Xavi Hernandez proclaimed Barcelona rid themselves of their Champions League ghosts after Ferran Torres’ aim secured a slim 1-0 win at FC Porto on Wednesday.
Barça have been eradicated within the group stage in every of the final two seasons and have suffered some powerful defeats within the competitors in recent times, particularly away from dwelling.
They needed to dig deep to beat Porto, who had a second half penalty overturned by VAR and a aim dominated out for offside however held on to make it six factors from six after two video games.
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“The primary half was fairly good, however we did not have management within the second and we suffered,” mentioned Xavi, who took cost of his one hundredth recreation as Barcelona coach towards Porto.
“That is the Champions League and it’s onerous. It is Europe, Porto away from dwelling… it is tough. Everybody labored so onerous. Now we have to enhance, and we are going to, however they’re three golden factors.
“There was speak earlier than the sport about ghosts [in the Champions League] and we have rid ourselves of a few of them, beating a giant European facet at their stadium.
“Perhaps we’ve got discovered to win the onerous means. We’re on the most tough membership on the planet. You win 1-0 and the glass is half empty. That is the Champions League. We win a recreation and it would not appear sufficient.”
Barça had been with out the injured Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha in Portugal, whereas they misplaced Robert Lewandowski to a knock within the first half.
Xavi mentioned the Polish striker took “a blow to the ankle” and will recuperate in time to face Granada in LaLiga on Sunday.
Younger winger Lamine Yamal, who turned the youngest participant to ever begin a Champions League recreation on Wednesday at 16 years and 83 days outdated, additionally went off within the second half.
Throughout a break in play, Yamal disappeared down the tunnel and did not return, leaving Barça a participant mild till they determined to interchange him. “He felt dangerous, he had abdomen ache,” Xavi defined. “We suffered with 10 gamers as a result of he could not return, regardless that we tried to attend for him.”
Torres’ fourth aim of the season, arrange by Ilkay Gündogan, was the distinction on the evening, however Porto will really feel they deserved extra from the sport.
Referee Anthony Taylor overturned his authentic choice to award the Portuguese facet a penalty for a handball by João Cancelo after VAR noticed a handball by Stephen Eustáquio moments earlier than.
Mehdi Taremi additionally had a aim dominated out for offside, with Porto coach Sérgio Conceição left fuming on the efficiency from the officers.
“The referees have to be pleased with their efficiency,” he advised DAZN. “We’re upset, annoyed, we labored onerous, we performed a implausible recreation.
“We created plenty of probabilities. It was a merciless recreation for us. We performed towards a giant membership, however we additionally performed towards greater than only a huge membership.” Barça are high of Group H with six factors, adopted by Porto and Shakhtar Donestsk, who each have three, whereas Antwerp stay pointless.