Santiago Giménez can now boast his first minutes in the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto. The Mexican forward entered the second time of the match against Manchester City, but failed to find a clear chance to score and the Lithuanian team fell 0-2 in the Stadium do Dragão.
?? SANTI GIMÉNEZ RETURNES TO THE CHAMPIONS! ?Enter the Mexican to the 72' between applause. #Porto 0-1 #ManCity Átha #ChampionsEnFOX #UCL pic.twitter.com/MIb6CVFURa
The match also meant the first match of the Portuguese ensemble in the present edition of the Champions League, although for Giménez it represented a new chapter after having debuted with the club four days before against the Moreirense in the Portugal League.
Giménez entered in the 73rd minute instead of André Silva, when FC Porto was already looking to react to the pressure of the English team.
The Mexican had a little more than 20 minutes on the pitch, including the added time, although the chances of danger were scarce for the attacker.
One of the clearest actions came when he received a center within the area. Giménez tried to finish, but failed to correctly connect with the ball and the game ended without generating danger for Gianluigi Donnarumma's goal.
The forward also showed participation in the reaction of the local team and tried to boost his teammates and the aficionados in search of the draw.
Manchester City had difficulty finding spaces for much of the first half. FC Porto managed to keep the attacks of the English team under control and Diogo Costa was determining to keep the draw.
The Portuguese archer even avoided in more than one occasion that Erling Haaland opened the scoring.
The dragon resistance ended shortly after the break.At the 47th minute, Haaland appeared inside the area to head-connect an Enzo Fernández center and put the 0-1.
GOOOOL OF HAALAND! ??Beautiful center of Enzo and the Android advances your team. 46’ #Porto 0-1 #ManCity Átha #ChampionsEnFOX #UCL pic.twitter.com/G0pIMTmjw0
The match forced FC Porto to advance their lines, although that also generated more spaces for Manchester City to attack.
When the Portuguese set was still looking for a reaction, Erling Haaland reappeared.
In the 91st minute, the Norwegian forward received a pass from Aït-Nouri inside the area and defined with a short shot to get his second goal of the night and set the 0-2 definitive.
DOUBLE OF HAALAND! ????Two goals in his first match of the season in the Champions for Erling Haaland. 90’ #Porto 0-0 #ManCity Átha #ChampionsEnFOX #UCL pic.twitter.com/nO96x6AJpb
Haaland’s double allowed Manchester City to start with a victory with their participation in the Champions League 2026-27, while the FC Porto must seek their first points in the following days.
For Santiago Giménez, the match left its first minutes in the highest European competition with FC Porto. After premiering with the club against Moreirense, the Mexican now adds his first experience in Champions as a footballer of the Dragons.
His next goal will be to win protagonism within the offensive of Francesco Farioli and take advantage of the minutes he receives to find the goal he has not yet achieved since his arrival in Portuguese football.
FC Porto, on the other hand, will have to react after starting its European path with a home defeat against one of the main candidates for the title.
