Advantage Porto as Juventus struggle in Portugal

Last 16 1st leg

FC Porto 2-1 Juventus

Early goals at the start of each half from Mehdi Taremi and Moussa Marega saw Porto beat Juventus 2-1 in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie.

Taremi gave Porto the lead after just 63 seconds when a defensive mix-up from the visitors gifted him an easy finish. Moussa Marega then netted 19 seconds into the second half.

Federico Chiesa scored what could prove to be a vital away goal for Juventus in the 82nd minute.

Juve forward Cristiano Ronaldo was kept quiet on his return to his homeland as the visitors struggled to make an impact.

Mehdi Taremi celebrates after opening the scoring.

Juventus beat Porto home and away without conceding a goal the last time the two sides met at the same stage four years ago.

But they gifted Porto the lead after barely a minute when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur attempted to play a back pass to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, not realising Taremi was right behind him to intercept and slot home from six yards.

Juve appeared to lack energy and ideas and their night got worse in the 35th minute when captain Giorgio Chiellini limped off with a calf injury.

Porto were even quicker off the mark at the start of the second half when Wilson Manafa ran down the right before rolling across for Marega to turn in at the near post.

Moussa Marega celebrates after doubling Porto’s lead.

Juve coach Andrea Pirlo brought on forward Alvaro Morata shortly after the hour mark. Morata had scored six goals in as many Champions League appearances this season and his side looked more dangerous after he came on.

Porto hadn’t conceded a goal at home in the Champions League this season but that streak came to an end when Adrien Rabiot burst down the left and crossed for Chiesa to fire into the far corner.

Chiesa became the first Juventus player apart from Ronaldo to score in a Champions League knockout game since Blaise Matuidi in 2018.

The second leg will be on March 9 in Turin.

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