Porto reach CL last 16, City top group; Marseille end skid
Guardiola’s team had already booked their place in the last 16 ater winning their first four games, now the boss can rest players for their match against Marseille next week
Pep Guardiola saluted Manchester City’s “incredible personality” ater they sealed first place in Champions League Group C with a 0-0 draw against Porto that also sent the hosts in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Sergio Conceicao’s side were on the defensive for long periods at the Estadio do Dragao, but a series of superb saves from Porto keeper Agustin Marchesin secured the point they needed to advance.
City’s Gabriel Jesus was denied a late winner ater VAR ruled out his goal.
Guardiola’s team had already booked their place in the last 16 ater winning their first four games and, with top spot now secured, the boss can now rest players for their final match against Marseille next week.
“Congratulations to my team for this game and finishing first. We didn’t concede a shot on target or a corner all game,” Guardiola said.
“We struggled to score but we played really well with incredible personality and many things about the game were brilliant.
“It’s difficult with eight or nine of their players defending in the box.
“We came here to finish first. We played for the win and we deserved it, but deserve in football is a fake word because the result dictates everything.”
Guardiola insists City will thrive in the Champions League this season as they bid to make amends for last term’s shock quarter-final defeat against Lyon.
City have never won the Champions League and Guardiola, who last lited the trophy with Barcelona in 2011, has been unable to take them past the quarter-finals.
Finishing on top of the group was the first step towards that target and Guardiola will be encouraged by City’s improved defence.
They have conceded just six goals in their last 13 games in all competitions, a run that includes four successive Champions League clean sheets.
“It’s more than the results. We played really well in all the games. Eleven shots on target against Olympiakos and against Marseille as well and today we had lots of chances,” Guardiola said.
“The way we played, the courage, and defensively we were so good.”
Guardiola made seven changes as Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker were among those resting on the bench following the 5-0 thrashing of Burnley.
Curtis Jones sent a depleted Liverpool through to the Champions League last 16 Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Real Madrid 2-0.
Teenager Jones scored the only goal just before the hour, tucking the ball in ater Ajax ‘keeper Andre Onana thought he could afford to let a Neco Williams cross sail over his head. The result was vital for the Premier League champions ater their home loss to Atalanta a week ago, and it allowed them to secure a spot in the knockout phase.
They will go through as group winners ater Atalanta had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Midtjylland, Cristian Romero heading in a late equaliser in response to Alexander Scholz’s thumping opener for the Danes.
Atalanta are a point clear in second from Ajax, with the sides meeting in Amsterdam in their last game next week.
Olympiakos lost 2-1 to Marseille in France, with Dimitri Payet scoring two penalties in the second half to turn the game around ater Mohamed Mady Camara fired the Greeks in front.
The result ends Marseille’s Champions League record run of 13 straight defeats and means they could yet pip Olympiakos to third place and the consolation of a Europa League berth.
Moenchengladbach by an aggregate score of 10-0, but now move above Real into second place with one game remaining. Gladbach are top by a point, while Shakhtar have the upper hand on Real thanks to their superior headto-head record.
However, the damage was limited for Real ater Inter Milan won 3-2 away to Gladbach to keep their own hopes alive.