FC Porto visit Rio Ave in the Liga’s second round | OneFootball

FC Porto began the defense of their National Champions title with a 2-0 win over FC Alverca at the Estádio do Dragão, thanks to goals from André Silva and Gabri Veiga. In the second round of the League, the Dragons face a short but demanding trip to Vila do Conde, where they take on Rio Ave from 8:30pm (Sport TV1).

The side coached by Francesco Farioli was one of four winners in the opening round. Rio Ave, Porto’s next opponent, was not among that group after losing 1-0 to Gil Vicente in Barcelos.

FC Porto and Rio Ave have already faced each other on 74 occasions across all competitions. The record is clearly in favor of the blue and whites, with 55 wins, 16 draws and only three defeats, as well as 167 goals scored and 41 conceded. Even when playing away, the Porto side maintains a significant advantage.

In the 35 matches played in Vila do Conde, FC Porto won 23, drew 10 and lost only two. The only games in which they failed to win on Rio Ave’s ground were in the league, as they have never failed to win at that stadium in the three Portuguese Cup ties and the one League Cup match. Last season, the Dragons traveled to Vila do Conde in the sixth round and returned with all three points after a 3-0 victory built on goals from Pablo Rosario, Samu and Gabri Veiga.

The tickets made available through the bilhetes.fcporto.pt platform sold out quickly, so a strong blue-and-white presence is expected in the stands at the Rio Ave Stadium.

FC Porto

Francesco Farioli expects a challenge against “one of the teams that continues to work with the same coach,” one that “can press in different ways” and plays in a venue that is “difficult to play at.” For that reason, the Italian coach demands “very high levels of focus,” an essential condition to “win as many games as possible.” Although the season is only just beginning, he believes it has “already been proven that there are no easy games.”

“If in mid-August we let our emotions overflow, we would have many problems. The teams are very well organized and can surprise you, creating danger through transitions and set pieces,” the Italian coach stressed, confident that “all the players who represent FC Porto are connected and committed to giving their all for the Club.”

With the aim of claiming the “three points up for grabs” in Vila do Conde, Francesco Farioli did not dwell on transfer rumors, analyzed some squad members individually and commented on the influence of VAR in modern football: “VAR was created as a tool to help referees make better decisions, because sometimes it is hard to see everything, especially with players playing faster and faster.”

After another training session at the CTFD Jorge Costa, the National Champions’ coach previewed the match and confirmed Alberto Costa and André Silva in the squad. Cláudio Ramos, Alan Varela, Oskar Pietuszewski and Samu are still carrying physical issues and were left out of the options.

Rio Ave

Rio Ave finished last season in 12th place, comfortably securing their place in the League. Sotiris Sylaidopoulos remained in charge, while the squad underwent several changes during the summer transfer window.

Jorge Karseladze, Georgios Okkas, Etienne Michut, Ole Pohlman and Karem Zoabi left the club. To make up for those departures, the Vila do Conde side secured six new signings for the new season.

Ennio van der Gouw, a Dutch goalkeeper, Nelson Abbey, an English defender who had been playing for Olympiacos, Gustavo Mancha, a Brazilian defender, Diogo Nascimento, a Portuguese midfielder, Roland Galcík, a Slovak forward from Podbrezová, and Samuel Alves, a Brazilian forward formerly of Botafogo, are the new additions to the squad.

In the 1-0 defeat to Gil Vicente in Barcelos on August 9, Sotiris Sylaidopoulos started Ennio van der Gouw, Andreas Ntoi, Pancho Petrasso, Gustavo Mancha, Nelson Abbey, Georgios Liavas, Diogo Nascimento, Ryan Guilherme, Roland Galcik, Diogo Bezerra and Jalen Blesa. During the match, Tamble Monteiro, Tamás Nikitscher, Marious Vrousai, Dario Spikic and Jakub Brabec came on.

Refereeing team

Miguel Fonseca, from the Porto Football Association, will referee the match, by appointment of the Refereeing Council of the Portuguese Football Federation. The 30-year-old official will have João Martins and André Costa as assistants, while Cláudio Pereira will serve as fourth official. Cláudia Ribeiro will be in charge of VAR, with André Campos as AVAR.

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