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Joao Félix celebrates his goal against Porto. Aitor Alcalde – UEFA (UEFA via Getty Images)
João Cancelo and João Félix, two Portuguese associated with Benfica, defeated Porto and freed Barcelona from their condemnation in Europe. In the second leg two years later in the round of 16 of the Champions League, the footballers were more important than the game. The end justified the means and therefore the classification allowed us to tiptoe over the team’s performance, which was both discontinuous and improved in a very delicate game in Montjuïc. The alternative was win or win and Barça won: 2-1. The result was justified, as the Blaugrana had to prevail against a goal from Pepé. The scare paralyzed the team and unleashed João Cancelo on a very feared night in Barcelona.
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Iñaki Peña, Cancelo (Alex Balde, min. 82), Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Íñigo Martínez, Frenkie De Jong, Pedri, Gündogan, Raphinha (Lamine Yamal, min. 89), João Félix (Ferrán Torres, min. 74) and Lewandowski
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Diogo Costa, Joao Mario (Jorge Sánchez, min. 67), Zaidu Sanusi, Pepe, Fábio Cardoso (Danny Loader, min. 90), Stephen Eustáquio, Wanderson Galeno (Toni Martínez, min. 90), Pepê, Alan Varela, Mehdi Taremi and Evanilson (Francisco Conceição, Min. 80)
Goals 0-1 min 29: Pepê. 1-1 min. 31: I cancel. 2-1 min 57: João Félix.
referee Daniele Orsato
Yellow cards Fábio Cardoso (min. 36), Frenkie De Jong (min. 37), Joao Mario (min. 56), João Félix (min. 58) and Pepê (min. 74)
Barça’s development is so dramatic that we end up losing track of the importance of the Champions League qualifiers. Despite the happy victory at the Estadio Do Dragão, the date with Porto surprisingly turned into a devilish game. The Blaugrana had to win again due to their fiasco in Hamburg against Shakhtar. The Ukrainian team, which also won against Antwerp (1-0) in the penultimate round, was fighting for a place in the round of 16 and there was speculation about an elusive round for Barça in the last two seasons.
Joao Cancelo scores the first goal for Barcelona.ALBERT GEA (Portal)More information
The game was one of extreme tension due to the need for points and the memory of a bad game that hit Xavi hard. The formation expressed the seriousness of the moment as Yamal and Balde did not play. The coach chose experienced and famous footballers, supposedly also the most responsible and well-paid, as if the hierarchy were more important than the specialists, footballers with calluses ahead of those trained at La Masia. A string of names led by backup goalkeeper Peña.
The change forced by Ter Stegen’s injury could force the team to put in the rearview mirror and increase fears of losing the ball, games, health and progress in Europe. Barça started very nervously, better in attack than in defense, too open to the transitions of a team as tough and skilled as Porto. It was difficult for the Blaugrana to stabilize the game as they were paying close attention to the behavior of De Jong, who was still hanging back and trying to get the ball out of the area where he was operating as a midfielder, sometimes alongside the versatile Cancelo , while Araujo , Koundé and Iñigo Martínez finished poorly against Peña.
With the goalkeeper and Koundé having doubts on the ball, pressure was the best way to keep Porto at bay. The Portuguese gradually began to find their way better in an increasingly nervous duel without rhythm, with few goals, many corners and hardly any shots, apart from a shot from Raphinha. In Porto the passing line was finer and more precise. Barça held back, repressed themselves, became afraid and confided in Peña. Up to three shots followed each other in the same move before Pepé scored a goal. The goalkeeper won for the fourth time, also excellently after a shot from Galen.
Peña’s commendable interventions followed one another as the Barça area was in chaos, even after Cancelo equalized immediately afterwards. An excellent individual game from the Portuguese on the left wing, excellent at the break and in the cross shot, released Barça from their collective dysfunctions at a critical moment, leaving the game at the mercy of Porto. There was no team feeling, but rather a list of footballers each trying to justify their poster due to the concerns of Montjuïc fans. The tension was so great that neither Pedri nor Raphinha took advantage of a final gift from Porto.
Pepe and Evanilson celebrate the goal scored by the former against Barça. David Ramos (Getty Images)
The break was a recovery for Barcelona as João Félix fired two shots in a row – one onto the crossbar – after Cancelo continued to penetrate deep down the left and found Diogo Costa. The Portuguese federation finished third when João Félix scored again twelve games later, capping a precise assist from Cancelo and becoming definitive man of the match, a nightmare for Porto. The goal calmed Barça, more focused and synchronized and yet equally clumsy in defense, a circumstance that allowed Porto to double its attack with Conceiçao’s substitution wheel. However, Barça’s counterattacks were clearer than those of Porto, who were inferior to the solvent Peña. Ferran and Raphinha failed to finish the game and left the uncertainty until the end, with Cancelo injured and replaced by Montjuïc and celebrated.
Barcelona fans breathe a sigh of relief and gain time to look forward to Atlético and Girona’s league games with greater calm. In the absence of a team, Xavi begins to attract players or at least confirm the quality of footballers like Cancelo. The Games help save games that allow us to insist on a reconstruction that defeat without concessions would destroy, especially in Europe.
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