Thiago Silva shines on debut: 93% passing, wins every duel | OneFootball

The most high-profile signing in Portuguese football this winter window, Thiago Silva returned at 41 years old, shining for FC Porto, dominating the classic match against Benfica. After Francesco Farioli's decision – who, due to Francisco Moura's injury, chose to dismantle the Polish duo Bednarek–Kiwior – it was legitimate to question how the Dragons' defense would perform; the answer was an almost flawless performance by the Brazilian international.

The calmness he displayed on the field impressed both the demanding blue and white fan base and his teammates, who praised his authority in defense, always with his head up and measured movements.

He thus overcame a highly difficult test and, unless any setbacks occur, should be a starter in the upcoming match at Estádio Afonso Henriques, in Guimarães, next Sunday – an opponent boosted by their recent victory in the League Cup and determined to halt the Dragons' march towards the championship.

The numbers from Thiago Silva's debut in this second stint at FC Porto illustrate the impact of the reinforcement signed by André Villas-Boas, at no cost, this window. He faced three direct duels and won them all; he won both aerial duels in the notable match against Benfica; recorded a 93 percent pass accuracy (40 out of 43), one interception, two ball recoveries, and six clearances. He had 53 touches on the ball – the most among FC Porto players in the classic – and only three possession losses, the lowest among the starters.

If there were any doubts about his reliability, the first chapter of this new stage at Dragão dispelled them completely. Thiago Silva continues to demonstrate a strong positional sense, anticipation, and the ability to launch teammates from the back.

Francesco Farioli publicly reiterated that the January arrivals were meant to add solutions and contribute to the season's objectives – with the national title as a priority – as well as for the Portuguese Cup and an extended Europa League campaign. It is worth noting that the League Cup was prematurely out of reach, following an unexpected defeat at Dragão against Vitória de Guimarães, precisely the next opponent of the blue and whites in the championship.

Thiago Silva was immediately integrated into the group, being warmly welcomed by his teammates and standing out for his humility and willingness to collaborate – evident signs of the camaraderie and cohesion noticed in the celebrations after qualifying for the Portuguese Cup semi-finals.

Three and a half weeks after signing the contract, he made his debut for the blue and whites, forcing Kiwior's move to the left-back position in the match against Benfica. The Brazilian defender admitted he couldn't have wished for a better debut in this return to the Invicta City.

«What a night, Porto fans. Thank you for welcoming me so well. What energy. What team spirit. It was all incredible. Onwards», wrote the experienced Brazilian international central defender on his social media. Definitely, Thiago Silva has come to add quality and experience to the team.

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