Nabil Bentaleb scored from the penalty spot for Schalke away to Porto in the UEFA Champions League. - © © gettyimages / FRANCISCO LEONG
Schalke reach UEFA Champions League last 16 despite loss to Porto
33 weeks ago
Schalke secured their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, despite slipping to a 3-1 defeat away to Group D leaders Porto on Wednesday.
The Royal Blues may have struggled in the Bundesliga so far in 2018/19, but their form in the Champions League has been rather more positive, with two wins and two draws taking them unbeaten into Wednesday's match with Porto. Domenico Tedesco's side received further good news prior to kick-off, with Lokomotiv Moscow's 2-0 triumph over Galatasaray in the day's earlier Group D clash meaning Schalke were guaranteed a place in the next round.
The first half in Porto was a tight affair but the hosts struck twice in quick succession after the break to pave the way for victory. Nabil Bentaleb pulled a goal back from the penalty spot late on to spark hopes of a comeback, but Moussa Marega had the last word for the hosts with a goal in the last minute of stoppage time. Ultimately it was of little consequence, however, as Schalke's name will be in the round of 16 draw on 17 December, ahead of the two-legged ties in February next year.
The defeat was Schalke's first in this season's Champions League (W2, D2, L1).McKennie made his Champions League debut in the reverse fixture, setting up a goal for Embolo. The American then scored the decisive goal against Lokomotiv Moscow on Matchday 2.Schalke have only lost three of their last 15 away matches in Europe (W8, D4), but have only won two of 11 on the road in all competitions in 2018/19.Schalke's Steven Skrzybski scored twice on his first Bundesliga start at the weekend.Porto have lost four of their last seven matches against German opposition (W1, D1).
Porto: Casillas - Maxi, Felipe, Militao, Telles - Herrera (Hernani 85'), Danilo, Oliver - Brahimi (Lopez 74'), Corona (Otavio 79'), Marega
Unused substitutes: Vaná, Sérgio Oliveira, André Pereira, Diogo Leite
Absentees: Aboubakar (knee)
Coach: Sergio Conceicao
Schalke: Fährmann - Stambouli (Rudy 71'), Naldo, Nastasic - Caligiuri (Schöpf 62'), Mascarell, Bentaleb, Konoplyanka, Mendyl - Di Santo, Skrzybski (Harit 46')
Unused substitutes: Nübel, Serdar, Baba, Sane
Absentees: Embolo (foot), Teuchert (hip), Uth (muscle), Burgstaller (Achilles), McKennie (thigh)
Coach: Domenico Tedesco
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