The late Galeno goal puts Porto in command against Arsenal in the Champions League
In a dramatic twist, Porto gained the upper hand in stoppage time courtesy of Galeno’s splendid goal, tipping the scales in their favour against Arsenal in the initial encounter of the Champions League last-16 showdown.
The Brazilian winger’s exquisite finish left Arsenal custodian David Raya stranded, catapulting Sergio Conceicao’s outfit to a pivotal lead heading into the subsequent leg.
Despite dictating play, Arsenal grappled with generating clear-cut opportunities, failing to register a single shot on target throughout the fixture. William Saliba and Kai Havertz squandered chances from set-piece situations, underscoring Arsenal’s dearth of precision in the attacking third.
Conversely, Porto showcased tenacity and attacking intent, epitomised by Galeno’s earlier effort rattling the woodwork before eventually finding the back of the net in the dying embers of the match.
As the Gunners endeavour to overturn the deficit in the forthcoming leg at Emirates Stadium, they confront an arduous task to progress to the quarterfinals for the first time in over a decade.
Despite Arsenal’s array of set-piece opportunities, their performance failed to meet expectations, reflecting their jitters in their inaugural Champions League knockout tie since 2017. Bukayo Saka and Havertz encountered difficulties breaching Porto’s defensive setup, rendering Arsenal’s offensive potency largely ineffective.
The defeat compounds Arsenal’s ongoing struggles in knockout ties, with their Champions League campaign marred by inconsistency and squandered chances. Mikel Arteta’s charges must regroup and deliver a resolute performance in the return leg to avert an eighth consecutive last-16 exit.
Porto’s triumph underscores their resilience and tactical acumen, positioning them favourably as they endeavour to advance further in Europe’s premier club competition.
With mounting pressure on Arsenal to deliver in front of their home faithful, they confront a daunting challenge to overturn Porto’s advantage and prolong their Champions League aspirations for another round.
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