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Arsenal’s much-anticipated return to the Champions League knockout stages turned into a nightmare as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Porto, courtesy of a dramatic injury-time winner from Galeno.
Mikel Arteta’s side entered the match brimming with confidence following a prolific run in the Premier League, but they encountered a formidable Porto defense that stifled their attacking prowess. Despite their dominance in domestic fixtures, Arsenal struggled to create meaningful chances and failed to register a single shot on target throughout the encounter.
The match seemed destined to end in a stalemate, with Arsenal poised to salvage a draw and carry it back to London for the second leg. However, Galeno had other plans. After enduring a frustrating first half that included a remarkable double-miss from close range, the Porto forward seized the opportunity in the dying moments of the game. Following Gabriel Martinelli’s errant cross-field pass, Galeno unleashed a stunning strike from 25 yards out, leaving Arsenal goalkeeper helpless and securing victory for the home side.
The defeat leaves Arsenal with an uphill battle in the return leg, as they now face the daunting task of overturning the deficit at home. Despite their setback in Portugal, Arsenal remains the favorite to progress to the next round. However, they will need to regroup and rediscover their attacking prowess to stand a chance against a resilient Porto side.
As the Champions League drama unfolds, Arsenal must quickly shift their focus to the upcoming fixture and devise a strategy to bounce back from this disappointing result.
