Porto break ice with stunning win against Dinamo

GROUP A
FC Porto (POR) vs CS Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) 32:23 (14:13)

• the Portuguese side broke their largest-ever winless streak in their history in the Champions League, 15 games, to stay alive in the fight for a play-offs berth. They are five points behind sixth-placed Zagreb with three games to go
• a 6:2 run between the 42nd and the 52nd minutes was instrumental for Porto to clinch their first win of the season as it created an unassailable five-goal lead which Dinamo could not come back from
• this was Dinamo's worst attacking outing in their last 16 games in the European premium competition since scoring only 20 times against Flensburg in November 2021, 15 months ago
• Danish back Nicolaj Laesø and Swedish back Jack Thurin were Porto's top scorers, putting seven goals each past Dinamo's goalkeepers
• Porto secured their largest win in more than seven years in the European top competition, with the previous performance being set in December 2015 against Serbian club Vojvodina, 37:15

Porto deliver excellent win to keep hopes alive

Dinamo Bucuresti failed to secure their 30th win in the Machineseeker EHF Champions League, after a dismal performance against FC Porto. It was one of their worst matches in the past two seasons, since coach Xavi Pascual took up the challenge of transforming the team into a powerhouse. 

The Romanian side's attacking efficiency dropped to a meagre 45%, as Porto's goalkeepers – Nikola Mitrevski and Sebastian Leth Frandsen – together, saved 16 shots for a 42% efficiency, to help set the Portuguese champions for their first since a 29:27 victory against Kielce, December 2021.

Porto will have newfound motivation in the European premium competition when they host HC PPD Zagreb in their next game. Another win will set up a nail-biting finish where everything is possible in terms of the last play-offs berth in the group.