GELSENKIRCHEN - Porto endured an unhappy return to the ground where they won the 2004 Champions League, losing narrowly to Schalke in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday night.
Kevin Kuranyi responded perfectly to his coach's pre-match demands for his players to be more clinical in front of goal, the Germany international netting inside four minutes at the Veltins-Arena.
Porto arrived hoping for a repeat of their recent good results in Germany but instead returned to Portugal with a deficit to overturn if they are to progress to the last eight.
For their part, Schalke got their knockout stage campaign off to a dream start, going ahead with their first attack of the evening.
A neat move allowed Jermaine Jones to slide the ball to Marcio Rafinha, and when his shot was parried by Helton Da Silva, Kuranyi was hand to fire past the on-rushing Porto defence and give the hosts the lead.
Rafinha had another attempt a minute later as the home side stayed on top, while at the other end Porto were being limited to long-range shots by some resolute defending - Ricardo Quaresma having the best chance with a shot from the edge of the area that bent wide of the post.
Frustration began to take its toll on the visitors, as for all their quick passing and fancy footwork there seemed to be no way through the Schalke backline, and as the half wore on the hosts had the most chances to add to the scoring.
With 30 minutes played Kuranyi fired in a stinging shot from the right of the area which Helton tipped away in acrobatic fashion, before Rakitic twice skimmed the bar from the left and then Kuranyi again had Helton scrambling with another bullet of a shot before the visitors were saved by the half-time whistle.
Porto looked to take the game to their hosts in the second period but continued to falter in front of goal.
The only positive for the away side at this point was the lack of action at the other end of the pitch, as Schalke seemed content to sit back and wait for a chance on the break.
One of Porto's best chances to draw level came from a set-piece, Jose Raul Meireles' free-kick forcing Manuel Neuer to punch clear.
Then with 12 minutes to go Meireles caused panic in the Schalke defence when he turned a cross from the right flank back across goal, but Lisandro Lopez could not direct the ball on target from four yards.
The visitors' night was summed up in the dying seconds of the game when, after forcing a corner, Quaresma swung the ball across the face of goal as a line of Porto attackers watched it sail past them and away to safety.
