Leicester City 2 - 1 Club Brugge: Porto favourites to join Leicester in last-16 despite being held in Copenhagen

Posted Wednesday, November 23, 2016 by PA

Copenhagen managed to hold on following a dominant second-half showing from Porto to record a goalless stalemate in their Champions League Group G clash at Telia Parken.

Nuno's visitors remain second in the table - two points better off than Tuesday night's opponents - after leaders Leicester confirmed their qualification to the knock-out stages with a 2-1 victory over Club Brugge with a game to spare.

Serbia striker Andrija Pavlovic was unfortunate to have an effort blocked for the hosts in the opening stages as he failed to find the net from Rasmus Falk's headed pass before Porto bossed possession for a short while.

Visiting midfielder Jesus Corona came close with two chances in a five-minute spell but he lost the ball in an attempted break through the middle before his header missed the target.

The home side began to find their feet midway through the first half but Maxi Pereira blocked Benjamin Verbic's close-range effort, while Peter Ankersen fired wide following a corner.

Ankersen forced a save from former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas on the half-hour mark as his 25-yard shot was held out of the bottom-right corner.

Andre Silva, Ludwig Augustinsson and Erik Johansson were all thwarted for the home side as the half went on, while - at the other end - Atletico Madrid loanee Jota fired Otavio's cross over the bar as the score remained goalless at the break.

Corona came close again at the start of the second half but the Mexico winger's effort was blocked before Pereira sent Otavio's cross wide as Porto attempted to break the deadlock.

The Portuguese giants missed two chances in quick succession as Silva was denied twice with close-range attempts kept out by home keeper Robin Olsen as the game approached the hour mark.

Copenhagen were finding it hard to make an impact as the away side continued to dominate with defender Ivan Marcano's close-range header from Pereira's corner just missing the target.

With less than 15 minutes remaining, Alex Telles set up Portugal international Silva but he only managed to fire his long-range effort sailing over the crossbar.

Team-mate Jota sent his late effort the same way as the Dragons searched for a winner which would put some distance between themselves in second and their third-placed opponents ahead of the final round of fixtures.

But, despite their second-half pressure, Stale Solbakken's hosts held on for a share of the spoils.