FC Porto ended the participation in Group D of the Champions League with gold. The National Champions beat Galatasaray 3-2, in Turkey, and matched the best participation ever in the stage: 16 points, just like in season 1996/97. At the time, with Sérgio Conceição as player, the record was achieved with 12 goals scored and 4 conceded. This season, the Dragons are at 15 goals scored and 6 conceded.

The blue and whites started the group stage with a tie in Germany, against Schalke04 (1-1), then moving on to five consecutive victories. FC Porto’s resilience was put to the test against an opponent that had yet to lose at home in season 2018/19.

Sérgio Conceição had promised a team capable of honouring the history of FC Porto in the Champions League and didn’t disappoint. The National Champions sent in six new faces from the start, including the young Diogo Leite (debuting in the competition), but the competitiveness remained.

Galatasaray wanted to keep the third place to move on to the Europa League, given the threat of Lokomotiv Moscow, and created a play that led to some controversy. The home team called for a penalty, for a hand on the ball by Diogo Leite, but the referee signalled an offside at the start of the play, for Derdiyok.

FC Porto replied from a set piece. Shortly after the cross from Alex Telles, which Hernâni failed to capitalise, the Brazilian fullback took a free-kick in the middle, and created the basis for the first goal. Felipe escaped his marker and headed the ball in.

The strategy planned by the Dragons was starting to pay-off and Galatasaray took the hard blow. The home team kept creating danger, especially from the right wing, but Marega would be the one scoring, right before the break, after a penalty given for the tackle on Hernâni. The Malian scored his fifth consecutive goal in the Champions League. Before the end of the first-half, there was still time for Galatasaray to score from penalty, for the 2-1.

Effective and objective, in clear contrast with Galatasaray, FC Porto scored the third goal 57 minutes in, after Garry Rodrigues (Casillas saved it) and Onyekuru missed their opportunities. Marega was at the source of a goal worked on by two players called to the match. After the forward recovered the ball, Hernâni came up in the area and passed back, to Sérgio Oliveira, and the Portuguese made it count.

With 30 minutes to go, the home team increased the pressure to try to get a positive result. Derdyok made it 2-3 (65m), following a pass from Garry Rodrigues, and the referee signalled another penalty, for a tackle from Maxi Pereira. Feghouli, however, hit the top bar and failed to beat Iker Casillas, who reached 100 victories in the Champions League tonight. A hard and historical victory for FC Porto.