This was a classic clash between deep block and territorial dominance. FC Porto monopolised the ball with 67% possession and almost double the passes (471 to Plzen’s 229), circulating with 85% passing accuracy against the hosts’ 65%. Yet control of space belonged largely to Plzen, especially before the red card. Lining up in a 3-4-1-2, the Czechs condensed central zones, inviting Porto into wide and half-space areas rather than through the middle. After the dismissal just before half-time, Plzen’s plan shifted from sporadic counter-attacks to almost pure survival, defending deeper and narrower while Porto’s 4-3-3 turned into sustained positional pressure.
Offensive Efficiency
The numbers underline Porto’s sterile domination. They produced 19 total shots to Plzen’s 10 and an xG of 2.07 compared to just 0.29 for the home side. Porto also generated 12 shots inside the box and 7 corners, indicating repeated penetration into the final third and frequent occupation of the penalty area. However, with only 8 shots on target from those 19 attempts, their decision-making and finishing lacked precision.
Plzen, by contrast, were extremely selective. Only 2 of their 10 shots hit the target and they earned just 2 corners, which shows their attacks were rare and largely transitional rather than through sustained pressure. The low xG of 0.29 confirms that most of their efforts came from low-probability situations, fitting a game plan built around quick breaks and set moments rather than structured chance creation.
Porto’s “high shots / low goals” profile, combined with their late equaliser, illustrates a lack of cutting edge despite structural dominance. Plzen’s “low shots / low xG” but still taking a point reflects a defensive-first strategy that almost converted minimal attacking output into a smash-and-grab win.
Defensive Discipline & Intensity
Defensively, Plzen’s approach was about volume and sacrifice. They committed 11 fouls and took 2 yellow cards plus a crucial red, signalling how aggressively they protected their box. Their goalkeeper made 7 saves, compared with just 1 for Diogo Costa, underlining how much of the second half was spent under siege. With 2 blocked shots to Porto’s 4, Plzen focused more on compactness and last-line interventions, while Porto’s higher block count reflects counter-pressing and stopping transitions at source.
Porto’s 12 fouls and 3 yellows show they were not passive; they used tactical fouls to prevent Plzen’s rare counters from developing. But with no red cards and limited defensive workload in terms of saves, their back line was more about controlling rest defence than emergency defending.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Porto’s possession and shot volume were undermined by wasteful finishing, while Plzen’s compact, low-possession (33%) game plan and resilient goalkeeping almost stole the win. The result came from Porto’s sterile domination meeting Plzen’s deep block and survival mentality, with efficiency in both boxes deciding only a draw.
