Porto made it through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after drawing 0-0 with Atletico Madrid at home.
With the scores tied from the first-leg, both teams had a few chances to win the game but neither could find the back of the net.
Most of the opportunities fell to the home team and Fernando forced a very good save from Leo Franco just before half-time.
Lisandro Lopez did not manage to add to his two goals that he scored in Madrid but he too forced the goalkeeper into making a couple of stops.
At the other end, Atletico had a few dangerous attacks but did not really test Helton, which will disappoint coach Abel Resino.
The big news from the start was Atletico leaving Diego Forlan on the bench and starting with Florent Sinama-Pongolle up front, and the new look team looked second best in the opening exchanges. With a passionate home crowd behind them, Porto played with more intensity and controlled the ball, but didn't really threaten until Bruno Alves smashed a shot over the bar with nearly 20 minutes gone.
Atletico could hardly get hold of the ball and it was Luis Perea who had their first effort with a shot from outside the box that Helton had to palm behind. Lucho Gonzalez and Fernando were dominating the play in midfield and with Sergio Aguero unable to get the ball facing goal, the visitors struggled to create any chances.
Indeed, the best chance of the half fell to Fernando, who volleyed a shot from distance at goal that Leo Franco had to do brilliantly to keep out. Aside from that effort the Argentine was not really tested in goal and nor was Helton, as the teams went in at the break with the score line still the same as it was in the first-leg.
It was much the same story after the interval too, as both sides huffed and puffed but couldn't create any clear cut chances. To try and add some spark and creativity to his side, Abel Resino threw on Forlan to replace Maxi Rodriguez but it was Porto who went closest as a cross from the left wing was missed by everyone and sailed inches wide of the far post.
A minute later, Lisandro Lopez cut in from the right and drilled a shot at goal that Leo Franco very nearly spilled into the path of Lucho, but fortunately for him the defense managed to clear. Porto continued to look the better side and Cristian Rodriguez forced a brilliant save from the Atletico goalkeeper as he headed a corner from close range.
The visitors were starting to throw more and more men forward as the clock wore down but they couldn't break the solid Porto defense down. At the other end, Hulk fired a ball across goal that Lopez very nearly tapped in, before the Argentine forward broke through the back line himself and hit the outside of the post with his shot, as time ran out for Atletico.
Porto 0-0 Atletico Madrid (Aggregate: 2-2)
Porto made it through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after drawing 0-0 with Atletico Madrid at home.
With the scores tied from the first-leg, both teams had a few chances to win the game but neither could find the back of the net.
Most of the opportunities fell to the home team and Fernando forced a very good save from Leo Franco just before half-time.
Lisandro Lopez did not manage to add to his two goals that he scored in Madrid but he too forced the goalkeeper into making a couple of stops.
At the other end, Atletico had a few dangerous attacks but did not really test Helton, which will disappoint coach Abel Resino.
The big news from the start was Atletico leaving Diego Forlan on the bench and starting with Florent Sinama-Pongolle up front, and the new look team looked second best in the opening exchanges. With a passionate home crowd behind them, Porto played with more intensity and controlled the ball, but didn't really threaten until Bruno Alves smashed a shot over the bar with nearly 20 minutes gone.
Atletico could hardly get hold of the ball and it was Luis Perea who had their first effort with a shot from outside the box that Helton had to palm behind. Lucho Gonzalez and Fernando were dominating the play in midfield and with Sergio Aguero unable to get the ball facing goal, the visitors struggled to create any chances.
Indeed, the best chance of the half fell to Fernando, who volleyed a shot from distance at goal that Leo Franco had to do brilliantly to keep out. Aside from that effort the Argentine was not really tested in goal and nor was Helton, as the teams went in at the break with the score line still the same as it was in the first-leg.
It was much the same story after the interval too, as both sides huffed and puffed but couldn't create any clear cut chances. To try and add some spark and creativity to his side, Abel Resino threw on Forlan to replace Maxi Rodriguez but it was Porto who went closest as a cross from the left wing was missed by everyone and sailed inches wide of the far post.
A minute later, Lisandro Lopez cut in from the right and drilled a shot at goal that Leo Franco very nearly spilled into the path of Lucho, but fortunately for him the defense managed to clear. Porto continued to look the better side and Cristian Rodriguez forced a brilliant save from the Atletico goalkeeper as he headed a corner from close range.
The visitors were starting to throw more and more men forward as the clock wore down but they couldn't break the solid Porto defense down. At the other end, Hulk fired a ball across goal that Lopez very nearly tapped in, before the Argentine forward broke through the back line himself and hit the outside of the post with his shot, as time ran out for Atletico.
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