FC Porto Women Edge AS Celtas in Pre-Season Friendly

FC Porto (W) began their late-summer preparations with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over AS Celtas (W) in an international club friendly on 30 August 2026. The match, which kicked off at 18:10, gave both sides valuable minutes as they fine-tuned their squads ahead of the upcoming domestic and European campaigns.

The Portuguese outfit controlled large spells of possession, but needed a strong second-half response to overcome a determined Celtas side that had taken the game to their hosts early on. It was a useful test for Porto, who showed resilience as well as attacking fluidity in a competitive but friendly-spirited encounter.

First Half: Fast Start from Celtas

AS Celtas, the travelling side, started brightly and caught Porto off guard with their high press. Their breakthrough came midway through the opening period when a swift counter-attack was finished coolly past the Porto goalkeeper, silencing the home crowd. The visitors’ well-organised midfield made it difficult for Porto to build rhythm, and the first half ended with Celtas holding a deserved advantage.

Porto grew into the game as the half wore on, creating a couple of half-chances through wide crosses, but a lack of precision in the final third meant they went into the break trailing.

Second Half: Porto’s Response

The home side emerged with renewed intensity after the interval. FC Porto increased their tempo, shifting the ball quicker and pushing full-backs higher to stretch the Celtas defence. The equaliser arrived just after the hour mark when a well-worked move down the right flank was finished at the near post to restore parity.

Porto’s momentum continued to build, and their winner came with roughly fifteen minutes remaining. A clever through-ball split the Celtas backline, allowing the substitute forward to lift the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. It was a goal that showcased the sharpness Porto had been looking for in the final third.

Tactical Story and Standout Players

This friendly was as much about preparation as it was about the result. Porto’s coach experimented with a more aggressive press in the second half, which proved decisive in turning the match around. The midfield trio grew in influence after the break, while the introduction of fresh legs added the creativity needed to break down a stubborn defensive block.

For Celtas, the performance was encouraging despite the defeat. Their disciplined shape in the first half and quick transitions caused problems, and they will take confidence from stretching a side of Porto’s calibre.

What’s Next for Both Sides?

This International Club Friendly serves as an important step in both teams’ pre-season schedules. FC Porto (W) will look to build on this comeback victory as they continue their preparations, while AS Celtas (W) will be keen to sharpen their finishing and game management ahead of competitive fixtures. Results in friendlies are rarely the main measure, but the character shown by Porto in overturning a deficit is exactly the kind of habit teams want before the real season begins.

With the match ending 2-1, Porto walked away with the win, but both sides will have found plenty of useful lessons to carry forward.