UCL: Arsenal beat Porto on penalties to reach quarters; Rejuvenated Barca see off Napoli
David Raya was the hero as Arsenal beat Porto 4-2 on penalties on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
The teams were locked at 1-1 on aggregate after an absorbing second leg at the Emirates but Raya saved twice in the shootout to break the hearts of the two-time champions.
The goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant save to deny Wendell and repeated the feat against Galeno, while the home side converted all four of their penalties.
It is the first time a Champions League match has been decided by penalties since the 2016 final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders were not at their fluent best against a disciplined Porto side.
Leandro Trossard pulled Arsenal level on aggregate shortly before halftime but neither side could find the killer blow.
The Gunners came into the match with 33 goals in their past eight league games – a winning run that has rocketed them to the top of the Premier League.
But Sergio Conceicao’s men succeeded in frustrating the home team for long periods in the first half, fashioning enough chances of their own make it a nervy night for the expectant fans.
Both sides struggled to settle in a scrappy opening period, with Porto doing their best to slow the game down by taking their time with throw-ins and goal kicks, to the audible frustration of the home crowd.
Arsenal defender Ben White headed over in the fourth minute after the home side’s first sustained attack while captain Martin Odegaard hit the side netting 10 minutes later.
But Porto, who were last crowned European champions under Jose Mourinho in 2004, had a number of openings.
Evanilson whipped a shot at goal from distance that bounced wide and minutes later struck a rising strike that Raya palmed away.
Declan Rice headed just wide and Pepe – the first 41-year-old to play outfield in the Champions League – got the deftest of touches with his head to prevent Kai Havertz from connecting with a White cross at the back post.
Barcelona reached the last eight of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in four years thanks to an impressive victory against a spirited Napoli side.
Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernández, who had started with 16-year-old Lamine Yamal in the 1-1 draw in Naples – making him the youngest player to begin a knockout stage match in this competition – kept faith in youth by drafting in 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsí for his Champions League debut.
It was a 20-year-old who broke the deadlock just 15 minutes in, with Fermín López calmly picking his spot after Raphinha’s intelligent delivery.
The Brazilian international was instrumental in Barcelona doubling their lead just over two minutes later, collecting a pass following a storming run from deep by Yamal, before cutting inside and striking the post with a curling right-footed shot. João Cancelo was quickest to the rebound, sweeping his low effort into the net out of Alex Meret’s reach.
Despite that quickfire two-goal Barcelona blast, Napoli soon grew in confidence, enjoying more possession and profiting from an incisive passing move down the flank. Matteo Politano’s darting run to the byline and precise centre allowed Amir Rrahmani to place a crisp finish into the far corner.
Politano almost pulled his side level soon after the half-hour mark, but his looping header from an inviting Mário Rui cross was acrobatically tipped over by the agile Marc-André ter Stegen.
After a frantic first half, both teams kept up the pace after the restart as they went in search of the fourth goal of the game. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa were unable to apply the finish in promising positions, while Meret twice denied the lively Raphinha.
It took a smart reaction stop from Meret to repel İlkay Gündoğan down at his near post after the latter’s clever turn and strike.
With just under 15 minutes left, Gündoğan’s unselfish lay-off afforded Yamal the opportunity to become the youngest scorer in UEFA Champions League history, but his curling effort flashed wide of the upright.
Napoli substitutes Mathías Olivera and Jesper Lindstrøm almost restored parity, yet the Dane’s glancing header flew the wrong side of the post for the Serie A outfit.
Minutes later Barcelona restored their two-goal cushion. Gündoğan’s through ball picked out the run of replacement Sergi Roberto, who teed up Robert Lewandowski for a simple finish.
With added time looming, there was still time for Olivera to strike the crossbar for the visitors, as Barcelona held firm.
