Porto shocks Arsenal very late
Lewandowski is hitting and getting closer and closer to the big mark
February 21, 2024, 11:08 p.m
There is only one winner in the last two first legs of the round of 16 in the Champions League: FC Porto managed the very late lucky punch against Arsenal. Meanwhile, Naples is quickly countering FC Barcelona’s leadership. Goalkeeper Robert Lewandowski has an exclusive club in sight.
Despite being in the lead, FC Barcelona did not get more than a 1-1 (0-0) draw in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at SSC Napoli. In the duel between the Spanish football champions and the Italian champion, star striker Robert Lewandowski put the Catalans in the front with his 93rd Champions League goal after the break (60th minute). Naples’ top goal scorer Victor Osimhen (75th) managed to equalize. In the second game of the evening, Galeno (90+4) scored late to make it 1-0 (0-0) for FC Porto against Arsenal FC.
Barcelona were the better team for long stretches in Naples, where coach Francesco Calzona made his debut. Led by German national team captain Ilkay Gündogan, the guests pushed for 1-0 from the start, but this only came after the break. National goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen was powerless when Naples scored Osimhen’s goal. Gündogan missed Barcelona’s last good chance with a low shot shortly before the final whistle.
With his goal, Lewandowski worked his way closer to a special mark: only Lionel Messi (129) and Cristiano Ronaldo (140) have scored three-digit goals in the history of the competition. Both superstars now play far outside Europe: Messi in the USA, Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. Lewandowski is alone among those active in the Champions League: Thomas Müller, who with FC Bayern has to repair a 0-1 first leg against Lazio at the beginning of March, has scored 53 goals in the Champions League so far. Behind him is PSG’s superstar Kylian Mbappé (44 goals). However, the opening goal in Naples was only Lewandowski’s second goal of the current Champions League season.
In Porto, with Kai Havertz in the starting line-up, Arsenal’s possession of the ball didn’t help, as coach Mikel Arteta’s team rarely found solutions in front of the opponent’s goal. The hosts even had the better opportunities, Galeno hit the post from close range midway through the first half. The 26-year-old did better in stoppage time when he flicked the ball into the goal from around 18 meters.