Porto vs Barcelona summary: Ferran winner, score, goal and highlights | Champions League 2023/24
Porto vs Barcelona: as it happened
That is indeed that! Barcelona have a very, very hard-fought win in Portugal, and now have two wins from two in Group H.
This was, on paper, Barça's hardest game in the group. Thanks to Ferran Torres' neat finish, Xavi's men return to Catalonia having taken a big step closer to returning to the Champions League knockout stages.
And up next, the Blaugrana have a theoretically more straightforward home game against Shakhtar in three weeks' time.
As for Porto, who stay second in Group H, they now go to Antwerp to face a side still looking for their first Champions League points after going down to Shakhtar earlier today.
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A final attack for Porto? No. Nico misplaces his pass, allowing Ferran to streak forward and fire a shot over Diogo Costa's bar.
That should be that...
Once more Conceição crosses from the right, but Koundé heads it clear.
There's then time for one final ball into the Barça box, but it's too close to Ter Stegen.
Again Porto work it right to Conceição, who wriggles into a crossing position on the right-hand byline. He fires it into the six-yard box, but the ball ricochets behind and, apparently, hit a Porto player last. Goal-kick for Barça.
Conceição cuts in from the right and flashes in a low shot towards Ter Stegen's near post, but it flies into the side-netting.
Barça are two minutes away from a big three points in Portugal.
Gavi is sent off!
Already on a yellow, the Barça youngster pulls back Wendell and earns his second booking.
Porto pin Barça back, popping it about in front of a wall of yellow shirts, before the ball breaks to Eustáquio to shoot from the corner of the visitors' box. He's put off by his own team-mate, however, and the chance is lost.
Six minutes of time added on at the Estádio do Dragão.
A Porto corner finally falls to Pepe some 30 yards out, but his shot is blocked. Back come the hosts, Evanilson turning and angling a diagonal ball into Conceição's run into the Barça area.
Ter Stegen is quickly off his line to grab hold, and appears to be caught late by Conceição. Over on the touchline, Xavi politely asks the fourth official whether his colleague might consider doling out a yellow card to the Porto sub.
Porto are really knocking fairly insistently on the Barça door, but Balde gives the visitors a brief breather when he brings it forward and over the halfway line.
He spots Ferran's run in behind the Porto defence, but he can't find him.
Porto make a quadruple change. Taremi, João Mário, Galeno, Varela are all off, with Namaso, Conceicao, Nico González, Ivan Jaime all on for the hosts.
Nico faces his former club.
Taremi produces a sublime overhead kick to fire the ball into the net from close range, but the flag is up against the Iranian!
It was a lovely scooped ball from Varela, who found Taremi in space on the edge of the six-yard box. But he was indeed offside.
Marcos Alonso is on for Lamine Yamal.
No penalty!
In the end, Taylor decides that Eustáquio did indeed handle it. The home fans roar with disapproval, and Barça survive.
Anthony Taylor is called over to the pitchside monitor.
They also seem to be checking whether Eustáquio also handled the ball before Cancelo did.
The video assistant is checking the decision. It would appear the sticking point is whether or not Cancelo handled it inside or outside the penalty box.
The video assistant is checking the decision. It would appear the sticking point is whether or not Cancelo handled it inside or outside the penalty box.
Penalty to Porto!
Eustáquio tries to bring down a high ball into the Barça box, and when the ball bounces off João Cancelo, the Barcelona man is penalised for a handball!
Varela takes a pot shot from range, and fires well over Ter Stegen's bar.
Barcelona are going to replace Lamine Yamal, with Marcos Alonso the man to come on.
Porto work it right to João Mário, who gets to the byline and crosses, but it's blocked.
Still Lamine Yamal hasn't returned...
Lamine Yamal appears to have left the field - possibly for an emergency toilet break - and Barcelona are down to 10 right now.
Taremi feeds the ball out wide to Galeno, who scuttles forward on the left and bends a shot towards Ter Stegen's far post. The German dives to parry and, although it looked good for the cameras, I think it was actually quite a comfortable one for him.
A double substitution for Barcelona, who replace João Félix and Romeu with Fermín López and Sergi Roberto.
As you'd expect there are loud whistles for João Félix as he departs the field.
Once more Porto get a shot in, Taremi chesting down Pepe's lofted pass and scuffing the bouncing ball straight at Ter Stegen. Araújo was quickly on top of the Porto forward.
The hosts continue to knock at the door, but - that Pepe opportunity aside - are struggling to create clear-cut openings.
There's a chance for Wendell, but Ter Stegen saves with his feet!
Galeno receives on the left wing, and slips a diagonal ball into Wendell's run into the box. He has a gaggle of yellow shirts on top of him, but manages to poke in a shot at the near post. It's always unlikely to beat Ter Stegen, though.
That's Baró's final involvement in this game. He's replaced by Evanilson, and gets very warm applause from the home fans as he leaves the field. He appears to raise an arm in his apology for his mistake.
Taremi isn't far away with a glancing header!
Porto feed it right to Baró, who is eager to make amends for his earlier rick. He crosses from the right-hand byline, but Taremi can't quite direct his header goalwards. It flashes past Ter Stegen's far post.
Gündogan's corner from the left is short, but the clearance falls right to Lamine Yamal. He gets it out of his feet and shoots, but wafts his strike high and wide. It was with a his weaker right boot, to be fair to him.
Wendell whips a free-kick in from the left wing, but Barcelona head it clear.
Ferran on fire
Opta note that Ferran's four goals in his last nine appearances for Barça is as many as he'd scored in his previous 32.
Again Pepe surges into the Barcelona box, having darted in from the right wing. This time, it's Araújo who gets a crucial boot in.
Over on the touchline, Xavi is clearly rather miffed that Pepe was allowed to scamper clear of the Barcelona defence in the first place. He appears to be muttering some fairly choice language to himself.
That's a vital tackle by Koundé! Taremi's pass splits the Barça defence in two and leaves Pepe in on Ter Stegen.
Just as the Porto fans are ready to celebrate the equaliser, though, Koundé gets a foot in just in time to take it off Pepe's toe. Porto want a penalty, but it was a clean challenge!
Oh, that's a shame. If Ferran's return had been a little better, João Félix would have been in.
The Portuguese plays it into his fellow Barça forward and advance into space into the Porto box to collect the pass back, but Ferran underhits it, and the ball finally pinballs away from João.
João Félix is the latest player to be booked, for catching Varela.
Lamine Yamal cuts inside from the right, before slipping the ball into João Félix's run into the box. He's got his back to goal, and can only succeed in prodding the ball weakly at Diogo Costa. Lamine Yamal is such a threat, though.
Koundé becomes the third Barça player to go into the book, when he slighty wildly thrashes at a bouncing ball and, as he follows through, catches Wendell in the face.
Eustáquio lifts the resulting free-kick into the Barça area, but it's over everyone and bounces behind for a goal-kick.
Right away, João Mário is allowed time and space to shoot from the edge of the Barcelona area, but he sends his strike over Ter Stegen's bar.
Peeeep! The teams are back out and Anthony Taylor gets us back underway.
No half-time changes for either side.
Lamine Yamal makes UCL history
By the way, Lamine Yamal has tonight become the youngest starter in the history of the Champions League, ending Celestine Babayaro's 19-year run as the holder of that particular record.
At 16 years and 83 days old, he has beaten Babayaro's mark by three days.
The Shark strikes again
That's Ferran's first goal in the Champions League this term, and his fourth in all competitions. He's made an extremely decent goalscoring start to the campaign.
(Photo: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes)
Peeep peeep peeep! After a very even first 45 at the Estádio do Dragão, Ferran's goal on the stroke of half time gives Xavi's men the edge.
Goal! Porto 0-1 Barcelona - Ferran scores!
It's a bad, bad error by Baró. Receiving the ball with his back to goal on the halfway line, he gets himself in a right old tangle and can only scuff the ball right to Gündogan.
The German suddenly has acres of space to sprint forward and play in Ferran, who finishes low past Diogo Costa!
Barcelona launch a quick break, João Félix scampering forward over the halfway line. He finally checks back, before laying it right to Ferran.
Ferran gets the ball out of his feet and thumps a shot on goal, but Diogo Costa beats it out!
Two minutes of time added on.
Again the ball is pumped left to Galeno, who this time chests it down and plays it inside. Taremi collects, before turning and shooting, but his effort trundles into Ter Stegen's arms.
That Porto left flank is such a threat. Galeno collects a raking, crossfield pass and, with Wendell overlapping, wins a corner.
Eustáquio delivers, but Ter Stegen punches away.
Gündogan has a shot charged down on the edge of the Porto box, and is quickly over to Taylor to appeal for handball.
It isn't given, and the German must content himself with a corner... which flashes across the face of goal! Any kind of decent touch, and that may well have been 1-0 to the visitors.
For what is very much not the first time tonight, Porto get Wendell and Galeno scampering forward with malice aforethought. The latter feeds the former's run to the byline, where he fizzes a quickfire cut-back across goal.
Taremi throws himself at it... but Ter Stegen is off his line ot grab hold!
Baró absolutely skins Romeu, nutmegging the Barça midfielder on the halfway line. Romeu responds by fouling Baró, but escapes without a yellow card.
João Félix jinks forward just outside of the Porto area, but is robbed just as he advances into the 18-yard box.
Porto clear, and Gavi is booked for pulling Varela back.
We've heard a bit less from Porto in attack in the last few minutes, but they now get both full-backs into dangerous positions.
First, Wendell tears forward down the left, but nobody in a blue and white shirt can gobble up his low ball into the danger area.
A minute later, Porto work it right to João Mário, but Koundé does well to clear his cross.
Lewandowski's night lasts just over half an hour. It's his ankle that he has hurt, and he has to replaced by Ferran.
Balde does very well to twist away from João Mário and surge towards the byline, before winning a corner.
Gündogan's delivery is short, though, and Porto head it clear.
A moment later, João Félix plays it neatly first-time to Gündogan in the Porto box, but the German's control lets him down and he ends up fouling his man. Chance lost.
Ferran Torres is preparing to come on, presumably for Lewandowski.
There's a double shooting chance for Barcelona, but they can't take either! Gavi swipes at a left-wing cross, and the loose ball drops to João Félix. He tries to find Diogo Costa's far corner on the turn, but can only fire the ball off target.
Fábio Cardoso brings Lamine Yamal down as the Barcelona youngster carries the ball clear, and the Porto man is booked. Barça's Araújo is also cautioned, evidently for giving the referee a touch too much lip about the challenge.
On the touchline, Xavi's complaints also earn him a yellow.
Lewandowski appears to have tweaked something, I'm not 100% sure what.
He's going to soldier on for the moment, though.
João Félix during tonight's game in Portugal.
(Photo: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes)
João Félix wins a 50-50 with Baró on the left flank and thunders forward into the Porto box, but his shot is deflected behind, and Barcelona can't take advantage of the corner.
João Félix shoots just over! It's only been Porto who've been creating openings in recent minutes, but when Lamine Yamal gets his first chance to run at a back-pedalling defence, the teenager slips it to Lewandowski.
He can't quite bring it under his spell, but the ball falls to João Félix, who slaps a first-time shot from the edge of the area just too high!
Sergio Conceição is less than chuffed about that penalty call. He's convinced that Koundé tugged Taremi to the turf.
Again Porto come forward dangerously. Galeno scuttles down the left, before cutting it back to Wendell, who has acres of space to shoot from the corner of the Barcelona box.
His low strike hits a crowd of players, before Taremi flops to the turf in the area under Koundé's challenge. Anthony Taylor says no, and so, too, does the video ref.
Again Porto get themselves in a shooting position. Koundé gets himself in a muddle, and in the blink of an eye, Pepe Aquino is bustling forward and slipping the ball into Eustáquio's run into space on the edge of the Barça box.
Eustáquio's shot isn't quite powerful or well directed enough, however, and Ter Stegen catches it without too much fuss.
Porto's free-kick finally falls to Varela, who wallops a shot over the bar from just outside the box.
It got a touch of a Barça boot, so it's a corner - but that comes to nothing.
Koundé does João Cancelo few favours with a square pass on the halfway line that leaves the Portuguese exposed, and he has his pocket picked by Galeno.
Galeno then sets off like an express train towards the Barcelona area, and Cancelo has no option but to bring him down. Yellow card.
At the other end, Lamine Yamal almost has the opportunity to run at the Porto defence, but has to content himself with a corner.
Gündogan delivers the corner, which Porto deal with.
Both times Porto launched a forward foray of substance, they've looked very dangerous indeed.
This time, Taremi capitalises on Barça slackness in the midfield to get hold of the ball and scamper forward towards the visitors' box. He slips a neat ball into Pepe Aquino's darting, penetrative run into the area, but Pepe's touch lets him down!
Koundé brings the ball out from the back and looks to feed João Félix on the left, but the Frenchman's pass is behind the forward. It dribbles out for a Porto throw-in.
It's been mainly Barcelona ball so far, but now Porto create their first dangerous attack.
The hosts work it right to João Mário, who is in space to cross on the right. He looks up and picks out Baró, who has peeled off into a nice little pocket of space in the Barça box. If his first touch had been better, he'd have a had a shooting chance - but his first touch is rank.
Balde finally clears for Barça.
Ter Stegen wallops a route-one ball over the top for Lewandowski, who can't bring it down on the edge of the Porto box.
A moment later, João Félix plays a one-two with Gündogan before haring into the box and firing just wide, but the flag was up against the Portuguese.
Again the jeers ring out as João Félix carries the ball forward in Barça's first moment of attacking danger.
He tries to lift a ball into Lewandowski's run into the box, but it's cut out.
João Cancelo then tries his luck with a dig from 30 yards or, but his luck is out.
Barcelona keep the ball for pretty much all of the first two minutes, but don't particularly go anywhere with it.
There are loud whistles for João Félix when he gets his first touch of the ball.
Peeeeep! Anthony Taylor gets us up and running!
Teams out!
The teams are out in Porto, where the Champions League anthem has just been boomed out.
Xavi and Sergio Conceição share a warm hug over on the touchline, and we're about to get underway.
Almost time to go in Portugal!
We’re about five minutes out from kick-off at the Estádio do Dragão, where the home fans are currently belting out the Porto anthem.
Porto:
Diogo Costa, João Mário, Cardoso, Carmo, Wendell, Baró, Varela, Eustáquio, Pepê Aquino, Galeno and Taremi.
Barcelona:
Ter Stegen, João Cancelo, Araújo, Koundé, Balde, Romeu, Gündogan, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and João Félix.
England's Anthony Taylor will be the match referee at the Estádio do Dragão.
My colleague Calum Roche has put together a profile of the 44-year-old.
Group H: as it now stands
Shakhtar's victory in Belgium earns the Ukrainians their first points of the Champions League campaign, and leaves Antwerp still empty-handed after two games.
With Porto and Barcelona still to play, Group H currently looks likes this:
| group H | T | MP | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Shakhtar win in Antwerp after late spot-kick miss
It's all over in Belgium, where Antwerp have spurned a golden opportunity to snatch a late leveller! Toby Alderweireld has sent a 96th-minute penalty wide of Shakhtar keeper Dmytro Riznyk's post.
Having pulled off a remarkable fightback from two down, Shakhtar win 3-2!
Barcelona stretch their legs at Do Dragão
The Barcelona players have been out for a pre-match stroll on the Estádio do Dragão pitch, and - as you might expect - there was plenty of attention for Portugal international João Félix.
Not only is he a former favourite at the home team's arch rivals Benfica, he's also a one-time Porto academy player.
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And in case you haven't seen the major news for Spanish and global soccer, FIFA today announced that the 2030 men's World Cup is to be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco... with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay also getting a game each!
You can follow the latest reactions that news with our host announcement live blog.
Should you be in doubt as to how you can watch Porto vs Barcelona on telly or online, let me point you in the direction of my colleague Fidel Rubio's guide on where you can catch the game.
Shakhtar in front in Antwerp!
Over in Belgium, by the way, Shakhtar have staged a second-half comeback to lead 3-2 at the Bosuilstadion!
Danylo Sikan has scored twice for the Ukrainians, either side of a Yaroslav Rakitskyi strike.
Conceição: "Barça aren’t going to have it all their own way"
What Porto expect from Barça:
“We know that they’re a team that dominate possession. They have the ball more than any other side in their league. They haven’t lost yet, and they’re a side with penetration and real ability on the ball. They’re a team who force you to defend the width of the pitch, and they boast individual match winners.”
Barça weaknesses:
“We’ve identified some weaknesses; every team has them. We have to be strong and stop them from getting into the areas they like. They have bags of quality, so we’re going to have to dig in. But we also need to go at them and score goals. Barça aren’t going to have it all their own way against us.”
Barcelona and Porto's previous UCL meetings
As I mentioned right at the start of this feed, Porto and Barcelona haven’t met in the Champions League since 1999/2000.
That season, Barça beat the Portuguese side home and away in the group stage. Previously, the Catalans also beat Porto 3-0 in the 1993/94 Champions League semi-finals, which were played over a single game.
The sides also met in Europe’s top club tournament back when it was still the European Cup. That was in the 1985/86 second round, and again it was Barça who prevailed, winning on away goals despite a 3-1 second-leg defeat.
Under Englishman Terry Venables, Barça went on to reach the final that year - but suffered penalty shootout heartbreak against Steaua Bucharest.
First meeting in over a decade
This will be Porto and Barcelona’s first meeting since they faced off in the UEFA Super Cup 12 years ago.
Barça boss Xavi was running the midfield in Monaco that day, as the Catalans won 2-0 thanks to goals by Lionel Messi and Cesc Fàbregas.
More from Xavi: Félix "working hard for team"
Can Lamine Yamal go down as a great?
“I hope so. But we’re doing him no favours by saying that. It’s true that the immense expectations come from the fact that he’s playing at an unbelievable level for a 16-year-old. But comparing him to the likes of Messi…”
João Félix's bright Barça start:
“He’s happy, he’s reaping the rewards of playing in a position where his strengths come to the fore. And he’s also working hard for the team. That’s why things are going well for him.”
Xavi the centurion
Incidentally, this is Xavi's 100th game as Barcelona head coach.
Since he replaced Ronald Koeman in November 2021, Xavi has so far steered the Blaugrana to 63 wins, 17 draws and 19 defeats.
(Photo: EFE/EPA/JOSE COELHO)
Xavi: "A huge game"
Greater UCL belief this year:
“We’ve got a year’s more experience, players who now have silverware to their name, when beforehand they didn’t… I think we’ve strengthened well. And we’ve grown in belief. That’s clear to see in the players.”
Facing Porto:
“It’s a huge game, because Porto are a top club. They have top players.”
Porto unchanged, Araújo and Romeu in for Barça
Hosts Porto are unchanged from the team that began the 1-0 Portuguese league defeat to arch rivals Benfica on Friday.
As against Benfica, Porto are without 40-year-old centre-back Pepe, who has plenty of experience of facing Barcelona. The former Real Madrid man has faced the Catalans 23 times during his career. However, he's struggling with a calf issue.
Meanwhile, Barcelona makes two changes to the side that beat Sevilla in LaLiga on Friday, with Ronald Araújo and Oriol Romeu coming in for Andreas Christensen and the injured Raphinha.
Porto team news
Porto's team is also in: Diogo Costa, João Mário, Cardoso, Carmo, Wendell, Baró, Varela, Eustáquio, Pepê Aquino, Galeno and Taremi.
Barcelona team news
Barcelona's starting 11 has dropped! Xavi has gone with: Ter Stegen, João Cancelo, Araújo, Koundé, Balde, Romeu, Gündogan, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and João Félix.
Barça to sport Senyera strip
By the way, Barcelona are to wear their yellow and red change strip that features the Senyera, the Catalan flag.
Porto will be in their regular blue and white stripes.
Group H as it stands
So, with Antwerp leading Shakhtar, Group H looks like this as things stand.
| group H | T | MP | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Antwerp up on Shakhtar in early Group H game
Today's other Group H game, between Antwerp and Shakhtar, is one of the day's early kick-offs. It's half time in Belgium, where Antwerp are 2-0 up on the Ukrainians, courtesy of goals by Arbnor Muja and Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
Porto also off to a winner in Group H
Meanwhile, Porto also began their Champions League campaign with a win a fortnight ago. Sergio Conceiçao's side were 3-1 winners against Shakhtar Donetsk in Hamburg, with Galeno netting a double for the Dragões.
The two-time European champions are chasing a place in the Champions League knockouts for the third time in the last four seasons.
(Photo: REUTERS/Cathrin Mueller)
Barça out to build on Antwerp annihilation
Barcelona head into matchday two with three points from three thus far, thanks to their thumping, 5-0 opening win over Antwerp two weeks ago.
Xavi's men are, of course, bidding to reach the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2020/21, having suffered consecutive group-stage eliminations in the past two seasons.
(Photo: JOSEP LAGO/AFP)
Porto vs Barcelona: welcome!
Hello! Group H matchday two brings us a clash between two teams who, despite being Champions League regulars, haven't met in Europe's elite club competition since the turn of the millennium.
Porto vs Barcelona gets underway at 3pm ET at the Estádio do Dragão, and we should have team news for you about an hour before then.