David Raya was Arsenal’s hero within the penalty shootout in opposition to FC Porto within the Champions League Spherical of 16 conflict on March 12, 2024
| Picture Credit score: 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 will need to have feared one other evening of European heartache.
However Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice all tucked away their spot kicks with medical precision and Arsenal keeper Raya made two saves.
He bought the slightest of touches to ship Wendell’s effort in opposition to the publish after which saved Galeno’s penalty to ship Arsenal by 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.
Further time did not separate the perimeters however Mikel Arteta’s group 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 in addition they beat Porto within the final 16 and they’ll go into Friday’s draw stuffed with confidence that they will go additional.
“For them to do it when the membership hasn’t carried out it for 14 years that tells you the issue,” Arteta, whose facet have gained eight successive Premier League video games to edge forward of Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool, informed reporters. “They’re prepared to sacrifice something to win.
It was exhausting on Porto who produced a basic away efficiency with 41-year-old defender Pepe a rock on the again and Evanilson twice going near gorgeous the hosts.
However they had been left deflated as their dreadful report away to English golf equipment continued with a twentieth defeat from 24 video 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 targets by Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo set the hosts on their approach 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 joyful, Barcelona are within the high eight in Europe. It was a well-deserved qualification, a recreation dominated in assault and defence but additionally a wonderful recreation by Napoli,” Barca coach Xavi Hernandez informed Mediaset.
“Pleased with the qualification and we’ll see how the draw goes. Proud to be again within the quarter-finals after years.”