Arsenal, Barca make Champions League quarters return
David Raya was the hero as Arsenal beat Porto 4-2 on penalties on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, while Barcelona reached the last- eight for the first time since 2020. Arsenal and Porto were locked at 1-1 on aggregate after an absorbing second leg at the Emirates but Raya saved twice in the shootout to break the hearts of the two-time champions. The goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant save to deny Wendell and repeated the feat against Galeno, while the home side converted all four of their penalties. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Mikel Arteta's Premier League leaders were not at their fluent best against a disciplined Porto side. Leandro Trossard pulled Arsenal level on aggregate shortly before half-time but neither side could find the killer blow. Arteta threw on Gabriel Jesus in the 83rd minute and the former Manchester City man nearly scored with his first touch. As Arsenal pushed for a winner, Bukayo Saka produced a trademark curling effort that was punched back into the middle and Odegaard steered the rebound wide when well-placed. The home side looked the more dangerous in the early stages of extra-time but Porto remained a threat on the break, with substitute Mehdi Taremi curling wide. Arteta brought on Eddie Nketiah and Oleksandr Zinchenko for the second period of extra time but neither side could find a winner and it went to penalties. Barcelona survived a nervy second half to beat Napoli 3-1, going through 4-2 on aggregate. Xavi Hernandez's side came flying out of the blocks with goals from Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo but after Amir Rrahmani pulled one back, the Catalans started to sweat. Italian champions Napoli, who salvaged a 1-1 draw in the last-16 first leg, were finally beaten when Robert Lewandowski swept home from close range. (AFP)