Arouca v FC Porto preview: Dragons out to defend top spot in fiery clash | OneFootball

It is impossible to discuss the Arouca-FC Porto match, part of the 7th round of the Primeira Liga (8:00 PM), without mentioning the controversy surrounding the scheduling of the game, which involved regulatory breaches by the League itself, threats of boycott, and court appeals by the Dragons.

In the Primeira Liga draw, Arouca did not oppose hosting on the scheduled date of the 7th round. It was only at the beginning of September that the Arouca City Council and Civil Protection announced that there were no conditions to hold the match on Sunday, the 28th, due to the Harvest Festival, an event that attracts thousands of people to the town, leaving the Firefighters, Police, and Civil Protection engaged in the event and unable to ensure the safety of the game.

FC Porto proposed October 30th, a proposal that Arouca refused. In the absence of an agreement between the clubs, the League rescheduled the game for Monday, the 29th, scheduled with less than 72 hours' notice relative to the match in which FC Porto would host Red Star, knowing that the following Sunday the undefeated home team would play against Benfica. The League's decision did not take into account FC Porto's participation in UEFA competitions, unlike what it did in other cases this season, a fact that the blue and whites criticized.

This scheduling will force FC Porto to play three games in six days, with intervals of 70 and 71 hours between them, not respecting the minimum of 72 hours between matches.

After threats of court appeals and challenges, FC Porto eventually agreed to play the match.

This FC Porto, having the best start in the Primeira Liga in the last three decades (18 points and a positive goal difference of 14), aims to win to reach the classic against Benfica in command.

Martim Fernandes and William Gomes have already returned, with the Brazilian standing out as seen in Austria. Alberto Costa is also recovered. Luuk de Jong remains doubtful, still hoping to be available for the derby. Nehuén Pérez, out for the season, is the only confirmed absence.

Farioli is expected to field the best possible team, with Alberto Costa on the right flank and Francisco Moura on the left; Alan Varela, Froholdt, and Gabri Veiga in the middle; and Borja Sainz, Pepê, and Samu in attack. Team management before the match against Benfica will be done in the Thursday game against Red Star, where several changes are expected to preserve the most used players. The number one priority for the blue and whites remains the Primeira Liga.

The blue and whites head to Serra da Freita on a high, having won all seven games played this season. Besides the six victories in the Primeira Liga, with 15 goals scored and only one conceded, the Dragons achieved a hard-fought but precious victory in Salzburg in their debut in the Europa League 2025/26, with William Gomes deciding in the 90+3 minutes with a great goal.

The leadership of the new FC Porto in the Primeira Liga is based on six wins in six rounds, in a team that has evolved mainly defensively. Rio Ave was the last to give in, at home, in the previous round, by 3-0.

Scoring against this FC Porto led by Francesco Farioli has been a daunting task. Arouca seeks to do what Vitória de Guimarães, Sporting, Rio Ave, Salzburg, Gil Vicente, Nacional, and Casa Pia could not: beat Diogo Costa. The only goal conceded this season was an own goal by Nehuén Pérez, in Alvalade.

Vasco Seabra's team comes from an important victory at Nacional, achieved already in stoppage time, after four games without a win. Arouca started the Primeira Liga with a victory over AVS, lost to Sporting and Casa Pia, and drew with Rio Ave and Vitória SC.

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