On 13 September 2011, in a home game against FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Champions League, Manduca scored the equaliser in the 73rd minute and, two minutes later, assisted compatriot Aílton for the final 2–1 win and the club's first ever in that stage of the competition. On 1 November, he netted in the last minute against FC Porto (same competition, venue and result). In the round-of-16's second leg against Olympique Lyonnais, on 7 March 2012, he netted the 1–0 at home which levelled the tie, being sent off before the penalty shootout victory; on 4 April 2012, he scored his side's first goal in an eventual 2–5 quarter-final loss at Real Madrid (2–8 on aggregate).