Diogo Costa (unbeatable) can make history against Arouca | OneFootball

Tomorrow at 8:30pm, the Estádio do Dragão will host the match between FC Porto and Arouca. The national champions are chasing their third win in as many league rounds, but on the other side of the pitch, Diogo Costa is also pursuing a personal milestone. The Portuguese international is just 90 minutes away from making his best start to a season since becoming the first-choice goalkeeper of the senior team in 2021/22.

If he keeps a clean sheet against Arouca, the number 99 will reach a fourth consecutive official match without conceding in 2026/2027. So far, Porto’s captain has kept clean sheets against Torreense (1-0) in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira final, Alverca (2-0), and Rio Ave (0-2) in the league. Repeating the feat against Arouca – who share top spot in the competition with the national champions and Marítimo – would allow the goalkeeper to set an unprecedented mark since taking over between the posts for FC Porto.

The importance of Diogo Costa is clear when looking at pre-season. Despite featuring little due to his holidays after the World Cup, the team coached by Francesco Farioli conceded in every warm-up match. With the captain’s return, now in official matches, Porto have once again shut out opponents and have gone 270 minutes without conceding.

Diogo Costa is now in his sixth straight season as first choice. In 2021/2022, he conceded his first goal in the second round against Famalicão; in 2022/2023, he was beaten by Marítimo in the opening league round; in 2023/2024, he conceded twice against Benfica in the Supertaça; in 2024/2025, also in the Supertaça, he saw Sporting score three times before half-time; and in 2025/2026, he conceded in the fourth round at Alvalade, despite the Dragons’ victory. This season, he already has three official clean sheets and intends to extend that run at home against Arouca, a side that plays attractive football and thrashed Moreirense (4-0) in the second round.

And the airport really did close…

During this summer transfer window, the future of Diogo Costa was the subject of much speculation, with the goalkeeper repeatedly linked to PSG and Chelsea. Even so, everything points to the Portuguese international staying at the Dragão.

The captain’s stay is particularly pleasing to coach Francesco Farioli, who even joked about the situation and called for the airport to be closed to prevent the player from leaving. The goalkeeper continues to be seen as an essential piece for 2026/2027.

In the current season, the priority is to win back the league title, but the Dragons also aim to lift the Portuguese Cup and the League Cup. The team also want to go as far as possible in their debut in the new regular-phase format of the UEFA Champions League.

The continuity of Diogo Costa represents a guarantee of security for any coach. That is why Farioli hopes no offer capable of triggering the Portuguese international’s release clause reaches the offices of the SAD, led by André Villas-Boas. The amount dropped from €75 million to €60 million after his contract renewal, completed last season.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper finished last league campaign with 21 clean sheets in 33 matches. Surpassing that record will be a demanding task, although the start to the season keeps that possibility alive. Diogo Costa remains at the Dragão as one of FC Porto’s symbols and a benchmark of great reliability.

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