David Raya was Arsenal’s hero within the penalty shootout towards FC Porto within the Champions League Round of 16 conflict on March 12, 2024
| Photo Credit: Reuters
David Raya proved the hero as Arsenal survived a penalty shootout to scrape previous Porto and attain the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the primary time in 14 years after a tense last-16 duel had ended 1-1 on mixture on Tuesday.
Porto, who gained the opening leg 1-0, proved cussed opposition for the Premier League leaders and Arsenal followers should have feared one other evening of European heartache.
But Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice all tucked away their spot kicks with scientific precision and Arsenal keeper Raya made two saves.
He received the slightest of touches to ship Wendell’s effort towards the put up after which saved Galeno’s penalty to ship Arsenal by way of 4-2 within the shootout and spark wild celebrations.
Leandro Trossard’s purpose shortly earlier than halftime had levelled the tie however Arsenal struggled to interrupt down a disciplined Porto facet who produced a defensive masterclass.
Extra time did not separate the edges however Mikel Arteta’s crew held their nerve to snap a run of seven successive exits on the last-16 stage. The final time they reached the quarterfinals in 2010 additionally they beat Porto within the final 16 and they’re going to go into Friday’s draw stuffed with confidence that they will go additional.
“For them to do it when the club hasn’t done it for 14 years that tells you the difficulty,” Arteta, whose facet have gained eight successive Premier League video games to edge forward of Manchester City and Liverpool, instructed reporters. “They are willing to sacrifice anything to win.
It was hard on Porto who produced a classic away performance with 41-year-old defender Pepe a rock at the back and Evanilson twice going close to stunning the hosts.
But they were left deflated as their dreadful record away to English clubs continued with a 20th defeat from 24 games.
Barcelona beat Napoli 3-1]
Barcelona reached the Champions League quarterfinals for the primary time in 4 years after an exciting 3-1 dwelling win over Napoli of their last-16 second leg gave them a deserved 4-2 mixture victory.
Early objectives by Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo set the hosts on their method and, after Amir Rrahmani minimize the deficit earlier than the break, Robert Lewandowski wrapped up the win with a late third.
Napoli had by no means crushed Barca of their earlier 5 conferences and it turned out to be a repeat of the 2020 Champions League assembly with a 3-1 dwelling win for the Spanish facet after a 1-1 attract Naples.
That was the final time the Catalans had gained a knockout stage recreation within the competitors and their most up-to-date qualification for the final eight.
“Very happy, Barcelona are in the top eight in Europe. It was a well-deserved qualification, a game dominated in attack and defence but also an excellent game by Napoli,” Barca coach Xavi Hernandez instructed Mediaset.
“Happy with the qualification and we’ll see how the draw goes. Proud to be back in the quarter-finals after years.”
Source: www.thehindu.com
