Close observation and B team training: how Farioli set up the derby win | OneFootball

FC Porto extended Francesco Farioli’s perfect start this Saturday, winning 2-1 on the home ground of Sporting, the national champions, and taking the sole lead in the league.

We explain the strategy the Dragons prepared for Alvalade and how they worked on it throughout the week.

With a full week to plan – the UEFA Europa League group stage only begins in September and midweek games are still to come – Farioli dedicated himself to analyzing Sporting’s last 15 matches under Rui Borges, searching for tactical patterns, result trends, and the Sporting coach’s strategic choices in different scenarios.

It was based on this assessment that, in the pre-match press conference, he highlighted the number of games in which Sporting finished with a numerical advantage.

The Porto coach focused especially on the opponent’s vulnerabilities that could be exploited, as well as the phases when Sporting imposed their rhythm of play.

The staff carried out a detailed analysis of Sporting’s main players, identifying strengths and exploitable weaknesses, especially under pressure. In this way, FC Porto’s players were given clear references for approaching their duels.

The week’s sessions alternated between collective exercises and individualized work. The players were challenged technically and physically, with an emphasis on tactical cohesion: there was a focus on pressing moments, defensive solidity, and ball circulation in various contexts.

To intensify the sessions, two joint units were held with the B team, which reproduced different Sporting scenarios identified in the initial observation. This allowed Farioli to test the team’s reaction to predictable opponent behaviors and implement tactical adjustments.

In the end, the coach considered that the team was prepared to respond to whatever the game at Alvalade demanded, with the players clearly knowing what they had to do. The result ultimately validated that conviction.

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