Farioli moves Kiwior left to stop Lions’ attack | OneFootball

Unused substitute against Casa Pia on Monday, Kiwior is preparing to return to FC Porto's starting eleven for the match against Sporting (Monday, 8:45 PM). It seems that the Polish player will again be positioned on the left side of the defense, tasked with containing Geny Catamo's advances and integrating into the central defense duo whenever necessary, forming a block that Farioli hopes will be sufficient to neutralize the Lions' attack.

The Polish wall that Kiwior built with Bednarek until January helped FC Porto finish the first half of the season with only four goals conceded, but this partnership ceased in league matches after the arrival of Thiago Silva. The Porto coach is expected to continue betting on the experienced Brazilian, which will result in the defender on loan from Arsenal taking the place that was Moura's in Rio Maior on the left flank. This change is not directly related to the first goal by Casa Pia, where the former Famalicão player allowed Gaizka Larrazábal to score behind him. Farioli's plan already anticipated this management, especially since Kiwior's physical condition required care. Having played every minute in the eight games before the trip to Rio Maior – accumulating 720 minutes between Alverca and Rangers, more than any other teammate, playing centrally and on the left – the defender showed signs of fatigue. On an extremely heavy pitch, which even worsened Martim Fernandes's injury, the coach chose to rest him, now aiming him for the starting eleven against Sporting, in a decisive match for the title race.

Kiwior is currently the sixth most used player by Farioli, and with him on the field, FC Porto has only suffered one defeat, against Nottingham Forest.

Bednarek is experiencing the “best phase of his career” at Dragão

An essential piece in FC Porto's defensive structure, Bednarek has received praise from Farioli for his performances and leadership skills, and favorable reviews are also emerging in Poland. “Considering the season as a whole, Jan Bednarek is in the best form of his life,” stated Roman Kołton, one of Poland's most renowned sports commentators, this week. An opinion shared by Jacek Laskowski. “Before the transfer to FC Porto, I said it was a great choice. He is at his peak.”

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