Porto picked up their first points in the Champions League after defeating Napoli 4-1 at Estádio do Dragão.
Pepê scored from an offside position and Borja Sainz narrowly missed the top corner but the Dragons took the lead in the 11th minute.
We saw exactly Massimiliano Allegri's side have been struggling. Rafa Marín conceded a needless corner and paid the price, Jan Bednarek left wide open to head the ball into the net.
Napoli responded, Rasmus Hojlund going on a surging run from inside his own half and seeing his shot deflected wide. The Serie A side equalised in the 43rd minute after Diogo Costa saved efforts from Matteo Politano and Hojlund, but the goalkeeper couldn't stop Scott McTominay who made no mistake.
Alex Meret was busy at the start of the second, denying Gabri Veiga and doing well to stop a point blank shot from Pablo Rosario. Bednarek headed Veiga’s corner over the bar with Porto well on top.
Francesco Farioli brought on Samu for André Silva as the game opened up. Veiga rattled the cross bar before Farioli introduced Zaidu Sanisu and Santiago Gimenez for Martim Fernandes and Sainz.
Pepê fired wide and Alberto Costa’s shot was saved as the chances kept coming. The pressure paid off in the 71st minute.
Gimenez released Veiga who was never going to miss, the playmaker placing the ball through Meret's legs. Samu broke clear and hit a tame effort at Meret but it was soon 3-1.
Napoli conceded from another corner, Hwang In-Beom sending the ball into the box where Jakub Kiwior was left wide open to head past Meret.
There would be more misery for Massimiliano Allegri’s side as Porto broke down the right wing once again, Gimenez squaring the ball to Samu who was dragged down by Marin. The centre-back was duly sent off, Samu stepping up to the penalty spot and sending Meret the wrong way.
Veiga on fire
Gabri Veiga is a joy to watch at the moment, the Spaniard full of confidence and clearly the go to man for Porto. He is orchestrating everything from midfield, taking set pieces, scoring goals and will be a key player for the remainder of the campaign.
Porto played some great football, particularly getting out of Napoli’s press in the first half with Pablo Rosario and André Silva instrumental.
Dragons supporters will be pleased but side were given a helping hand from a Napoli side who are on a downward spiral.
Allegri appears to be done
Allegri Massimiliano became the Napoli manager in July and has lost seven of his 14 games in charge. The Campania club are a shadow of the side that were Serie A champions under Antonio Conte in 2024-25 and runners-up last season.
Playing Antonio Vergara and Matteo Politano as wing-backs is ridiculous, Vergara frequently resembling a fish out of water and clearly targeted by Alberto Costa.
Massimiliano looks washed up, uninspired and only going to work to collect a pay cheque. It doesn’t help when his team can’t defend corners.
