossard volleys over!

Arsenal's best chance! Everyone is drawn to the near post for Rice's corner, but he floats it to the far post to the unmarked Trossard, who lashes a volley over!

Ah, that's a waste! Porto do well to work it right to Pepê, who's on the angle of the box and could shoot but tries to backheel the ball to Conceição, only to get it all wrong. Chance gone. 

Odegaard shot blocked!

A moment of excitement for The Gunners! Martinelli gets away from João Mário for the first time, clips a cross up to the far post and it falls to Odegaard, whose shot from the edge of the box is blocked by teammate Trossard.  

Odegaard whips the resulting free kick into the box... but that's poor, easily cleared. 

The yellowest yellow card you'll see. Conceição grabs a chunk of Martinelli's shirt and goes in the book. 

Brilliant tracking from Rice to prevent Pepê from getting away down the right just when it looked as if he might.

Once again, plenty of Arsenal possession in unthreatening areas of the field. Porto will be happy with that, but they will also know it's in their best interests to take a lead to London. 

We didn't see that in the first half. Diogo Costa launches one forward and it bounces all the way through to opposite number Raya. 

An early injury worry for Porto as striker Evanilson goes down. He should be OK to carry on, I think. 

Second half underway!

And we're off again! Arsenal kick off. 

Here come the lads for the second half. A goalfest incoming!

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Napoli - Barcelona live online: score, stats & updates, Champions League

Remember, my colleague Joe is covering today's other game, in which Napoli are facing Barcelona. No goals there either so far (spoiler alert) but there must be one coming somewhere, right? 

Keep both pages open and keep the faith! The floodgates are about to open!

Porto 0-0 Arsenal: half-time thoughts

It’s been intriguing rather than exciting. Arsenal have completely controlled possession but have had no cutting edge whatsoever in the final third. Saliba and Havertz have headed off-balance headers wide from corners, but there’s been little else for them to shout about.

Despite seeing little of the ball, Porto have been marginally the more threatening, I’d have to say. That view might be heavily influence by Galeno’s double miss from close range, which I’m still having trouble putting into words. The hosts should be in front!

Porto 0-0 Arsenal: first half in stats

0.96 expected goals for Porto, which is pretty much exclusively from the Galeno double chance. I think everyone in the stadium, including me, thought his first effort was in, then the second one. One off the post, and the rebound inches wide. Incredible stuff. 

First-half frustration for Arsenal

Arsenal had 70% possession in that first half but have barely threatened, other than a couple of off-balance headers from corners. Arteta will be pleased with how his team has controlled the game, but they haven't looked like scoring. 

Half time: Porto 0-0 Arsenal

That, ladies and gentleman, is that. Goalless at the break. 

Havertz heads wide!

More chaos in the box. In amongst it, Havertz gets his head to another Saka corner and should do better than head wide!

One extra minute to be played. 

Saka shot blocked!

That was the moment Saka has been waiting for! It looks as if it's going to open up for the winger on the edge of the box, but Varela gets a block in just in time!

There's so much pushing and pulling going on at every corner. Good luck with that, Serdar Gözübüyük (he's tonight's referee).

Saka's corner is cleared back to him, and João Mário does really well to stop the winger twisting and turning past him. 

The first time we've seen White get forward down the right and he should do better with that cross, which hits Wendell and goes out for a corner. 

Evanilson tests Raya!

Is that the first proper save of the game? I think it is! 

Martinelli loses possession inside his own half and the other Pepê neatly backheels the ball to Evanilson, whose angled drive is held down low by Raya. 

González fires over!

You can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket. That's former Barcelona man Nico González's view as he lines one up from 25 yards. Well over. 

Saliba heads Saka corner wide!

Saka's corner is met by Saliba only three yards out, but the defender doesn't get nearly enough on his header and the ball goes a few yards wide. A good chance though!

The ball then comes to Saka on the right, whose crosses is deflected onto the top of the crossbar and out for a corner. 

Martinelli has a chance to take Pepe on one against one and the veteran does brilliantly to hold the Brazilian up just enough.

Trossard shoots...miles over

Arsenal's first shot! And it's comes down with snow on it from Trossard. 

Gabriel has just had the ball for about 10 full seconds and doesn't have teammate free to pass to ahead of him. 

Porto have defended superbly so far. Very little space for Arsenal to work in. 

Havertz involved again. The German has a chance to play Martinelli clean through but bizarrely opts not to and turns away. 

Havertz makes a good forward run for the first time, but wily old fox Pepe anticipates it and is there to mop up. 

After plenty pushing and shoving in the box, Saka's delivery is claimed by Costa. 

Odegaard takes it this time but Varela stoops to head it away for a corner. 

A clumsy foul from Wendell on Saka and Arsenal have another chance from a free-kick. 

Porto have definitely upped things a bit here. Conceição closing down Gabriel where before he would've sat off him.

Arsenal have had all the ball but Costa has had nothing to do. That was by far and away the clearest chance - no, chances! - of the game so far. 

Galeno's double miss!

How on earth was that not a goal???

Conceição skips away down the right and his cross falls to Galeno, who smashes one strike off the post and the follow-up inches wide less than a second later! Unbelievable!

Almost a chance for Porto! Conceição shuffles it wide to João Mário, who flies up from right-back and looks to get a shot away, although Kiwior does well to close him down. 

Pepe's Champions League milestone

Speaking of Pepe, here's what I mentioned just before kick off. He'll be 41 by the time the second leg takes place. 

Rice floats it in, Costa punches it clear, and a free kick is given to Porto. 

From that free kick, there's a chance for Arsenal to get the ball into the box...

Pepe's first foul

Who had 15 minutes?! Not many, I'd assume. What took him so long?!

Saka gets involved for the first time, coming inside as he tends to do. He'll try to make something happen for his team, but there's no pass on, so back it goes. More keep-ball. 

After that brief flurry of excitement, we've settled back into the earlier pattern of play. It's warming up though!

Porto first to threaten!

The hosts are first to threaten! A long balls tries to get Galeno away down the left and Raya races from his line to put the ball out for a throw. The ball boy/girl wastes no time in getting the ball back to the Porto man, but Arsenal are able to snuff out the danger. 

Very, very little going on so far. 85% possession for Arsenal, 0% of touches in the opposition box. 

Havertz's happy memories of Porto

Arsenal attacking the end where Kai Havertz scored the winner in the 2021 Champions League final...for Chelsea. Maybe they'd rather not be reminded about that. 

Odegaard coming very deep to ensure his team keeps the ball. They are, but they haven't had it in the area they'd want it. 

Finally some possession for the hosts...and Pepe sticks it straight out of play. Oops. 

Plenty of control from Arsenal. Porto really struggling to get on the ball. No threat so far, though. 

A lovely little flick from Martinelli very nearly gets Trossard in behind, but Pepe is cuts the pass out in the nick of time.

Lots of early possession for Arsenal. They look in confident mood. 

Rice booked after a minute

Well, that didn't take long. Rice smashes into Galeno and will now have to watch his step for the next 89 minutes (and more). 

Underway in Porto!

Here we go! Strap yourselves in! The hosts get us going!

Former Real Madrid UCL winner Pepe leads Porto

He's not everyone's cup of tea, but Porto captain Pepe is a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid. He turns 41 later this month and becomes the oldest outfield player to feature in the knockout rounds.  

Arsenal team to play Porto

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwor; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli. 

Porto team to play Arsenal

Costa; Mário, Pepe, Otavio, Wendell; Varela, González; Conceição, Pepê, Galeno; Evanilson. 

Almost time for kick-off! Let's recap the two lineups!

Arsenal's last Champions League game beyond the last 16

Anyone remember what happened the last time Arsenal reached the Champions League quarter-finals? A certain Lionel Messi scored all four goals for Barcelona in a 4-1 demolition of The Gunners at Camp Nou,

Incredibly, Arsenal then lost in the round of 16 in seven successive seasons after that, and this is their first time in the Champions League since 2016-17. It's been a long road back, but they're here!

Arsenal in the 2023-24 Champions League group stage

Arsenal, meanwhile, made fairly light work of their group, qualifying with a game to spare.The highlights were 4-0 and 6-0 thrashings of PSV and Lens respectively at the Emirates.   

- Arsenal 4–0 PSV Eindhoven

- Lens 2-1 Arsenal

- Sevilla 1-2 Arsenal

- Arsenal 2-0 Sevilla

- Arsenal 6-0 Lens

- PSV Eindhoven 1-1 Arsenal

Porto in the 2023-24 Champions League group stage

Porto won four and lost two of their six Group F games and it all came down to the last one, a winner-takes-all clash against Shakhtar Donetsk. Most expected a nervy clash at the Dragão but it proved to be an absolute cracker, with the Portuguese running out 5-3 winners to finish second behind Barcelona.

- Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Porto

- Porto 0-1 Barcelona

- Antwerp 1-4 Porto

- Porto 2-0 Antwerp

- Barcelona 2-1 Porto

- Porto 5-3 Shakhtar Donetsk

Arsenal warm-up underway in Porto

Did you know Arsenal are officially 'THE Arsenal Football Club'? You learn something new every day, don't you?

Are Porto's dragons ready to roar?

Porto head into the tie as underdogs, but they've fared rather better in the Champions League, and the European Cup before it, than Arsenal over the years.

While the Portuguese have won Europe's top club competition twice (1987 and 2004), The Gunners have only ever reached the final once, losing to Barcelona in 2006. 

Arteta's first go at the Champions League

Arteta played in the Champions League for Paris Saint-Germain, Scottish club Rangers and Arsenal but, like his counterpart today, didn’t have much in the way of success in the competition. He did win the Intertoto Cup with PSG in 2001, although that probably shouldn’t count as much of an achievement, if you ask me…

With The Gunners having been out of the UCL for a number of years, this is Arteta’s first stab at it as a manager, and he’s not done too badly so far, guiding his team safely through the group stage. 

Porto boss Sérgio Conceição chasing Champions League best

Conceição has been in his position since 2017 (I know, unbelievable in the modern game, right?) and has led Porto to three league titles and four domestic cups in that time. The quarter-finals is the furthest he’s been able to take them in the Champions League and he didn’t have a great deal of success in the competition as a player either. A former winger, Conceição’s biggest achievement in Europe was winning the very last edition of the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup with Lazio in 1999.

Gunners' attacking arsenal getting ready to fire

A pretty similar effort from the Premier League side, I think we can say. But I'm going with the hosts for purely on a colour basis. Advantage Porto. 

Porto bright and blue for Champions League return

Let's see who did their pre-game dressing room photo better. Here's Porto's effort. That deep blue is really doing it for me, I have to say. 

Bukayo Saka on-song for Arsenal

Bukayo Saka continues to go from strength to strength for The Gunners. When he picks that ball up on the right-hand side of the attack, you just know he’s going to come inside and do whatever it takes to make space for a shot or a cross. Stopping it is another matter, though.

The winger netted three times and assisted four more in five group-stage appearances. And he’s been in red-hot form in front of goal in recent weeks, scoring six goals in his last four Premier League games. Look out Porto!

Galeno: Porto’s wing wizard

With star striker Mehdi Taremi out injured, Porto’s main attacking threat is likely to come from the flanks through Brazilian attacker Galeno and Francisco Conceição, the son of manager Sérgio. Galeno scored four goals and set up another three in the group stage, ending the round as second top assister behind one of tonight’s opponents.

Estádio do Dragão hosts Champions League action

Porto's Estádio do Dragão was built in time for Euro 2004, although the biggest game it has ever hosted actually came in the Champions League. In the Covid-hit 2020-21 event, it was picked to host the final, which Chelsea won against Manchester City. It's not a game that will live long in the memory, with few fans in attendance due to restrictions. 

Porto's Diogo Costa: one of world soccer's most promising goalkeepers

Porto's Diogo Costa has been earmarked by many as one of the best young goalkeepers in world soccer. And he might have to prove it in the next couple of games against Arsenal, who are creating chances and scoring for fun at the moment. 

Arsenal: last five games

17 February: Burnley 0-5 Arsenal (Premier League)

11 February: West Ham 0-6 Arsenal (Premier League)

4 February: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

30 January: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

20 January: Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Red-hot Arsenal gunning for goals

Arsenal, meanwhile, have bounced back from what could’ve been a season-wrecking dip in emphatic fashion. Mikel Arteta’s side ended 2023 with back-to-back Premier League defeats to West Ham and Fulham before losing at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup in their first game of 2024. Since then, though, they’ve won five games in a row and scored 21 goals in the process, posting 6-0 and 5-0 victories in their last two outings against West Ham and Burnley.

Porto: last five games

17 February: Porto 2-0 Estrela (Liga Portugal)

12 February: Arouca 3-2 Porto (Liga Portugal)

3 February:Porto 0-0 Rio Ave (Liga Portugal)

28 January: Farense 1-3 Porto (Liga Portugal)

20 January: Porto 5-0 Moreirense (Liga Portugal)

Arsenal team to play Porto

No surprises in the Arsenal line-up, As we thought, no Zinchenko, Jesus, Tomayasu or Partey. Fábio Vieira does return to the bench. 

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwor; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli. 

Porto team to play Arsenal

Two Pepes/Pepês, for Porto, just to keep things entertaining. Look out for that little circumflex (hat over the 'e'). 

Costa; Mário, Pepe, Otavio, Wendell; Varela, González; Conceição, Pepê, Galeno; Evanilson. 

Recent slip-ups cost Porto dear

After a damaging 2-0 defeat to Sporting on 18 December, Porto looked to have gotten their act together, winning six and drawing one of their next seven matches in all competitions. That seemed to have got them back in the title race in Portugal until a home draw against Rio Ave and a defeat to Arouca at the start of February saw them fall seven points behind the leaders.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Napoli - Barcelona live online: score, stats & updates, Champions League

My esteemed colleague Joe Brennan, meanwhile, is all over Napoli against Barcelona as I type! So if you want to watch the potential car crash that is two of Europe’s crisis clubs swinging at each other like a couple of drunks, open that page alongside this one!

Arsenal squad news

Defender Jurrien Timber, who tore his ACL on his debut for the club, is still out, while Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf), Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knock) are doubts after missing the weekend thrashing of Burnley. Midfielders Thomas Partey, who hasn’t played since October because of a hamstring problem, and Fábio Vieira are close to making their returns but aren’t certain to be involved.

Porto squad news

Veteran defender Iván Marcano is still recovering from an ACL tear, his second in three years. Nigerian left-back Zaidu Sanusi also misses out because of a similar knee problem, while key Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi, who is set to join Italian side Inter in the summer, is struggling with a thigh issue.

Arsenal dreaming of Premier League glory

Could this finally be the year for Arsenal? One of the strongest Premier League teams in it’s first decade-and-a-bit, The Gunners haven’t won a title since 2003-04. For much of last season, it looked as if they had a good chance to do it, only to crumble and be overtaken in inevitable fashion by Manchester City.

They have got themselves back in the hunt this term, and although they are third in the table, they’re just a point behind City and two adrift of leaders Liverpool.

Porto's struggles in Portugal

Porto, with our old friend Pepe still marshalling the defence, haven’t finished outside the top two in Portugal since 2015-16 but they’re going to struggle to keep that record intact this season. With 12 matches left to play, Sergio Conceição’s men are seven points behind joint leaders Benfica and Sporting, the latter of which has a game in hand.

Porto have already lost four league games this season and have only lost more than that twice in the last 16 years.

Advantage Inter and Dortmund after Tuesday’s games?

Good luck picking a winner out of Tuesday’s games, with little separating Inter from Atlético Madrid, and PSV Eindhoven and Borussia Dortmund. The Italians will take a slender lead to Spain for the return leg, while the Germans will hope to make home advantage count. There’s not much in it, though.

The second legs of these ties will be played on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 March. By all means check out how yesterday's games went down, in case you missed them. 

2023-24 UCL round of 16: what's happened/happening this week?

Tuesday 20 February

- Inter Milan 1-0 Atlético Madrid

- PSV Eindhoven 1-1 Borussia Dortmund

Wednesday 21 February

- Napoli - Barcelona

- Porto - Arsenal

2023-24 UCL round of 16: what happened last week?

As we anticipated, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain all won, although there was an upset in Rome as Lazio saw off Bayern Munich, who are in a serious bit of bother right now, with the news coming out on Tuesday that manager Thomas Tuchel would be leaving at the end of the season.

- Copenhagen 1-3 Manchester City

- RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid

- Lazio 1-0 Bayern Munich

- PSG 2-0 Real Sociedad

The second legs of these ties will be played on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 March.

When does Porto against Arsenal kick off? 

I know you can’t wait, but you’re going to have to. Just a little. The game in Portugal gets underway at 9:00 p.m. local time, which is 3:00 p.m. ET and 12:00 p.m. PT. How about taking an extended lunch break for this one, or maybe even the afternoon off?

Over the next hour or so I’ll be bringing you build-up, team news and plenty more. Let’s do it!

Hello and welcome to Porto - Arsenal!

The 2023-24 Champions League round of 16 first legs are almost over…but not quite! Thanks for joining me (Roddy) for live text coverage of Porto against Arsenal at Estádio do Dragão (yes, that does mean Dragon Stadium in Portuguese).

Can the 2004 winners cause another upset or will the Premier League flex its muscles in Europe’s elite club competition?