Bednarek scores first Champions League goal as Porto beat Napoli 4-1

In brief

• Jan Bednarek scored his first Champions League goal in the 11th minute as Porto beat Napoli 4-1 at home.
• Napoli equalised through Scott McTominay before half-time, before Porto regained control after the break.
• Other Polish players also scored in Champions League matches on the same night and the night before.

Bednarek's header puts Porto ahead

Porto took the lead in the 11th minute at the Estadio do Dragao. Gabriel Veiga swung in a corner, and Bednarek rose unmarked in the box to head past goalkeeper Alex Meret (Zapomnieli o nim? Premierowy gol Bednarka w Lidze Mistrzów – sportowefakty.wp.pl) (Kiwior i Bednarek z golami! Szalone starcie FC Porto z gigantem! – meczyki.pl). The goal was the first of his Champions League career, coming in only his second appearance in the competition, after he had not scored in his debut against PSV Eindhoven ([Gol Bednarka! Premierowe trafienie w Lidze Mistrzów [WIDEO] – meczyki.pl](https://www.meczyki.pl/newsy/pilka-nozna/gol-bednarka-premierowe-trafienie-w-lidze-mistrzow-wideo/317203)).

Napoli level before the break

Porto's lead lasted only until the 43rd minute, when Scott McTominay finished a chance after a pair of saves by Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa had left the defence exposed (Bednarek znów bohaterem FC Porto. Historyczny wieczór Polaka w Lidze Mistrzów – Interia Sport). Reports said the Porto back line, including Bednarek and Kiwior, was slow to react on that move.

Kiwior and Porto turn the match

Porto regained control after the break. Kiwior, the other Polish international in the starting lineup, later added the winner (Bednarek zaskoczył. Premierowy gol Polaka w Lidze Mistrzów – weszlo.com) (Polski wieczór w Lidze Mistrzów. Bednarek, Kiwior i Nowak z pierwszymi bramkami – Rzeczpospolita). Samu added a fourth goal, giving Porto a 4-1 victory.

Other Polish results

The same evening, Wiktor Nowak scored for Arsenal, but Slavia Prague lost 2-1. Piotr Zielinski also found the net in the Feyenoord versus Inter fixture the day before. Como beat Lens 9-1 in another match of the round ([LM: Trzech Polaków z golami; ekipa Fàbregasa zdemolowała Lens w rekordowych rozmiarach, grupa kibiców Betisu nie uszanowała minuty ciszy [… – fcbarca.com](https://www.fcbarca.com/140130-lm-trzech-polakow-z-golami-ekipa-fabregasa-demoluje-9-1-grupa-kibicow-betisu-nie-uszanowala-minuty-ciszy-wideo.html)).

Bednarek's role at Porto

Bednarek returned to the starting lineup this season after serving a two-match suspension for a red card he received last season. Porto have not yet won a Champions League match this season, while Napoli had beaten Bodo/Glimt earlier in the campaign.