Porto's second-half response overwhelms Napoli
Porto beat Napoli 4-1 after recovering from the visitors' first-half equaliser, with Gabri Veiga and Jakub Kiwior leading a second-half response that Napoli could not contain. The result gives Francesco Farioli's side their first Champions League victory of the campaign.
Porto beat Napoli 4-1 after recovering from the visitors' first-half equaliser, with Gabri Veiga and Jakub Kiwior leading a second-half response that Napoli could not contain. The result gives Francesco Farioli's side their first Champions League victory of the campaign.
Porto
- 1Moura
- 2Oskar Pietuszewski
- 3João Costa
- 4Souza
- 5Samu Aghehowa
- 6Seko Fofana
- 7Zaidu Sanusi
- 8Alan Varela
- 9Nehuén Pérez
- 10Santiago Gimenez
- 11Hwang In-Beom
- 12Cláudio Ramos
Napoli
- 1Vanja Milinkovic-Savic
- 2Nikita Contini
- 3Giovane
- 4Andrea Chiummariello
- 5Noa Lang
- 6Claudio Lieto
- 7Lorenzo Lucca
Jan Bednarek gave Porto an early advantage, rising unmarked to meet Gabri Veiga's corner. Napoli had struggled to contain the home side's movement into the final third, but found a way back just before half-time. Diogo Costa had already denied Matteo Politano and Rasmus Højlund before Scott McTominay reacted quickest to the second rebound and levelled the score.
Porto did not allow that equaliser to change the direction of the match. Veiga restored the lead after the break, giving the home side the advantage they had been unable to protect before half-time. Napoli needed another response, but instead found themselves increasingly exposed.
Kiwior extended Porto's lead with a header from Hwang In-Beom's cross. The contest was effectively settled when Rafa Marín was sent off after conceding a penalty, allowing Samu Aghehowa to convert from the spot and complete the scoring.
The victory ends Porto's run of defeats in their opening Champions League fixtures and gives them a first European result to build on. For Napoli, the defeat leaves questions about how Allegri can keep a depleted squad competitive when the defensive problems are tested over a full match.
