Porto 0-1 PSV: result and report

Report

PSV won 1-0 in Porto, and the scoreline undersells them. Porto were expected to win this Champions League tie at home. The away side made more of the better chances, and they still needed one goal to separate them.

The first half finished goalless, though both sides had opportunities. The decisive moment came on 57 minutes, when Guus Til scored from Sven Mijnans's assist. Porto never found a reply, so that single goal settled the match.

Mijnans was named player of the match. His assist gave the night its shape, because he set up the only goal in a game where both sides missed several good openings.

PSV's chances against the scoreline

PSV deserved more than a one-goal margin. They created more than 2.2 xG to Porto's 1.5. They also made four big chances to Porto's three and hit the woodwork twice. Their goalkeeper needed to make only three saves.

PSV also had 60% of the ball and led Porto on dangerous attacks and key passes. That suggests the away side spent more of the night in threatening areas, while the woodwork twice kept Porto in the game.

Porto: closer than the shape suggests

Porto still had a route back. They had more shots, 13 to 12, and more on target, four to three. Both sides missed three big chances each, so Porto had openings of their own despite seeing less of the ball. An equaliser was well within reach for most of the final half-hour.

That is the counter-signal worth keeping. PSV were the better side, but this was not a one-sided night.