Porto 2-1 Malmo Player Ratings: Samu Aghehowa Rated 8.5/10 as His Brace Secures a Narrow 2-1 Victory

Porto clinched a 2-1 win against Swedish team Malmo in a Europa League fixture that was far more one-sided than the scoreline suggests. The game, held at the Dragao Stadium, was a showcase of Porto's offensive firepower.

The home side's dominance was translated into goals by the young star Samu Aghehowa. He netted a first-half brace that seemed to put the game to bed. What stood out to us was the creative genius of Rodrigo Mora, who was simply unplayable, orchestrating attacks and creating chance after chance.

Malmo goalkeeper was a colossal figure between the sticks. He made a string of spectacular saves to keep his team's hopes alive. Just when it seemed over, a late own goal gave Malmö a lifeline, but it was too little too late in this match.

Here are Porto Vs Malmo Player Ratings

Malmo Player Ratings vs Porto

Here are the Malmo Player Ratings vs Porto

Goalkeeper

Robin Olsen - 8.5: What a performance from the veteran keeper. He made an incredible nine saves, many of which were truly spectacular. Without him, this could have easily been a five or six-goal deficit. He was let down by his defence time and time again. From our perspective, he was Malmö's best player by a country mile. He kept his team in a game they had no right to be in.

Defenders

Jens Stryger Larsen - 5.5: A very difficult night for the defender. He struggled to cope with Porto's wing play and lost most of his duels. He picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. He looked off the pace and was frequently caught out of position. We noticed he lost possession 13 times, which is far too high.

Pontus Jansson - 6.0: The captain tried to lead from the back, making a team-high 10 clearances. However, he was dribbled past on three separate occasions, showing his lack of mobility. He fought hard but was part of a defensive unit that was overwhelmed. It was a mixed bag of a performance from the experienced center-back.

Colin Rösler - 6.0: He was tidy on the ball with 90% pass accuracy. He made a crucial seven clearances to relieve pressure. Despite this, he was part of a backline that conceded far too many chances. He struggled to handle the movement of Porto's attackers. A decent, if unspectacular, outing under immense pressure.

Busanello - 5.0: A night to forget for the full-back. He lost possession a staggering 22 times and his passing was woeful. He was a liability on the ball and offered little going forward. His yellow card was born out of frustration. From our view, he was completely out of his depth against high-quality opposition.

Midfielders

Lasse Berg Johnsen - 6.0: He kept the ball well with high pass accuracy. However, he had very little impact on the game in an attacking sense. He was mostly chasing shadows in midfield. He did his defensive duties but failed to provide any creative spark. Substituted late on after a quiet evening.

Kenan Busuladzic - 5.5: He lost possession 19 times, which really killed his team's momentum. He worked hard off the ball but was poor when he had it. He was unable to link the midfield and attack effectively. From our perspective, it was a frustrating performance where his end product was lacking.

Unknown Player - 6.0: A battling performance in the heart of midfield. He was substituted in the second half after picking up a knock. He made a few interceptions and tackles but struggled to assert himself. It felt like the game largely passed him by.

Forwards

Salifou Soumah - 6.5: He was a physical presence and drew four fouls from the opposition. However, he offered little goal threat before being substituted. He worked hard but was isolated for large parts of the match. He had a couple of half-chances but couldn't convert them.

Sead Haksabanovic - 6.0: A disappointing display from the attacker. He missed a big chance that could have changed the complexion of the game. He was largely anonymous before being taken off. We expected much more from a player of his quality. He looked short on confidence.

Adrian Skogmar - 6.5: He showed some bright sparks and managed a shot on target. He worked tirelessly for the team, but like his fellow attackers, he was feeding on scraps. He never stopped running but lacked the final ball. It was an industrious but ultimately fruitless performance.

Substitutes

Oscar Lewicki - 6.0: Came on for the injured midfielder and slotted in seamlessly. He provided fresh legs but couldn't change the game's dynamic. A solid cameo.

Emmanuel Ekong - N/A: Didn't have enough time or influence to warrant a rating.

Erik Botheim - N/A: Brought on to add a goal threat but barely touched the ball.

Johan Karlsson - N/A: A late substitute with little time to make an impact.

Daníel Gudjohnsen - N/A: Came on in the final few minutes.

Manager

A. Mravac - 5.0: His team was set up to defend but they were carved open far too easily. They looked outmatched tactically from the very beginning. His substitutions did little to change the flow of the game. Porto's dominance highlighted a significant gap in quality and preparation.

Porto Player Ratings vs Malmo

Here are the Porto Player Ratings vs Malmo

Goalkeeper

Diogo Costa - 6.5: Had a very quiet night with only two saves to make. He was a spectator for most of the match. His distribution was solid as usual. An unfortunate error led to a shot, but otherwise, he was untroubled. He couldn't do anything about the own goal.

Defenders

Jakub Kiwior - 6.5: Was solid for the most part, with excellent passing. However, an error that led to a shot blemishes his performance. He also lost more duels than he won. He looked a little shaky at times, which was surprising. A decent, but not his best, game.

Jan Bednarek - 7.0: A commanding presence at the back. He was strong in the air, winning five aerial duels. His passing was near-perfect, helping build attacks from deep. He was composed and read the game well. A really solid defensive display from the centre-back.

Martim Fernandes - 7.5: A fantastic performance from the full-back. He was a rock in defence, winning most of his tackles. He also bombed forward to support the attack, even having a couple of shots. He was a bundle of energy down the right flank. A very impressive showing before his substitution.

Francisco Moura - 7.0: Was having an absolutely brilliant game until the very end. He won all of his ground duels and created a big chance. Then, disaster struck with an incredibly unlucky own goal. It's tough to rate him, but his overall performance was excellent, marred by one moment of misfortune.

Midfielders

Pablo Rosario - 7.0: The midfield anchor did his job perfectly. He broke up play and drew five fouls, frustrating the opposition. He was disciplined and controlled the center of the park. It was an understated but vital performance that allowed the creative players to shine.

Rodrigo Mora - 9.0: Simply sensational. He was the architect of everything good for Porto. He provided a sublime assist and created an astonishing seven chances for his teammates. He was a nightmare for the Malmö defence. What stood out to us was his vision and execution. A clear Man of the Match performance and our highest-rated player.

Victor Froholdt - 6.5: A very frustrating night for him. He got into great positions but missed two big chances. His finishing was wasteful, and he could have had a hat-trick on another day. He was busy and involved, but his lack of composure in front of goal was costly.

Forwards

Pepê - 8.0: He was a constant threat with his dribbling and creativity. He provided an assist and created three chances before being substituted. He linked up brilliantly with the midfield and attack. His movement was intelligent and caused all sorts of problems. A top-class display.

Samu Aghehowa - 8.5: The hero of the night with two well-taken goals. He was in the right place at the right time. His finishing was lethal, and he took his chances with confidence. He was a real handful for the defenders before being subbed off. A fantastic striker's performance.

Borja Sainz - 8.0: An excellent all-round performance. He grabbed an assist and worked incredibly hard for the team, winning all four of his tackles. He was a creative force and a defensive workhorse. We were very impressed by his energy and commitment throughout the game.

Substitutes

Stephen Eustaquio - 6.5: Came on and kept the midfield ticking over nicely. A solid and composed substitute.

Deniz Gül - 6.5: Had a good headed chance saved late on. Looked lively.

William Gomes - N/A: Came on with 20 minutes to play but didn't have a major impact.

Alberto Costa - N/A: A late sub to see out the game.

Ángel Alarcón - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes.

Manager

F. Farioli - 8.0: His tactical plan worked to perfection. He set his team up to dominate possession and create chances, and they did exactly that. His side looked fluid and confident. The only criticism is they didn't kill the game off earlier despite their superiority.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Rodrigo