Estádio do Dragão was once again the setting for another great night of European football. A week after winning 2-1 in Germany, FC Porto beat VfB Stuttgart 2-0 and secured their place in the Europa League quarter-finals, where they will face Vítor Pereira’s Nottingham Forest – first at home (9 April) and then away in England (16 April).

Francesco Farioli sent in the same starting eleven as in Stuttgart – with eight changes from the last league match – and the German team showed their intent within 90 seconds, when Jeff Chabot headed towards goal, forcing Diogo Costa to a comfortable save, with the goalkeeper being called into action again shortly afterwards to stop Fuhrich’s follow-up to a free-kick from Stiller.

Immediately after the blue and whites’ first attacking play – a backheel from Terem Moffi following a combination between Seko Fofana, William Gomes and Alberto Costa – Undav came within centimetres of tying the round and the Dragons took control of the match. In the 21st minute, Zaidu played through to Borja Sainz and the Spanish winger found William Gomes at the far post, who only had to tap in to make it 1-0.

In the next play, the roles were reversed and, in another counter-attack, Borja drove forward and Zaidu shot straight at the German goalkeeper. With Diogo Costa in impeccable form between the posts, FC Porto kept a clean sheet and came close to extending their lead on two occasions just before half time: first, Nübel saved a shot from Fofana; then, following a recovery by Alberto Costa and a one-two play between William and Fofana, Rodrigo Mora left all his opponents in his wake, but missed the target by very little.

Victor Froholdt replaced Mora at half time, Moffi continued to hunt for a goal and, in a confusing play inside the home side’s box, Diogo Costa made a superb instinctive save that left the German team in despair. With Jakub Kiwior, Martim Fernandes and Pepê now in place of Zaidu, Borja Sainz and William Gomes, Froholdt shot the highlight of the night: after a persistent run in the final third, the Danish midfielder won the ball back and shot it into the top corner and the back of the net with his left foot, which left Francesco Farioli stunned (2-0).

The Italian coach used up his substitutions when he brought on Alan Varela to replace Seko Fofana, and VfB Stuttgart were reduced to ten men following Nartey’s sending-off for two yellow cards. With 30 seconds remaining in normal time, Froholdt laid the ball off to Martim Fernandes, and the fullback, playing as a winger, came close to making it 3-0.