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Porto
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 1, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Atletico Madrid logo

1-2

Martinez (15')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Godin (58'), Turan (86')

Live Commentary: Porto 1-2 Atletico Madrid - as it happened

Read how Atletico Madrid ended Porto's four-year unbeaten home run in the Champions League with victory at the Estadio do Dragao, courtesy of Sports Mole's live text coverage.
2

Atletico Madrid travelled to the Estadio do Dragao for their Champions League Group F encounter with Porto on the back of a morale-boosting victory in the Madrid derby on Saturday.

They were missing top scorer Diego Costa through suspension, though, and Porto's leading marksman Jackson Martinez took the spotlight in his absence by heading the hosts into a 16th-minute lead.

Diego Godin equalised for the La Liga outfit by nodding into an empty net after opposition keeper Helton came charging off his line, and Atletico's comeback was complete when Arda Turan scored four minutes from time.

The Turkish international playmaker linked up with captain Gabi in a wonderfully-worked set piece, before smashing into the net from close range to end Porto's four-year unbeaten home run in the competition.

Below, you can read how the action unfolded in Portugal.


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Evening all! These two teams are the supposed heavyweights in Group F so tonight's match may go some way to help us discover who will qualify in first place.

Of course, there are no guarantees, but both teams will be encouraged by the result from Russia in Group F's early kickoff, where 10-man Zenit St Petersburg have been held at home by the unfancied Austria Vienna.

And now, onto the main event in Portugal. Team news coming up...

PORTO: Helton; Danilo, Otamendi, Mangala, Alex Sandro; Fernando, Defour, Lucho; Varela, Josue, Martinez

ATLETICO: Courtois; Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Felipe Luis; Tiago, Raul Garcia, Gabi, Turan; Baptistao, Villa

PORTO SUBS: Fabiano, Maicon, Fucile, Quintero, Herrera Rubio, Lica, Ghilas

ATLETICO SUBS: Aranzubia, Alderweireld, Insua, Koke, Rodriguez, Guilavogui, Oliver

The omission of Atletico's top goalscorer Diego Costa is the headline news following the confirmation of tonight's starting lineups. The Brazilian striker, who has found the net eight times in seven La Liga games this season, is one of the in-form marskmen in Europe.

However, he is yet to feature for Atletico in the Champions League this term due to being suspended. Fortunately for manager Diego Simeone, that is keeping him fresh for their push for the Spanish title, which is certainly in full flow at present.

In his absence, young Brazilian forward Leo Baptistao, who scored off the bench in their win over Zenit a fortnight ago, partners marquee signing David Villa in attack, but despite their strength in depth, Costa will still be a big miss for the visitors.

He appears to be the latest in a long line of brilliant strikers, including Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero and Radamel Falcao, to have played for Madrid, and like the aforementioned trio did, Costa may attract the attention of some of Europe's other elite clubs if he continues at his current pace.

Simeone sticks with his first-choice back four, meaning there is still no place for Toby Alderweireld, their summer arrival from Ajax. The Belgian international has yet to dislodge either Diego Godin or Miranda from Atletico's central defence, probably down to the Spaniard's 100% La Liga start.

There is, though, a change in midfield from the XI that claimed a Madrid derby victory on Saturday which firmly established Atletico's title credentials. Koke makes way for Raul Garcia in what is pretty much a straight swap in the centre of the park.

Onto the hosts, who do name their own Belgian international in their starting lineup, with midfielder Steven Defour replacing the more attack-minded Juan Quintero, which suggests that Porto will be adjusting their shape for the visit of stronger opponents than those they are likely to face domestically.

There is also an alteration to Paulo Foncesa's forward line, with the undisputed leader of his attack, Jackson Martinez, who has scored six times in five league starts this campaign, being partnered by Silvestre Varela, rather than Lica.

Lica has been a regular in Porto's impressive start to the season but has very much played second fiddle to Martinez, only finding the net once in his seven appearances. Tonight, Varela is given the chance to shine alongside the Colombian.

Talking of Colombians, both of this sides have had to cope with the loss of Falcao in recent years, who left Porto to join Atletico in 2011 before moving on to Monaco this summer. Porto seem to have found a solution to his departure in the form of his international compatriot, while Costa is stepping into Falcao's shoes quite nicely in Spain.

Just under five minutes until kickoff in Portugal this evening...

STAT: Porto, who have won the Portuguese league in each of the last three seasons, have not lost a home match in the Champions League since 2009. This place really is a fortress and has been imperative to their relative success in this competition.

PREDICTION: Atletico really are on fire right now as they go chasing their seventh straight win in all competitions, but home advantage is massive for Porto tonight and I expect them to be difficult to beat. I'll sit on the fence and say 1-1. Boring, I know.

The action is underway. Howard Webb is our referee this evening...

This has been a really promising start from the home side, and one of their recalled players Varela shows some lovely feet, rolling his studs on the ball to turn away from Felipe Luis on the way to earning Porto a corner.

BLOCKED! First half chance of the game falls to Porto, as Martinez wins the first ball from the corner and the ball lands kindly at the feet of Fernando. He aims to bend the ball into the far side of the net, but Godin makes the interception.

UPDATE! We have our first Champions League goal of the late fixtures and it is Mesut Ozil opening his Arsenal account to give them an early lead against Napoli. You can follow that game live with SM.

CHANCE! Porto come forward once again and persistent play from Alex Sandro and Defour on the left byline eventually leads to the latter standing up a cross into the centre of the goal. Varela meets it, but tamely, and the ball falls gently into the gloves of Courtois.

GOAL! Porto 1-0 Atletico (Martinez)

Porto go ahead and based on the opening 15 minutes of this contest, you cannot argue that it is not deserved. Unsurprisingly, it is top scorer Jackson Martinez who is on the scoresheet, as he displays his great strength to outmuscle Diego Godin and stoop to head in a beautifully inviting set-piece delivery from Josue. How will this Costa-less Atletico respond?

CHANCE! Martinez is proving to be a real handful for Godin and he again shows his superior power by holding off the defender's challenge and chesting a ball down for Lucho to shoot on the half volley, over the bar from 20 yards out.

SHOT! Porto try their luck from range again, and once more Martinez is involved in the buildup. The Colombian may have opted to shoot on his left foot when he collected the ball just inside the area, but instead he opts to cut inside before laying a pass off for Danilo to fire high of Courtois's goal.

Madrid are struggling to retain possession, which is something that Spanish international Koke, a regular in Simeone's midfield is integral to helping them do. He has been rested tonight, with Raul Garcia replacing him and Atletico's passing seems to be suffering due to his absence.

SKILLS! You can tell that Porto's Helton is a Brazilian keeper, if only by his fancy footwork. He controls a fierce back pass on his chest before inviting Baptistao to chase him down, and he flicks the ball over the Atletico striker as cool as you like before releasing the ball and retreating to his goalline.

BOOKING: Following two fouls in quick succession, Josue is shown a yellow card after lunging in forcefully on Baptistao, who also took a thumping from Mangala minutes earlier.

CLOSE! Superb effort from Garcia, who spots Helton on his penalty spot and tries to lob him with a first-time shot from just inside the Porto half. The ball threatened to sneak under the crossbar but eventually landed on top of the net, with a relieved Helton backtracking quickly!

CHANCE! Madrid's best move of the match sees Tiago find pick out Juanfran on the right with a smart pass. The visiting full-back beats the offside trap and crosses the ball to the edge of the box, where Garcia lets it run for Turan. The Turkish playmaker seems surprised that the ball has reached him, and off balance, strikes over the bar. Wastful finish, but lovely buildup play.

Defour is a lucky boy to escape unpunished after charging into Turan way after the Atletico playmaker had released the ball. There has been plenty of 'leaving the foot in' from Porto tonight, and referee Webb indicates that he shall have no more of it.

Danilo crosses deep from the right. Martinez was probably the target but the delivery is behind the Colombian. Lucho, who had made a late run from midfield to join the attack, meets the ball with his head from outside of the area. He made good contact, but Courtois makes a comfortable save.

WOODWORK! Let off for Porto from a corner! The ball is whipped in and Helton charges off his line and in his attempt to claim the ball, only succeeds in palming it over his head and onto his own crossbar. Garcia was challenging him for the ball, but it is sloppy goalkeeping and he is lucky it did not cost his side.

SAVE! Let off at the other end as Miranda's across his own box is intercepted by Martinez. He can't quite get the ball out of his feet in order to get a shot away, but he does shift it centrally to Varela, whose low drive is saved by the legs of the alert Courtois.

Josue carries the ball through midfield and has a dig from range with that lovely left foot of his, but it is always rising and never threatening to test Courtois for the second time in as many minutes.

HALF-TIME: Porto 1-0 Atletico

Porto leave the field for the break with a deserved lead. Jackson Martinez's header, his sixth goal of the season, separates the sides and Atletico don't look the same side that have romped to seven wins from seven in La Liga.

The closest they have come to finding an equaliser was when Porto keeper Helton nearly parried a Gabi corner into his own net, but the ball rebounded off the crossbar. Raul Garcia also nearly embarrassed the Brazilian stopper with an attempted 45-yard lob that landed on the roof of the net.

Look at some of the stars on show in the Champions League tonight! This would be a pretty formidable team. You can follow all of the action with our seven live commentaries this evening, and you can also follow us on Instagram, which is where this wonderful collage has been taken from!


STATS: The half-time figures show that Atletico have been second best. Porto have enjoyed 55% of the possession, and have had tested Courtois on four occasions, while the visitors have yet to register a shot on target.

The action resumes in Portugal, and I have news of a half-time change for you...

SUBSTITUTION: Both of Atletico's strikers were pretty non existent in the first period, and Simeone has decided that an alteration was needed. Perhaps surprisingly, though, it is Villa and not Baptistao that is sacrificed to accommodate for the more physical Christian Rodriguez.

This is now very much a makeshift Madrid forward line. None of their three first-choice strikers, Costa, Villa or Adrian, missing with a jaw injury, are on the pitch. Baptistao is inexperienced and unproven, whereas Rodriguez is probably more suited to playing off the frontman or on the wing.

CLOSE! Felipe Luis intercepts a pass from Fernando and breaks forward with real pace. He is around 30 yards out when he eventually unleashes a shot, which deflects off Otamendi on its way behind for a corner.

BOOKING: Tiago enters the book for practically wrestling Defour to the ground, as the Belgian international midfielder attempted to control a high ball.

GOAL! Porto 1-1 Atletico (Godin)

Atletico are level and again it is a set piece that yields a goal! It's a horror show from Helton, though, who comes charging off his line to try and punch clear Gabi's cross and gets nowhere near it, allowing Godin, from the centre of the area, to nod the ball into an empty net.

SUBSTITUTION: Paulo Foncesca responds by making a change, and it Josue, who conceded the free kick that led to the goal, who is hauled off and replaced by Lica. Josue had already been booked and was treading a fine line with some of his tackles. Wise move from the Porto boss.

BOOKING: It's all getting a bit feisty now. Somehow, Mangala escapes unpunished for what was effectively a rugby tackle on Baptistao, but Juanfran is cautioned for his hacking down of Lica, who is immediate into the thick of the action.

The pendulum seems to be swinging slightly Atletico's way now, with Martinez and Varela, both very lively in the first half, barely seeing any of the ball at present. Porto are being restricted to efforts from range and it is ugly from centre-back Otamendi, as the ball flies into the stands.

SUBSTITUTION: Fresh legs for Porto, who swap the 34-year-old Lucho Gonzalez for the more youthful, and more creative, Juan Quintero. That is a pretty-attack minded change from Foncesca.

SHOT! Quintero, just two minutes after his introduction, claims authority over a free kick about 20 yards out in the centre of the goal, and he strikes it past the eight-man wall, but a few yards wide of Courtois' post. The left-footed strike was always bending in that direction.

SUBSTITUTION: While Porto have been offensive with their substitution, it appears as though Simeone wants to ensure that Atletico leave here with at least a point. Koke is on to provide an extra body in midfield, with forward Baptistao sacrificed. Of course, Koke certainly contributes in an attacking sense, too.

Madrid so nearly create an opening, as Tiago collects the ball on the edge of the box, feigns to shoot before slipping it between two Porto defenders. Garcia had made the run but he was expecting the Portuguese to shoot and was caught off guard by the pass.

CHANCE! What an opportunity for Raul Garcia, who is completely unmarked in the penalty area, and played onside by Alex Sandro, as he controls a superb through pass from Turan. He turns and sweeps the ball goalwards, but Helton gets down to make a decent save with his leg.

CHANCE! Another chance for the Spaniards, as Miranda meets a Gabi corner at the near post, but cannot angle it inside of the post. I notice that Helton was stood firmly on his line on that occasion.

SUBSTITUTION: That's the end of Garcia's night too, as he looked to twist his right knee as he went to take that shot just moments ago. He limps off, and Simeone hurries 18-year-old Oliver Torres out of his tracksuit and into the action.

Porto Centre-back Mangala has a similar opportunity to that of Miranda's just minutes previously at the other end, but Quintero's delightful delivery is headed comfortably off target.

BOOKING: It's a long-overdue caution for Mangala, who clatters into Turan from behind. To make matters worse, the free kick has been conceded in a very promising position, on the edge of the area just to the right of goal.

GOAL! Porto 1-2 Atletico (Turan)

Magnificent. It's a superbly-worked set piece by the La Liga outfit, right off the training ground, as Gabi approaches the free kick, shaping to shoot, before subtly nudging the ball into the path of Turan, who times his run across the box perfectly. He is level with the last man as he collects, turns and then smashes the ball beyond Helton into the roof of the net.

SUBSTITUTION: Porto throw on an extra striker, Nabil Ghilas, in an attempt to prevent them losing at home in the Champions League for the first time in four seasons. Left-back Alex Sandro is the man sacrificed.

Excellent endeavour from substitute Oliver, who is considered to be one of the hottest prospects in Spanish football, and that is saying something! He chases down a loose ball in the left corner, before dribbling through a couple of Porto challenges and drifting into the box, only for Otamendi to intercept his pass intended for Rodriguez.

We are now entering second-half stoppage time, of which there will be FOUR minutes.

This is superb from Madrid. They now appear fitter, stronger and more composed than their opponents and they are keeping the ball, not allowing Porto a sniff of an equaliser.

FULL-TIME: Porto 1-2 Atletico

Atletico end Porto's four-year unbeaten home run in the Champions League, and their undefeated start to the season, with a come-from-behind victory at the Estadio do Dragao. The hosts were much the better side in the first period, and took a lead into the break courtesy of Jackson Martinez's header, his sixth goal of the season. However, Diego Simeone masterminded a second-half comeback...

He was given a helping hand by Porto keeper Helton, whose poor decision to come off his line allowed Diego Godin to nod home Atletico's 58th-minute equaliser. A delightful free-kick routine then set up Arda Turan to score the Spaniard's victory four minutes from time. They now top Group F, with maximum points after the first two round of fixtures.

That is it from me for tonight. Be sure to join Sports Mole again for coverage of Wednesday's Champions League games. Thanks for joining us this evening! Over and out...

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Atletico boss Diego Simeone on the touchline against Rayo on August 25, 2013
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