Barcelona have secured their place in the next round of the UEFA Champions League after coming from behind to beat Portuguese side FC Porto 3-1 in their fifth group stage match of this season’s competition.
The Blaugrana had previously won three of their last four games, which included a 1-0 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in their last time out in the competition, which threw the group open. Subsequent results saw FC Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk closing on the Spanish La Liga champions, meaning that Xavi’s side needed to win at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday to at least secure qualification.
The fight for the top spot in the group will be on the final match-day of the group stage. The match did not start well for Barcelona, who conceded in the 30th minute through a goal from Pepe.
Two minutes later, another Portuguese defender, Joao Cancelo, on loan from Manchester City to Barcelona, equalised for the Blaugrana. Both teams went into the break level, but just before the hour mark, Joao Felix put Barcelona ahead by scoring the eventual winner.
The match was more or less a Portuguese affair, with Joao Cancelo heavily involved in the two goals for the home side. Barcelona tops the Group H table with 12 points from five games, while FC Porto is in second place with nine points alongside Shakhtar Donetsk.
The group’s whipping boys, Royal Antwerp, have been effectively knocked out of Europe for the rest of the season. Barcelona would travel to Belgium to face Royal Antwerp and must at least get a draw to secure top spot in the group.
This is the first time in three seasons that Barcelona will secure qualification for the next round knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona’s next match is a home game against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
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