Porto 4-3 FC Barcelona: Out of the Champions League

Barça say goodbye to the Champions League after a 4-3 defeat against Porto which means they will not be adding, this season at least, to their total of 22 wins in the competition. Porto keeper Xavi Malián was in spectacular form for the eventual winners who now take their place in Sunday's final in the Municipal José Natário in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. 

With the home support behind them Porto took an early lead thanks to Rafa Costa's effort. After falling behind in just the fifth minute, Barça struck back in the 12th, Pau Bargalló finally beating keeper Malián. 

Edu Castro's team did all they could to take a lead into the break but keeper Malián foiled them on more than one occasion with the teams locked together at 1-1 at half time. 

Porto take the initiative 

After the break chances for both sides continued to arrive. Gonçalo Alves put Porto back in front from a free hit much to the crowd's delight. Former Barça man Xavi Barroso made it 3-1 to the Portuguese before a fourth on 40 minutes appeared to put the game beyond Barça's reach. 

However, later goals from Helder Nunes and then Pau Bargalló brought Barça right back into the contest at 4-3. In the final minutes the blaugranes desperately chased the equaliser but it was not to be and it is Porto who take their place in Sunday's final. 

MATCH STATS

Porto, 4
Barça, 3

Porto: Xavi Malián, Telmo Pinto, Rafa Costa, Carlo Di Benedetto and Gonçalo Alves -starting five- Ezequiel Mena, Xavi Barroso and Reinaldo Garcia
Barça: Sergi Fernández, Ignacio Alabart, Pau Bargalló, João Rodrigues and Helder Nunes -starting five- Marc Grau, Sergi Llorca and Sergi Panadero, 

Goals: Rafa Costa, 1-0, (min 5); 1-1, Pau Bargalló (min. 12); 2-1, Gonçalo Alves (min 32); 3-1, Xavi Barroso (min 37); 4-1, Ezequiel Mena (min 40); 4-2, Helder Nunes (min 42); 4-3, Pau Bargalló (min 43)