Porto 3-1 Rangers Player Ratings: Dragons Roar Back to Claim Dominant Victory at Home

FC Porto secured a 3-1 victory over Rangers in a Europa League match at the Estádio do Dragão. The result followed a dramatic opening and a strong response from the home side. In this article, we'll discuss Porto vs Rangers player ratings from the UEL fixture.

Rangers made a bright start to the game. Djeidi Gassama gave the visitors an early lead with a header inside the first six minutes. The goal briefly raised hopes of an upset.

FC Porto needed time to settle but soon took control of the match. They dominated possession and applied sustained pressure. The equaliser arrived before the half-hour mark, with Rodrigo Mora finding the net.

The momentum clearly shifted in Porto’s favour. Just before half-time, Francisco Moura scored to make it 2-1, dealing a major blow to Rangers.

The visitors’ problems continued in the second half. Defender Emmanuel Fernandez scored an own goal, extending Porto’s lead and effectively ending the contest.

From that point on, Porto managed the game calmly and confidently. The home side saw out the match with ease to claim a deserved win. Rangers, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a defensive collapse after an encouraging start.

Key Takeaways

1. Djeidi Gassama gave Rangers an early lead with a header inside six minutes.
2. Rodrigo Mora equalised for Porto before Francisco Moura made it 2-1 just before half-time.
3. Emmanuel Fernandez’s own goal in the second half sealed Porto’s 3-1 victory.

Rangers Player Ratings vs Porto

Check out Rangers player ratings from the UEL match against FC Porto:

Goalkeeper

Jack Butland - 5.5: A tough night for the keeper. He couldn't do much about the second or third goals, with one being a close-range finish and the other a disastrous own goal. He only made one save all game, which tells you more about Porto's clinical finishing than his own performance. He looked a bit shaky with his distribution at times, losing possession 12 times. It just wasn't his night.

Defenders

James Tavernier - 6.0: The captain tried to get things going, creating two chances and whipping in five crosses. However, his defensive contribution was lacking. He won only one of his four duels, which for a defender is a statistic you don't want to see. He looked a step off the pace against Porto's slick attackers. Not a disastrous performance but far from his usual influential self.

Nasser Djiga - 6.0: He was tidy on the ball, with a 93% pass accuracy which is impressive under pressure. He made four clearances and recovered the ball six times. However, he was part of a backline that was completely opened up for the first two goals. He was solid in possession but didn't exude the authority needed to organize the defense when it mattered most.

Emmanuel Fernandez - 4.0: A night to forget for the defender. What stood out to us was the sheer bad luck of the own goal, a moment that effectively ended the contest. Beyond that, he committed four fouls and won just over half his duels before being subbed off before the hour. It was a performance that screamed of a player struggling with the pace and quality of the opposition. Just a really, really bad day at the office.

Midfielders

Max Aarons - 5.5: We were disappointed with his performance. A yellow card for diving in the 50th minute summed up his frustrating evening. He was neat in possession but offered very little going forward, with just one key pass. Defensively, he lost both of his duels. You expect more from a player of his experience in a big European game. He just never got into the game.

Jayden Meghoma - 5.5: Hooked at halftime, which tells you everything you need to know. He didn't do much wrong, boasting a 93% pass accuracy, but he also did very little to impact the game. In 46 minutes he had just 23 touches. He was a passenger in a midfield that was being overrun by Porto's dynamism. The substitution was justified.

Mohamed Diomandé - 7.0: One of the few Rangers players who can hold their head high. He was a workhorse in the middle, winning 10 of his 13 duels and making six tackles. His passing was crisp and he drew three fouls, trying to disrupt Porto's rhythm. He was fighting a losing battle, but from our perspective, he showed real quality and determination. A standout performer in a losing side.

Nicolas Raskin - 6.5: He was busy, as evidenced by his 84 touches and four successful tackles. He even forced a good save from Diogo Costa in the second half. However, he also committed three fouls and struggled to impose himself on Alan Varela. A decent effort, but ultimately he was on the losing side of the midfield battle.

Forwards

Youssef Chermiti - 6.0: He worked incredibly hard up top, winning a surprising 10 duels. His hold-up play was strong, with a 92% pass accuracy. The problem was his lack of threat in the final third; he didn't manage a single shot. He was a physical presence but lacked the cutting edge needed to trouble the Porto defense. Subbed off after 70 minutes of thankless work.

Djeidi Gassama - 7.0: Scored a fantastic header to give Rangers a dream start. For the first 20 minutes, he looked like a real threat, drawing fouls and running at defenders. However, as Porto took control, his influence waned significantly. He was subbed off before the hour, having given everything. A bright spark that faded too quickly.

Findlay Curtis - 7.0: Provided a brilliant assist for Gassama's goal, a moment of real quality. He created the only big chance for Rangers all game. Like his fellow forwards, he worked hard but struggled to get involved as Porto dominated. Still, his contribution for the goal was crucial and earns him a good rating.

Substitutes

John Souttar, Oliver Antman, Thelo Aasgaard, Mikey Moore - N/A: None of the substitutes were on the pitch long enough or had a significant enough impact to warrant a rating. They came on when the game was already lost.

Manager

D. Röhl - 5.0: His team started with a perfect game plan, scoring early and looking organized. But he had no answer once Porto stepped up the pressure. The defensive structure crumbled alarmingly quickly, and conceding three goals in the first half is unacceptable at this level. His substitutions couldn't change the flow of a game that was already gone. A difficult lesson in European football.

Porto Player Ratings vs Rangers

Here are FC Porto player ratings from the game:

Goalkeeper

Diogo Costa - 6.5: He was beaten early on but couldn't be faulted for the header. After that, he had a relatively quiet night. His one significant contribution was a fine save to deny Nicolas Raskin in the second half. He commanded his area well and his distribution was decent. A solid, if unspectacular, performance from the captain.

Defenders

Jakub Kiwior - 7.5: An excellent all-round display from the defender. He was a rock at the back, making seven clearances and winning seven of his nine duels. He was dominant in the air and even got forward to create a chance. We noticed his composure on the ball was key to settling his team down after conceding. A very impressive showing.

Jan Bednarek - 7.0: Formed a formidable partnership with Kiwior. He won a staggering six aerial duels, completely nullifying the physical threat of Youssef Chermiti. His positioning was immaculate, and he made five crucial clearances. A classic, no-nonsense defensive performance that provided the platform for the comeback.

Francisco Moura - 8.0: Our man of the match. What a performance. He scored the crucial go-ahead goal with a composed finish. Beyond the goal, he was a constant menace down the flank, always looking to attack. He did his defensive duties as well, making a couple of tackles and interceptions. A complete wing-back performance that changed the game.

Alberto Costa - 6.5: A steady performance before being substituted after an hour. He was solid defensively, winning most of his duels and supporting the attack when needed. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he didn't put a foot wrong either. A reliable cog in a well-oiled machine.

Midfielders

Alan Varela - 7.5: The conductor in midfield. A 100% pass completion from 61 passes is just absurdly good. He controlled the tempo of the game from deep, broke up play with three interceptions, and was always in the right place. He didn't get the headlines, but from our perspective, his flawless performance was fundamental to Porto's dominance. Absolutely brilliant.

Victor Froholdt - 6.0: The quietest of Porto's midfielders. He kept possession well but lacked the creative spark of his partners. He was tidy and efficient without ever really catching the eye. Substituted on 68 minutes after a decent but unremarkable shift. A functional performance.

Rodrigo Mora - 7.5: Scored the vital equalizing goal that completely shifted the momentum of the Match. He was a creative force, buzzing around the final third and always looking to make something happen. His goal was a reward for his positive and energetic display. Subbed late on after a fantastic contribution.

Forwards

William Gomes - 6.0: A frustrating evening for the attacker. He showed flashes of skill but ultimately struggled to make a decisive impact, losing possession 12 times. He was subbed off just after the hour mark having failed to really test the Rangers defence. Not his best game.

Samu Aghehowa - 6.0: He had a couple of decent chances that he couldn't convert. He worked hard and linked up play reasonably well, but his finishing was off. He battled hard but lacked the composure in front of goal to get on the scoresheet. An industrious but inefficient performance.

Pepê - 6.5: A very mixed bag. He was a constant nuisance, drawing fouls and getting into dangerous positions. However, he was also very wasteful in possession, losing the ball 17 times. He had two shots but couldn't find the target with one and had the other blocked. A lively but ultimately frustrating performance.

Substitutes

Martim Fernandes, Borja Sainz, Pablo Rosario, Deniz Gül, Gabri Veiga - N/A: Came on to see the game out. None had enough time to make a significant impact on the result.

Manager

F. Farioli - 7.5: An excellent night for the Porto manager. He didn't panic after going down early. His team showed immense character and tactical discipline to turn the game around so emphatically. They completely dominated the midfield and exploited Rangers' defensive frailties. The game plan worked to perfection after the initial shock. A very impressive tactical victory.

Man of the Match

Francisco Moura was the player of the match for his influential performance.

Worst Performer

Rangers' Emmanuel Fernandez scored an own goal in the game.