Thiago Silva back to lead Porto defence in Europe v Forest | OneFootball

A starter in both legs of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 against Stuttgart, Thiago Silva was on the bench for the matches against SC Braga, which the Dragons won 2-1, and at home to Famalicão last Saturday, which ended in a disappointing 2-2 draw. Before that, he had also been a substitute in the clássico against Benfica (2-2) at the Luz, the match that came before the first clash with the Germans.

It was precisely in the second game against Stuttgart, won 2-0, that the 41-year-old Brazil international reached the milestone of 1,000 career matches — a remarkable figure in a journey that has had a new chapter since January, wearing blue and white. The calm and professionalism he has brought to the dressing room are seen as an example for the younger members of the squad.

His place on the bench in recent league games may suggest otherwise, but Thiago Silva’s physical condition does not limit his use by Francesco Farioli. Even so, Porto’s packed schedule calls for caution and careful management of the experienced centre-back in more demanding matches, such as Thursday’s game against Nottingham Forest, the first of two European fixtures that will decide qualification for the competition’s semi-finals. The Italian coach knows well the value of the Brazilian’s experience on European nights and intends to make the most of it.

The transalpine coach’s plan for that game points to Thiago Silva in the starting XI. One of the first-choice centre-backs will be rested, and the Brazilian will once again lead Porto’s defence, with the assurance that, with him, FC Porto lose none of their solidity: in the eight matches he has started, the blue and whites have conceded goals in only three. Namely: Benfica, in the Portuguese Cup (1-0), V. Guimarães (1-0), Gil Vicente (3-0) and Nacional (1-0) in the league, and Stuttgart (2-0) in Europe.

In a season in which he is making his Europa League debut, after 105 appearances at the highest level in the Champions League, it is only natural that Thiago Silva quietly dreams of going further in the competition. And going further means reaching the final on 20 May at Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul. It is not a far-fetched goal, considering that Nottingham Forest have reached this stage while embroiled in a Premier League survival battle, sitting 16th, just three points above the relegation zone, where West Ham are.

Given FC Porto’s poor record on English soil — Porto fans still clearly remember the 2-0 defeat to Nottingham in the league phase — Farioli’s side have every interest in building a result at the Dragão that leaves the door to the semi-finals ajar.

To do that, being clinical in front of goal will be decisive, but so will not conceding. Thiago Silva is ready for that high-risk mission. It is also worth noting that the Brazilian knows the opponent well: he faced Nottingham four times as a Chelsea player, always in the league. Those meetings in His Majesty’s lands were evenly balanced — one win, two draws and one defeat, interestingly at Stamford Bridge, 1-0, on 2 September 2023.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.