Barcelona came from behind to defeat Porto 2-1 on Tuesday, advancing to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in three seasons.
Porto took the lead through Brazilian winger Pepe, but Barcelona’s Portuguese duo Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix both scored to turn the game around.
Former Benfica teammates seized on their old club’s rivals to ensure Xavi Hernandez’s team did not suffer a humiliating group stage exit, as they did the previous two seasons.
Barca were apprehensive after losing to Shakhtar Donetsk in their previous European match in Hamburg, with dismal domestic performances compounding their concerns.
Despite losing initially, Cancelo promptly levelled and set up Felix for the victory in the second half.
After Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, Xavi shuffled his lineup, moving Cancelo to left-back and dropping Oriol Romeu in favour of Ilkay Gundogan.
Inaki Pena preserved his spot in goal for the Catalans as first choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen is out with back trouble, and he made many saves as both sides created chances.
Pepe of Porto, who was whistled by Barcelona fans due to his Real Madrid background, became the fifth oldest player in Champions League history at 40 years and 275 days.
After Raphinha tested Diogo Costa with a low drive, the experienced Portuguese center-back was in the right position at the right time to stop Felix’s early effort.
After 25 minutes, Porto’s Medhi Taremi beat Pena, but the goal was called out for offside against the Iranian striker.
With the pressure growing on the Spanish champions, the custodian made a solid save to deny Galeno after he surged into life and squeezed a shot off.
After 30 minutes, Porto took the lead when Brazilian winger Pepe slammed home the rebound after Pena denied Evanilson.
Cancelo drew Barcelona back level with a superb individual goal before dread set in.
The former Benfica defender, who was on loan from Manchester City, cut in from the left to beat Costa with a crisp strike.
When Costa gave the ball away on the edge of his own box to Pedri, Raphinha flashed a shot just wide, and Pena denied Alan Varela at the other end as the game swayed from one end to the other.
The second half started at the same frenzied tempo, with Felix hitting the top of the crossbar.
After exchanging passes with the rampaging Cancelo and delicately slotting home, the 24-year-old got his goal, his first for Barcelona since mid-September.
Raphinha came near twice in rapid succession as the Catalans tried to extend their lead, but even if they couldn’t, they still got the job done this time.
Barca defender Ronald Araujo’s massive fist pump at full-time revealed more jitters than necessary.