Analysis The numbers behind the result
Porto clinical in final third as Napoli unravel
Porto’s 4-1 victory was fully deserved, reflecting their superiority in chance creation and execution. With an xG of 2.75 compared to Napoli’s 1.44, they were not only more efficient but also more threatening, registering 19 total shots (8 on target) to Napoli’s 11 (6 on target). Despite only narrowly edging possession (52% to 48%), Porto translated their control into higher-quality opportunities, particularly inside the box, where they fired 12 shots to Napoli’s 6.
Porto’s early dominance was rewarded in the 11th minute when Jan Bednarek opened the scoring, but Napoli briefly leveled through Scott McTominay’s 43rd-minute strike. The second half belonged entirely to Porto, with Gabri Veiga (71’) and Jakub Kiwior (80’) extending the lead before Samuel Aghehowa converted a late penalty. Napoli’s discipline unraveled, accumulating four yellow cards and a red card for Rafael Marín in the 88th minute, further compounding their woes.
The decisive stat was Porto’s clinical edge: they scored four goals from just eight shots on target, outperforming their xG significantly. Napoli’s failure to contain Porto’s attack and capitalize on their own chances was the ultimate difference.