FC Porto claimed their first points of this season's Champions League league phase on Wednesday, defeating Napoli 4-1 at the Estádio do Dragão in matchday four, according to RTP. The Portuguese side had gone without a win in their opening three fixtures and now sit level with their Italian opponents on three points.
RTP reports that Porto are 26th in the standings, with Napoli immediately behind them in 27th. Sporting, the other Portuguese club in the competition, are 10th with nine points.
Why it matters
The result lifts Porto off the bottom of the table and keeps their hopes of progressing alive in a league phase where every point carries weight. For Napoli and coach Francesco Farioli, the defeat leaves them alongside Porto in the lower reaches of the standings, and the Italian side's margin for error is now slim.
The match also underlined the value of set pieces for the home side. Two of Porto's four goals came from dead-ball situations, a pattern that gave them the platform to pull away after a tense first half.
Bednarek opens, McTominay responds
Porto started the stronger of the two teams and needed little time to turn their early control into a lead. In the 11th minute, Jan Bednarek met a Gabri Veiga corner and headed in unmarked inside the area to open the scoring, RTP reports.
Napoli replied with a more aggressive approach and sustained high pressing, and the effort paid off shortly before the interval. In the 42nd minute, Scott McTominay brought the visitors level, sending the teams into the break at 1-1.
The opening minutes of the second half brought Porto two clear chances to retake the lead. A loose ball fell to Pablo Rosario, who could not beat the Napoli goalkeeper. Bednarek then rose to meet another corner, but his header struck the frame of Meret's goal.
Veiga, Kiwior and Samu settle it
Porto kept pressing, and in the 64th minute Gabri Veiga struck a shot from outside the box that crashed against the woodwork. Moments later the Spaniard found the net, finishing after an excellent pass from Santiago Giménez sent him through one-on-one with Meret.
Another set piece extended the advantage in the 80th minute, with Kiwior getting on the scoresheet. Samu completed the scoring from the penalty spot to seal the 4-1 result.
Speaking after the match, Farioli refused to write off his team's campaign. According to Diário de Notícias, the Napoli coach said the side would do everything possible and that the aim is to raise their level.
Porto's next task is to build on the win as the league phase continues, while Napoli must regroup quickly with both clubs still level on points near the foot of the table.
