A TOUGH EVENING IN PORTO
Champions League
Porto take the points on matchday 3 in Group B of the Champions League. The Dragões beat AC Milan 1-0 after an intense match. The Rossoneri fought hard at the Estádio do Dragão, in spite of the absences, before conceding a second-half goal, scored by Luis Díaz.
Díaz also hit the post in the opening stages, while the Rossoneri had chances through Giroud and a few attempts late on through Krunić and Calabria. It's not over yet though because, following Liverpool's victory in Madrid this evening, the Rossoneri are still four points off second place, which is currently jointly occupied by Atlético and Porto. The return fixture against the Dragões at San Siro on 3 November will give the Rossoneri another chance.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY OF PORTO v AC MILAN
REPORT
AC Milan went with the usual 4-2-3-1 formation: Giroud was supported by a trio of Saelemaekers, Krunić and Leão, while Ballo-Touré kept his place on the left. It was an intense game right from the outset and the hosts threatened early on through Díaz, whose effort struck the post (5'). Tătăruşanu then reacted well to keep out Pepe's header (14') before, four minutes later, the Rossoneri had their first chance; Leão swung the ball in from the left but nobody was there to meet Giroud's flick-on with the header. Porto looked dangerous and forced two quickfire chances, this time through Taremi (24' and 27'). AC Milan came close to an opener the first half drew to an end; in the 43rd minute, Giroud's glancing header from Saelemaekers' cross was easily dealt with by Diogo Costa in the Porto goal.
The hosts ramped up the pressure after the break, though Saelemaekers and Giroud combined well in the 48th, to no avail. Pioli shuffled the pack and sent on three fresh faces in Romagnoli, Kalulu and Ibrahimović. The Swede sent his shot over the bar in the 62nd minute. Three minutes later, Porto took the lead. João Mário's cross found Taremi, who controlled it under pressure from Bennacer - the Algerian fell to the ground. It fell to Díaz, who rifled a low driven shot into the back of the net to make it 1-0. AC Milan tried to react but struggled to break Porto's stiff resistance. In the 76th minute, Krunić almost got to the ball in the hosts' box but Zaidu got there first. Calabria had a go in injury time but it wasn't to be; it ended 1-0.
MATCH DETAILS
PORTO 1-0 AC MILAN
PORTO (4-4-2): Diogo Costa; João Mário, Pepe, Mbemba, Wendell (46' Zaidu); Sérgio Oliveira (66' Vitinha), Uribe, Otávio (91' Grujić), Luis Díaz; Evanilson (66' Jesús Corona), Taremi (84' Toni Martínez). Subs.: Marchesín; Marcano, F. Conceição, Pepê, Manafá, Bruno Costa, Fábio Vieira. Coach: S. Conceição.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Tătărușanu; Calabria, Kjær, Tomori (58' Romagnoli), Ballo-Touré (58' Kalulu); Bennacer, Tonali (66' Bakayoko); Saelemaekers, Krunić (82' Maldini), Leão; Giroud (58' Ibrahimović). Subs: Desplanches, Jungdal; Gabbia. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
Goals: 65' Luis Díaz (P).
Booked: 3' Sérgio Oliveira (P), 16' Tomori (M), 21' Giroud (M), 38' Uribe (P), 81' Kalulu (M), 87' Ibrahimović (M), 90' Leão (M).
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