UEFA Champions League : FC Porto 1-1 FC Shakhtar Donetsk

FC Shakhtar Donetsk held UEFA Champions League Group H winners FC Porto to a draw in the Estádio do Dragão as the section's two qualified sides could not be separated.

Despite there being no qualification pressure on either team, chances had been at a premium until Taras Stepanenko's breakthrough in the 50th minute as he headed in a Bernard corner. Porto's much-changed side took time to click but Bruno Martins Indi nodded against the crossbar in the 71st minute and then Vincent Aboubakar had the Dragons' fans roaring as he thrashed home an 87th-minute equaliser.

Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu – without suspended UEFA Champions League top scorer Luiz Adriano – had predicted a good, open game and Olexandr Gladkiy did have a terrific early opportunity for the Pitmen yet was unable to make the connection at the far post that was required to turn the ball in. Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma was lively, shooting straight at Andriy Pyatov on the half-hour and within seconds the goalkeeper was called upon again, diving to his right to save from Adrián López.

Porto were forced into a reshuffle when midfielder Rúben Neves went off with a knee injury. Martins Indi came on and Iván Marcano stepped up the pitch from centre-half. Shakhtar' captain for the night, Stepanenko, picked up a costly booking just before the interval and will be suspended for the first leg of the round of 16.

Bernard had looked the most dangerous attacker on either side and he provided the assist from a corner as Stepanenko partially redeemed his night, getting away from his marker and soaring to power in a commanding header which gave Shakhtar the lead. Porto almost equalised immediately as Aboubakar flashed a volley on the turn narrowly wide.

Shakhtar carried the greater menace in wide areas and Bernard slipped another fine pass to Alex Teixeira, his fellow Brazilian, whose powerful strike was deflected over. Porto substitute Martins Indi crashed a header against the crossbar from a Ricardo cross entering the final 20 minutes but it appeared Porto would be frustrated until Aboubakar seized on a loose Fernando touch and rifled in a shot from 25 metres that Pyatov could only palm into the roof of the net.

‘It’s easy to play behind Per and Lolo’

Emiliano Martinez says it is “easy” to play behind Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

The Argentine goalkeeper delivered another commanding display on Wednesday night as the Gunners beat Southampton 1-0 at Emirates Stadium.

It was the 22-year-old’s third successive clean sheet, and while he is pleased with his own form he was also quick to pay tribute to his team-mates.

“When you play with Per, Lolo, Nacho - whoever is in the back four - you feel confident against any team,” Martinez said. “I feel really, really confident behind them and hopefully I will get more opportunities.

Lolo and Per are both experienced, organisationally strong and always talk to you. It is so easy to play behind them

Emiliano Martinez

“It really helps me. Lolo and Per are both experienced, organisationally strong and always talk to you. It is so easy to play behind them.

"It is amazing [to keep three clean sheets]. I need to enjoy it and say thank you to my defenders as well. They have been outstanding in the last three games. It is always good to keep a clean sheet and do your job.

“I know I am young and I need to wait for opportunities. When the opportunity comes, you need to be confident and show the manager that you can play as well. I think I am doing it, I am breeding confidence in my defenders and I am really pleased with that."

Martinez puts his good form down to a positive mindset and believing in his own ability, no matter how big the occasion.

“I like to command my area and help the defenders,” he said. “If there are more crosses coming in, I am going to come.

"I have been around English football for a few years, so I know how to play, I know it is quicker than anywhere. I need to play how I always play, like I do in the under-21s or for my national team. That's the keeper I am."