With Alan Varela (former Boca) among the starters, Porto beat Arsenal 1-0 at home, with a goal from Galeno. The rematch, on Tuesday, March 12 in London.
With a great goal on the hour from the Brazilian offensive midfielder Galen, Portowith the Argentine Alan Varela (ex Mouth) among the starters, took a minimal advantage and beat 1-0 against Arsenalwhich will have to turn history in London on Tuesday, March 12, in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League.
It was a result that did justice to the merits seen at the Do Dragao stadium, but that leaves the series open for the return at the Emirates Stadium in London. In a very tactical and unattractive match, the best chances were for Portowhich had a reward in the throes of added time (90’+4′), when Wendy Galen He hit a whip from outside the area that made the Spanish goalkeeper’s effort fruitless. Arsenal David Raya.
Arsenal have it uphill
Before a Arsenal launched in the Premier Leaguebut it does not make it among the eight best of the Champions League from 2010, Porto He showed patience, without breaking down, to get ahead of the final verdict on March 12 in the English capital.
Although the coach of Arsenal, Mikel Artetahad the same starting team that had just scored 5-0 in Brighton in the last game of the Premier LeagueThroughout the 90 minutes, their team was vague and expectant, aware that if the tie was open they would be the favorites for the second leg, but they ended up paying dearly for their lack of ambition.
Porto gathered more merits
Portowith the Argentine Alan Varela (ex Mouth), five Brazilian players (Otavio, Wendell, Eduardo Gabriel ‘Pepe’, Galen and Evanilson) and with the Portuguese defender Pepeformerly of Real Madrid, as the oldest player to play in a round of 16 in Champions League (40 years old and five days after turning 41), he did more to get a positive result, but bad luck and some lack of aim meant that the scoreboard did not move until the last moments.
Galenwho had already had the best chance in the first half, saw Stripe slightly ahead, and placed the ball on the long post, scoring his fifth goal in this edition of the Champions Leaguein which he has also given three assists on goals.
“We want to be in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, you have to beat the opponent and that is what we have to do at the Emirates. We lacked threat, we lacked much more threat, more aggressiveness, especially when we had the ball in the final third,” analyzed Arteta, coach of Arsenal. And he stated: “We will fine-tune some things to attack better. We can do better.”
History also gives them reasons for hope. The last time Arsenal reached the quarterfinals, in 2010, it was after beating Porto 5-0 in the second leg, in London.
Source: Ambito
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