Werkself lose 2-0 in Porto

In contrast to the Bundesliga match at Bayer Munich (0-4) four days ago, head coach Gerardo Seoane changed from a 3-4-3 to a 4-2-3-1 formation. The Swiss coach rotated his team making three changes: Instead of Odilon Kossounou in defence, Adam Hlozek started up front, Piero Hincapie replaced Mitchel Bakker at left-back and Charles Aránguiz came in for Kerem Demirbay in midfield.

hectic finish to first half

In the opening minutes, it was mainly the Werkself who stood out with a large amount of possession as well as a good passing game. The accuracy was to be rewarded early with the Seoane team celebrating for the first time on 15 minutes: Robert Andrich did very well to win the ball in his own half, Moussa Diaby made a good run and he picked out Andrich who crossed to Callum Hudson-Odoi at the far post. The Englishman fired in a volley to make it 1-0. Referee Anthony Taylor initially awarded the goal but VAR intervened and after consulting the TV screen the referee changed his decision and ruled the goal out for a foul in the build-up by Andrich. The score remained 0-0.

In the following minutes, Leverkusen mainly pressed down the right flank through Diaby and Jeremie Frimpong and they created chances again and again. At the other end, Porto had little noteworthy action also because Jonathan Tah and Co. were solid in defence. Up to five minutes before the half-time whistle.

As cautious the start of the first half was, the end of the first 45 was all the more curious: The hosts had their first big chance from a counter-attack involving Evanilson and Pepe that ended with striker Mehdi Taremi scoring to make it 1-0 – or they thought so (42'). Once again referee Taylor checked the situation, ruled out the goal and then awarded a penalty to the Black and Reds.

The reason: A moment before, Porto's David Carmo handled the ball from a cross by Hincapie to Patrik Schick and then he launched an attack. Schick took the spot kick but the Porto keeper Diogo Costa was able to save the right foot shot from the Czech striker (45'). The half-time score remained 0-0.

two subs settle result

The 42,399 spectators at the Estádio do Dragão witnessed a tough encounter at the start of the second half. The hosts improved after the restart with Stephen Eustáquio trying his luck on 59 minutes but the finishing was initially off target – up to the 69th minute: Porto made their way from their own half to Lukas Hradecky's goal with some excellent passing. In the end, Taremi put in an accurate cross to the far post giving the substitute Zaidu Sanusi the chance to head home the opener for Porto. After that it was the team under head coach Sérgio Conceição who had more of the ball. The Seoane team were unable to create any attacking moves in the second half.

The win was sealed three minutes before the final whistle with substitute Galeno finding the back of the net: Again it was Taremi who did the build-up play in the penalty area before slotting the ball through to the Brazilian. Hradecky was able to make the save but the ball bounced off him and landed in the goal to seal the final score of 2-0. That meant Porto picked up their first points in Group B.

Schalke at home, then Porto return match

Two home games are coming up: It is back to Bundesliga action on matchday nine on Saturday 8 October (kick-off: 15.30 CEST). Newly promoted Schalke 04 visit the BayArena. Four days later is the first return match in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Porto are the visitors to Leverkusen. The kick-off on Wednesday 12 October is at 21.00 CEST.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie – Andrich (Demirbay 72'), Aránguiz (Amiri 79') – Diaby, Hlozek (Adli 72'), Hudson-Odoi (Fosu-Mensah 86')– Schick

Porto: Costa – João Mario (Galeno 63'), Pepe, Carmo, Wendell (Zaidu Sanusi 63')– Uribe (Grujic 83’), Eustáquio – Bruno Costa (Otávio 45’), Pepe – Taremi, Evanilson (Toni Martinez 71’)

Goals: 1-0 Zaidu Sanusi (69’), 2-0 Galeno (87’)

Booked: Joao Mario, Uribe, Carmo – Frimpong, Andrich

Sent off: Frimpong

Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)

Attendance: 42,399 at the Estádio do Dragão