Live Blog by Kelly Stock; 5:45 pm
Good afternoon, my name is Kelly and I would love for you to join me on tonights Group B Champions League conclusion, live blogging the Porto – Atletico game.
Porto 2:1 Atletico
5′ Taremi
24′ Eustaquio
90+5′ Marcano (o.g.)
With only a few minutes left until kick-off, here are the consequences of the results tonight: Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen cannot reach the round of 16, whatsoever both still have the chance to continue in the Europa League. Atletico Madrid will play Europa League unless Leverkusen manages to score 1 point more today than Madrid. Club Brugge will top Group B if they match or better Porto’s result – otherwise Porto finish top. Both have already qualified.
1′ Kick-Off. The ball is rolling at el Estadio do Dragao. Atletico in yellow, Porto in their home kit in blue and white.
3′ Atletico with the first corner of the match but no problem so far for Portos keeper Diogo Costa.
5′ GOALLLL! Taremi makes it 1:0 for Porto! Evanilson with a beautiful assist, passing the ball perfectly to the in the centre waiting Taremi who easily kicks the ball into the left low corner.
10′ Short stoppage in the game, as Pepe has a collision with Joao Felix. The medics try to help him and after a few minutes he seems to be okay again.
13′ Galeno with a good attempt! Taremi gets the ball from the centre to Galeno who is waiting on the left side in the box. He shoots but Costa can clear the ball.
16′ Porto dominating the game so far. With currently around 60% ball possession the team with coach Sergio Conceicao leave Atletico no chance so far.
19′ Joao Felix now with a chance after receiving the ball on the down left but is eventually stopped by Porto’s Pepe. Goal-kick Porto.
22′ Leverkusen – Brugge is still 0:0.
24′ GOALLL for Porto!!! Eustaquio makes it 2:0 for Porto with an unbelievable strike into the low left. Galeno is being sent wide and has enough space to get the ball smoothly to Eustaquio who stands close to the penalty spot.
27′ Atletico with more possession, Porto with more efficiency – and it obviously works out better for Porto! With an early 2:0 lead, Atletico might need to say goodbye to international football for this year.
29′ Atletico looks to have woken up with Griezmann, Correa and Joao Felix attacking Porto’s defence.
32′ Atletico plays the ball well down to De Paul, who then has an irrelevant shot on target. No problem for Costa.
36′ What a chance for Otavio. Taremi with the ball in the box, shooting on target but Oblak clears, the ball gets back to Taremi, who somehow manages to get the ball to the right to Otavio. He has an attempt on the goal but fails to score, as Oblak saves. He could have done more out of this!
39′ Yellow card for Grujic after a foul on Correa. Grujic accidentally hits his hand into Correas’ face but obviously a yellow card for the Serbian.
42′ Yellow card for Reinildo after fouling Otavio, Reinildo apologizes directly and gets a high five from the referee. What a rare sight!
45′ Two added minutes in this first half.
45 + 1′ What’s going on there between De Paul and Porto’s manager Conceicao? Conceicao takes the ball away from De Paul who grabs it back but clearly seems upset.
45 + 2′ Halftime in Porto!
Porto leads the game with 2:0 after the first 45 minutes. The current standing is well deserved, as Porto has shown efficiency and ball control, whereas Atletico seems to be all over the place, leaving too much room for Porto as well as barely having serious chances, with only one shot on target in 45 minutes. We know that Atletico can come back from a 2:0 because they have in the past – but can they today?
Meanwhile Leverkusen and Brugge end the first half with a 0:0. So far this would mean: Porto wins the group stage, Brugge qualifies second, Leverkusen plays Europa League and Atletico is out of the tournament.
46′ Second Half Kick-Off.
48′ Yellow card for Savic because of a foul on Zaidu. Zaidu gets Savics leg directly hit on his upper thigh. The medics try to release the Nigerian from the pain. Meanwhile Savic received his fifth yellow card, which means he will miss the next match – if there is one.
50′ Free kick for Porto. The shot comes good and Taremi gets a chance, but Oblak can clear.
53′ Substitution Porto: Zaidu is being replaced by Wendell. The injury from the foul earlier might have been more serious than originally thought.
56′ Porto should be more careful now as Atletico plays more aggressive and determined than in the first half. Chances are yet to come but Atletico’s body language seems much more confident now.
58′ Atletico have never in their Champions League career finished on the bottom of a group. This could be their first time unless they come back, or Leverkusen loses.
59′ Joao Felix has a shot on target a few yards outside the penalty box, but Costa can save the ball easily.
61′ Substitutions Atletico: Cunha comes on for Felix and Niguez is replaced by Carrasco
62′ Evanilson with a fire shot towards the goal, but the shot ends up being a few metres off target.
64′ It is still 0:0 in the BayArena in Leverkusen.
65′ Corner for Porto. Otavio takes a weak corner which concludes in nothing but an argument with the referee.
68′ Goal for Atletico by Griezmann but the referee calls offside.
69′ Yellow card for De Paul and Fabio Cardoso. After the offside announcements the two players get physical and De Paul grabs Cardoso aggressively by the neck.
73′ Corner for Porto. Wendell takes the corner and Evanilson with a nice header on target – but Oblak can save.
75′ The game is getting hectic now with a constant change of the attacking team.
78′ Another corner for Porto but this time the ball goes straight into Oblak’s arms.
80′ Pepe with some fantastic defending right there, stealing the ball away from Madrid’s forward and therefor preventing a chance for Atletico.
82′ Taremi with another good chance. This man is making some good efforts tonight, with a straight fire shot on target just now.
86′ Griezmann with another shot on target as the last five minutes of this game start.
90′ Five minutes added in this game.
90 + 2′ Atletico would need 2 goals in 3 minutes now, as the other game (Leverkusen – Brugge) has finished 0:0.
90 + 4′ GOALLLL for Atletico. Marcano with an own goal!
90 + 5′ Final
The final whistle is blown in Porto and Leverkusen! Leverkusen will play Europa League and Porto wins the Group B of this year’s Champions League. For the first time ever, Atletico Madrid will not make it past the group stage but after a game like this it might be deserved. The first half was awfully weak and although they came back stronger in the second half it was not enough today. Porto dominated this game, showing a strong squad with willpower – very exciting to see how far they will come this year! Thank you for joining me tonight at this very exciting evening, concluding Group B.
Porto v Atletico Madrid (2-1) | Porto qualify top | Champions League Highlights – YouTube