(Football news) In the thirty-minute mark, Pepe opened the score with his first Champions League goal, coming just moments after Mehdi Taremi’s attempt was disallowed for an offside foul.

Joao Cancelo, a Manchester City loanee, cut inside to curl an equalizer past the outstretched Diogo Costa, ending Porto’s lead.

Joao Felix delivered the winning goal just before the hour mark, his third European goal of the season, to help his team secure three vital points after the two teams went into halftime on level terms.

Barcelona’s victory has guaranteed them a position in the Champions League last 16 for the first time since the 2020–21 campaign. However, second-placed Porto still has work to do to go past the Catalan giants to the knockout stages.

Barcelona entered this game tied with their Portuguese opponents on nine points following an unexpected loss to Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday four.

There was pressure on Barcelona to win this critical Champions League match and secure all three points after an erratic run of results that saw them win just twice in five games (D1, L2).

Raphinha tried to calm any pre-match tensions in the eighth minute, but Costa blocked his driving long-range effort.

In the 27th minute, Taremi headed in at the far post for Porto, who had suffered a close 1-0 loss in the rematch. However, the assistant’s flag denied him his second European goal of the year.

Barcelona was later punished by Pepe, the 26-year-old winger for Porto, for not heeding that warning shot.

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