Porto 30-38 Barça: Three consecutive Champions League wins

Third Champions League win in a row. Barça claimed a clear victory against Porto (30-38) with Emil Nielsen outstanding in goal and Frade, Ariño and Janc scoring the goals. Carlos Ortega's side remain unbeaten leaders of group B.

Home side lead early on

Strength and bravery characterised a FC Barcelona side who fell behind to early fruitful counterattacks to Porto. Luis Frade on his return to Portugal was one of architects of the turnaround, as was Blaz Janc,  both scoring the goals to level up the game.

An outstanding Emil Nielsen kept the score down at other end, and the blaugranes opened up a three goal lead (11-14). The Portuguese side tightened up in defence and increased the pace but so did Nielsen to deny them, saving almost half of all shots, so Barça went in 15-19 up at the break.

Superb after the break

A great start to the second half saw the lead grow to six and then eight points, thanks again to Nielsen and the two new blaugranes, Aleix Gómez and Aitor Ariño, who made their debuts in the 2023/24 Champions League.

No looking back from then on, the team in light aqua controlling the game, Carlsbogard extending the lead to +9, helped in no small part by the continued excellence between the sticks. Final score 30-38 and the third consecutive win in Europe to remain unbeaten leaders in group B. 

GAME STATS

Porto, 30
Barça, 38

Porto: Mitrevski (-), Pedro Veitia Valdés (-), Oliveira (-), Llamazares (5), Magalhães (3), Rui Silva (5) and Iturriza (5) -starting seven- Diogo Rêma (-), Læsø (4), Mikkelsen (-), Salina (4), Diocou (3), Branquinho (-) and Vasco Costa (1)
Barça: Nielsen (-), Janc (5), Dika Mem (2), Luis Frade (6), Thiagus Petrus (-), Carlsbogard (4) and Wanne (3) -starting seven- N'Guessan (2), Valera (-), Javi Rodríguez (4), Langaro (1), Richardson (3), Aleix Gómez (3), Ariño (5) and Cikusa (-)

Partial scores: 4-3; 7-7; 10-10; 12-14; 14-16; 15-19 // 17-25; 20-28; 23-30; 26-32; 27-35; 30-38

Referees: Charlotte Bonaventura and Julie Bonaventura