Borja Sainz slips down pecking order, but FC Porto fully trust him | OneFootball

Far from the level he showed at the start of the season and well below the spark he displayed in England, Borja Sainz is going through the most difficult spell of the campaign, having failed to play a single minute in FC Porto’s last three matches. The Spaniard remained on the bench against Tondela, Sporting and Estrela da Amadora, in a competitive pause that carries even more weight because he is fully fit.

In practice, that means the absence is the result of a decision by Francesco Farioli, who has been rotating the squad somewhat. The main “culprit” is Oskar Pietuszewski, who arrived and immediately claimed a starting spot.

Up to the match against Tondela, Borja — Farioli’s ninth most-used player (2,395 minutes) — had missed only three games: against Aves SAD, through suspension, and against Arouca and Sporting (Cup), following his mother’s death. Between March 8, in the clash with Benfica, and the trip to Nottingham on April 16, he was always used.

His latest performances have not convinced, but that does not reflect a loss of confidence from the coaching staff. Alverca, the next opponent, brings back good memories: it was precisely against that side that he scored his last brace.

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