Schalke and Porto's UEFA Champions League tie is on a knife-edge after the German side's 1-0 first-leg win.
Schalke take slender advantage into second leg
Schalke and Porto's UEFA Champions League tie remains on a knife-edge after the German side beat the Portuguese champions by a narrow 1-0 margin.
Germany's only representatives left in the competition went in front in the fourth minute of the first-leg of the last 16 stage thanks to Kevin Kuranyi's goal.
Marcio Rafinha and Jermaine Jones played a one-two to open the Porto defence up before Rafinha hit a powerful effort towards goal which keeper Helton could only palm out, with Kuranyi on hand to pounce and fire the ball home.
Schalke then dominated the first half and will rue not scoring more while they were on top.
Chances
They had a series of chances, including two efforts from Ivan Rakitic, as well as attempts from Kuranyi and Gerald Asamoah, but could not find the net.
Porto came out better in the second half and should have got the crucial away goal in the 80th minute after a period of good pressure.
Raul Meireles hit a cross from the left across the Schalke box which Ricardo Quaresma met at the far post.
His cross found Lisandro Lopez only five yards out and he had a free shot on goal but did not catch the ball properly and his effort went out.
The Portuguese team must now fancy their chances of progressing with only one goal to claw back when the teams meet again in the second leg on 5th March.
| FC Schalke 04 |
Team Statistics |
FC Porto |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
| 6 |
Corners |
3 |
| 26 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 73.3 |
Passing Success |
75.5 |
| 35 |
Tackles |
27 |
| 74.3 |
Tackles Success |
70.4 |
| 43.9 |
Possession |
56.1 |
| 50.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
49.1 |
|
