Porto’s UEFA Champions League campaign is over after a 0-0 draw against Inter Milan in the Round of 16 second leg.

Down 1-0 following the first leg in Italy, the Dragons were unable to break though a disciplined and resolute side that were determined to leave Portugal with a clean sheet.

Clear cut chances were hard to come by at Estádio do Dragão, Porto doing their best work in added time where Iván Marcano, Mehdi Taremi and Marko Grujić all went close to squaring the tie.

Sérgio Conceição’s side immediately turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, the only competition remaining where they face a tough trip to Braga on Sunday.

Cagey clash

Mateus Uribe fired an early shot that flashed past the post but Porto were finding it hard to break the Italian club down. Stephen Eustáquio’s shot was comfortably saved by André Onana before Mehdi Taremi curled his effort wide.

Inter were finding a lot of open space down the left wing, Federico Dimarco isolating Pepê Aquino and sending plenty of crosses into the box.

Simone Inzaghi’s side were sticking to the game plan, patiently waiting to launch counter attacks from inside their own half. Nicolò Barella burst clear and released Edin Džeko who couldn’t beat Diogo Costa.

Barella’s loose pass left Matteo Darmian is a dangerous predicament in the 33rd minute, the defender booked for preventing Galeno racing away.

Crucial block from Dimarco

Porto created their best opportunity of the half in the 40th minute. A well worked move featuring a rapid exchange of passes resulted in Evanilson’s shot being blocked by Dimarco, the chance bringing the home crowd back to life.

Pepê’s cross was turned wide by Eustáquio as the Dragons started the second half the same as the first, Uribe’s long range strike missing the target. Pepê was trying hard to break through down the right wing but he kept running into brick walls.

Managers make changes

The substitutions started to flow in the 70th minute, Simone Inzaghi replacing Dimarco and Džeko with Danilo D'Ambrosio and Romelu Lukaku, Sérgio Conceição bringing on André Franco and Toni Martínez for Eustáquio and Evanilson.

Grujić fired through traffic with Onana getting down to make the save but the Cameroonian goalkeeper was having a comfortable evening in Portugal.

Pepê was robbed by D'Ambrosio and booked trying to prevent the defender racing clear, the right-back in the action again minutes later when he cleared the ball with Lautaro Martínez ready to pounce.

Porto go for broke

Porto had nothing to lose with Conceição introducing Danny Namaso and Wendell for Zaidu Sanusi and Uribe, the Dragons throwing players forward in attempt to square the tie.

Galeno’s shot was saved, Namaso heading Cardoso’s cross over the bar and Toni Martínez unable to steer a difficult chance on target.

The drama intensified in added time when Iván Marcano’s effort was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries. The chances kept coming, Taremi’s header from close range was pushed off the post by Onana, the ball eventually coming back into the box where Grujić headed off the bar.

If there was any further proof required that this wasn’t going to be Porto’s night, the game ended with Pepê receiving a second booking alongside a yellow card for Conceição.

Predictable pattern and predictable result

Inter Milan lived up to the Italian stereotype, defending well and limiting Porto’s chances to secure the 0-0 draw they came to Portugal to achieve. Who can blame them after Romelu Lukaku’s late strike in Italy gave them the advantage in the tie?

Sérgio Conceição’s side battled hard and more than matched a club with a superior budget, both legs decided by fine margins.

Looking back on the campaign, it will be impossible to forget Otávio's red card at San Siro. The playmaker had been booked in the 41st minute, was struggling to keep his emotions in check and was walking a tightrope before receiving a second yellow card in the 78th minute. Sérgio Conceição might regret leaving Otávio in the firing line for so long.

Lukaku scored eight minutes later and the rest is history, Inter back in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2011.

By Matthew Marshall at Estádio do Dragão

Comments (5)

This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site

Very tame effort by Porto in my opinion. Wasted almost the whole game trying to play through Inter's back line and were easily shut down. If they crossed the ball during a small opening instead of trying to pick up extra yards, the outcome could...

Very tame effort by Porto in my opinion. Wasted almost the whole game trying to play through Inter's back line and were easily shut down. If they crossed the ball during a small opening instead of trying to pick up extra yards, the outcome could have been different. The shot that was allegedly "cleared off the line" is also false if you go back and watch the highlights.

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SupremoGino
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I agree with your assessment as pertains to the first half, Porto were too cautious. But the 2nd half was one way traffic as Porto dominated Inter and got a lot of good chances.

Over the 2 games, Porto were the superior team and Inter could...

I agree with your assessment as pertains to the first half, Porto were too cautious. But the 2nd half was one way traffic as Porto dominated Inter and got a lot of good chances.

Over the 2 games, Porto were the superior team and Inter could only get a result thanks to being up a man for 10 minutes.

Would be nice for Porto to build for next season, if they can finally spend and get some key players.

We need;
A dynamic, attacking left-back (if Benfica are letting Grimaldi go, I'd gladly take him)

A proper defensive mid (Grujic is a decent passer but offers zero bite or physicality in front of the defence)

A creative midfielder like we had in Fabio Vieira (Andre Franco could turn out to be that, but we need someone of top quality).

Keeping Pepê and developing David Carmo along with players in those key positions are vital. Would be nice to see Conceição make a deep CL run with some actual investment by the club.

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Chris
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site

Two teams playing not to lose. The gulf in talent was too much for the fine margins at play here, Porto were in the tie until the end, but they never really showed any threat until the final minutes. Playing at home they should have came out with...

Two teams playing not to lose. The gulf in talent was too much for the fine margins at play here, Porto were in the tie until the end, but they never really showed any threat until the final minutes. Playing at home they should have came out with that energy.

Porto did well to make it out of the group, but the “better” team moved on.

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Brian/RI/US
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site

Porto is finished

—Z—
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site

far from it...they just need to hire a competent general manager, push old man Pinto da Costa to an Honorary role and move his son into Gardener duties.

The fact Sergio has gotten them the Liga titles he has alongside a few Ro16 and QF...

far from it...they just need to hire a competent general manager, push old man Pinto da Costa to an Honorary role and move his son into Gardener duties.

The fact Sergio has gotten them the Liga titles he has alongside a few Ro16 and QF appearances with that measly budget and terrible sporting plan, speaks VOLUMES of the coach he is...

Never seen a guy feed so many with the crumbs he has.

Hopefully, that changes or he goes to a club outside Portugal.

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Martim/Lisboa
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