Birmingham City 1 – 2 FC Porto
International Club Friendly | 19 July 2026, 19:00

FC Porto continued their pre-season tour of England with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Championship side Birmingham City at St Andrew’s on Sunday evening. The Portuguese giants showcased their technical quality, but Birmingham pushed them all the way in a match that offered plenty of intensity for a summer friendly.

Match Overview

Porto dominated the early exchanges and took the lead in the 18th minute through a well-taken goal from new signing Francisco Conceição. The winger cut inside from the right and curled a left-footed effort into the far corner, giving the Blues goalkeeper no chance. Birmingham, however, responded with resilience and began to find their rhythm as the half progressed.

The equaliser came just before the break. A corner from the left was only half-cleared, and midfielder Krystian Bielik pounced on the loose ball to drive a low shot through a crowd of players into the net. The goal lifted the home crowd and gave Birmingham a platform for the second half.

Key Moments

• 18' – Porto strike first: Conceição’s brilliant individual effort gave Porto an early advantage.
• 43' – Bielik levels: The Polish midfielder’s sharp reaction from a corner restored parity just before halftime.
• 67' – Porto retake the lead: A quick passing move ended with Mehdi Taremi slotting home from close range after a cutback from the left.
• 75' – Birmingham hit the crossbar: A powerful header from a set piece rattled the woodwork, as the hosts pushed for another equaliser.

Tactical Story

Porto lined up in their familiar 4-4-2 diamond, aiming to control the midfield and create overloads in wide areas. Birmingham, under manager John Eustace, set up in a compact 4-2-3-1, looking to absorb pressure and break quickly. The home side’s pressing was effective in the first half, but Porto’s superior technical ability allowed them to find spaces in the second period. The Portuguese side’s ability to switch play quickly stretched Birmingham’s defence and ultimately led to the winning goal.

Standout Players

• Francisco Conceição (Porto): The young winger looked lively throughout, scoring one and constantly troubling the Birmingham defence with his dribbling.
• Krystian Bielik (Birmingham): The midfielder’s goal and all-round combative display were highlights for the home side.
• Mehdi Taremi (Porto): The Iranian striker’s movement and link-up play were instrumental, and he took his goal well.

Season Impact

For FC Porto, this friendly marks another step in their preparation for the Primeira Liga and a potential UEFA Champions League campaign. The win against a physical Championship side will give manager Sérgio Conceição confidence in his squad’s depth. Birmingham, meanwhile, will take heart from a competitive performance that showed they can match a top European side for long stretches. The friendlies are building towards the start of the Championship season, and Eustace will be pleased with the fitness levels shown.