Arsenal loanee earns MVP award | OneFootball

Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira won Porto’s MVP award for his performance against Casa Pia on Saturday, helping his team to a 1-0 victory.

Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images

Fabio Vieira made his 22nd start of the season on Saturday, playing in midfield for loan club FC Porto in a Liga Portugal fixture away to Casa Pia.

The result was a tight 1-0 victory, but Vieira was one of the standouts for his side. The 24-year-old completed 88% of his passes including seven out of seven long balls, and he won seven of his 11 individual duels, winning four free-kicks and making three tackles.

Porto recognised his performance after the match, handing him their Merito e Valores Porto award for the game.

Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images

Porto’s MVP award is separate to the MVP Liga Portugal award, which determines the official Player of the Match. Goalscorer Rodrigo Mora won that one.

But Porto’s award went to Vieira, with the club clearly keen to reward his display.

“This victory is very important, we needed to respond quickly and fortunately we did,” Vieira said afterwards.

Photo via Porto on Twitter

Vieira has nine goals and assists in 34 games for Porto this season, and he’s been on a good run of form for the last couple of months.

Porto’s results have been more mixed lately. They’ve been eliminated from the cups and the Europa League, and they’re way off the pace when it comes to the title or a Champions League place.

The team do look likely to at least make the Europa Conference League qualifiers, but part of their focus now will be on preparing for this summer’s Club World Cup.