It was typical that a game so devoid of quality was won by a moment of magic.
Arsenal and Porto had looked all set to play out a 0-0 draw in the first leg of this last-16 tie, until Galeno scored a winner with virtually the last kick of the game.
It was a hammer blow for Arsenal, who were on course to head back to Emirates Stadium next month as clear favourites to make the quarter-finals.
Now, they have a tough task on their hands and must find a way to beat a stubborn Porto side next month.
The second leg will surely be more captivating than this affair, which was a stop-start and cagey game.
Neither side can say they deserved to win and everything is on the line in north London when they meet again next month.
GALENO WINS IT FOR PORTO WITH A BEAUTY IN THE LAST MINUTE! 🤯#UCL pic.twitter.com/rh3ZUbVtSP
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 21, 2024
Porto press stifles Arsenal
Arsenal’s attack has been in red-hot form recently, but it kept grinding to a halt here in Portugal and they did not manage a single shot on target.
Try as they might, the Gunners could not find a way past a Porto side who showed themselves to be very well drilled.
The hosts were happy to sit off Arsenal and let them have the ball, so much so that Mikel Arteta’s side finished the game with 65 per cent possession.
Porto’s forwards stood off Gabriel and William Saliba, with the two centre-backs struggling to get Arsenal up the pitch. The hosts midfield was also solid too and Sergio Conceicao’s decision to play two holding midfielders paid off.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was forced to come deeper and deeper to get the ball, which led to false nine Leandro Trossard cutting an isolated figure.
Galeno goes from zero to hero
For so long, this looked like it was going to be a night to forget for Galeno.
The winger spurned a glorious chance midway through the first-half. When the ball fell to him in the box, the goal was gaping for him to bury it.
Somehow, the Brazilian hit the woodwork and then skewed the rebound wide when it looked harder to miss.
Everyone at the Estadio do Dragao expected the net to bulge. Even the PA announcer blared music after the shot, assuming it had gone in.
Galeno eventually made amends late on - and how he did. It was a goal worthy of winning any game as he curled a stunning strike into the top corner. David Raya could get nowhere near it.
Rice navigates tightrope after early booking
Barely a minute had been played when Declan Rice picked up a yellow card.
The midfielder was loose in possession just inside his own half and, in a desperate attempt to get the ball back, he lunged in on Galeno. The winger got to the ball first and Rice caught him, leaving referee Serdar Gozubuyuk with little choice but to book him.
It was a yellow card that put Rice on a tightrope for the rest of the game, but he managed to navigate it well. The England star was helped by Arsenal bossing the ball and they had over 70 per cent possession in the first-half.
The frustration for Rice, however, is that if he is booked against Porto in the second leg, he would be banned for the quarter-finals should Arsenal make it there.
