Champions League Final
Europe's best club award the Champions League sees the free spending Manchester City go up against the profitable selling Porto. City go in as a decent favourite and the holders aiming to be the first team to retain the modern version of the Champions League.
LineupsView attachment 208944
City haven't changed the first eleven greatly for the last few years. Porto have had quite a large squad overhaul last summer but, have gelled quickly to get this far.
Kickoff
1st Minute Herrera gets the ball to Carrillo wide in space, Carrillo hit in a cross that Lavezzi volleyed at the back post. Hart saved the initial effort and Lavezzi could only hit him with the rebound from a tight angle.
6th Minute Silva with a beautiful pass to play in Aguero 1 on 1 with Begovic. Aguero gets his shot past Begovic but, he sliced it well wide of the target, a massive let off for Porto.
10th minute Nasri with a nice turn plays in De Bruyne he tries to fire over Begovic but, he stands tall and blocks the effort before Dourado hooks away the rebound.
15th minute Joao Pedro gets free down the wing and whips in a great cross that Aboubakar met with a towering header. Hart was beaten and the header went just wide of the post as it stayed nil nil.
16th Minute Nasri finds De Bruyne in the box he gets it to Aguero, Maicon put in a great tackle but, the ball fell to Sterling who smacked a first time effort that beat Begovic but, didn't curl back in enough to go in.
19th Minute A nice City move saw De Bruyne finds Bernat out on the left in space he got to the goal line and the cut the ball back just out the reach of Begovic and leaving Aguero a tap in that he took. City goal a goal up thanks to Aguero.
21st Minute Herrera plays a great ball over the top to play in Lavezzi from a tight angle his effort was at Hart and he parried it behind for a corner.
29th Minute Silva again plays in Aguero and despite the tight angle he is able to bend his shot around Begovic and in. City two goals up inside the first half hour could this get ugly.
32nd Minute Aguero found De Bruyne out wide and he found Silva inside and he beat a man in the box and then hammered a shot that was past Begovic but, smacked off the bar and bounced away to safety.
41st Minute Porto launch a counter from a corner Aboubakar gets the ball out wide and hits a cross into the edge of the box that Lavezzi met with first time effort that Hart did well to tip behind for a corner.
45th Minute Sterling cuts into the box from out wide and passes to Silva instead of shooting he picks out De Bruyne at the far side who fires a low effort that Begovic somehow knocks behind.
Half Time
Man City 2-0 Porto
City have dominated but, Porto remain a threat on the counter but, will need to improve to get both goals back. Milik replaces Traore as Porto go 4-4-2 to try and pull level.
Second Half kick off
52nd Minute Porto counter and Aboubakar heads the ball down to Milik a bit wide of the goal 20 yards out Milik let loose and it beat Hart but, went just wide of the goal.
56th Minute Aguero gets the ball and runs at the defence he beats the last man to get in on goal out wide and fires a low effort but, Begovic is equal to it and knocks it behind.
70th Minute City hit in a free kick that Porto clear and counter it gets to Aboubakar who plays it to Lavezzi who knocks it to Joao Pedro who does a give and go with him and Pedro crosses from just outside the box Milik was at the near post and twisted to powerfully volley it past Hart. Porto need one more goal.
78th Minute Aguero turns provider slipping in Silva but, Begovic makes a great save to keep Porto in the game. Andre Silva comes on as Porto go three up top.
86th Minute Aguero is in again and fire just wide to keep Porto in the game.
88th Minute Aguero plays in Jay Rodriguez but, Begovic makes a great double save to stop him adding to City's lead.
Full Time
Man City 2-1 Porto
View attachment 208880
Man City win back to back Champions League's and Porto finish a credible second place. Begovic was awarded MOM and had an outstanding performance that stopped the final from being a rout. City are interested in him.
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Porto win overachievers of the year and Aboubakar is the top scorer in the Champions League this season helped partly by his 5 goal haul vs Sparta Prague