Porto return to Seville on Wednesday for a Champions League league-phase meeting with Real Betis at La Cartuja, a stadium that still carries one of the defining memories of the Portuguese club’s European history. Three points in matchday two would strengthen their early push towards the knockout places, at the ground where Porto lifted the UEFA Cup in 2003.
What the night decided
La Cartuja hosted Porto’s 3-2 extra-time victory over Celtic in the 2003 UEFA Cup final, the first of four continental trophies in the club’s collection. The Dragons have won the European Cup/Champions League twice, in 1987 and 2004, and the UEFA Cup/Europa League twice, in 2003 and 2011.
José Mourinho’s side began a remarkable two-season run in Seville before following it with the Champions League title a year later. Porto beat Monaco 2-0 in the 2004 final in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. La Cartuja, opened in 1999, has not staged another European final since that night against Celtic.
Porto led twice in the 2003 final. Derlei and Dmitriy Alenichev scored for the Portuguese side, while Henrik Larsson answered each goal for Celtic. Derlei then struck again in extra time to settle the contest.
Mourinho selected Vítor Baía in goal, with Paulo Ferreira, Jorge Costa, Ricardo Carvalho and Nuno Valente across the defence. Alenichev, Costinha, Maniche and Deco formed the midfield, with Derlei and Capucho in attack. Ricardo Costa replaced Costinha in the ninth minute, Pedro Emanuel came on for Jorge Costa in the 71st, and Marco Ferreira took Capucho’s place in the 98th minute.
Porto’s previous Seville visits
Porto’s 2010-11 Europa League-winning campaign also took them through the Andalusian capital. They beat Sevilla 2-1 at the Sánchez-Pizjuán in the round of 32, with Rolando and Guarín scoring for Porto and Frédéric Kanouté for the home team.
Sevilla gained revenge three years later in the quarter-finals on their way to a third Europa League crown. After losing 1-0 in Porto, the Spanish club won 4-1 at home.
The most recent competitive Porto appearance in Seville came on 7 April 2021, when pandemic restrictions moved their Champions League round-of-16 first leg against Chelsea away from Portugal. Behind closed doors in Nervión, Chelsea won 2-0 through goals from Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell.
Betis and Portuguese opponents
Betis have won only one of four home matches against Portuguese clubs, drawing one and losing two. Their latest such result at La Cartuja was a 4-2 defeat to Sporting Braga in last season’s Europa League quarter-final second leg.
That tie had been level at 1-1 after the first match. Antony and Abde put Betis ahead in Seville, but Pau Víctor, Carvalho, Horta and Gorby turned the game and the tie in Braga’s favour.
A year earlier, Betis drew 2-2 at home with Vitória de Guimarães in the Conference League round of 16 first leg, then secured qualification with a 4-0 away win. Bakambu and Isco each gave Betis a lead at La Cartuja, only for João Mendes and Nelson Oliveira to bring Vitória back level on both occasions.
Their sole home victory over Portuguese opposition came at the Benito Villamarín in the 2013-14 Europa League group stage, when Vadillo’s goal defeated Vitória de Guimarães.
Betis also lost 2-1 at home to Benfica in the return match of their opening 1982-83 UEFA Cup tie. Poli Rincón put the Andalusians in front, before Carlos Manuel and Nené completed Benfica’s comeback and sent the Lisbon club through.
