Francesco Farioli faces second-season test at Porto as Champions League debut awaits | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli won the league at the first attempt with Porto and now enters year two, set for his Champions League debut with the club.

According to L'Équipe, he stayed on after one-season spells at Nice and Ajax, and Porto have started Liga 2025-26 with five wins, conceding once in a 2-1 win over Moreirense.

The 37-year-old says evolution is vital to keep winning, but avoided big promises, noting that modern football’s surprises last only 45 minutes. His side remain built on intensity and risk control.

Last season he largely split resources, one XI for the league and another for the Europa League, with only Jan Bednarek and captain Diogo Costa constants. A repeat could appear in spells, given a limited squad.

Porto again sold more than they bought, yet none of the league starters left. Rodrigo Mora, 19, mainly used in Europe, joined Roma for €25m, potentially €50m, his profile seen as ill-suited to Farioli’s approach.

Depth looks improved, with winger Gabriel Mec, 18, from Grêmio, and the loan of Santiago Gimenez from AC Milan. Victor Froholdt, 20, is under concussion protocol after a heavy clash on Friday.

Manchester City’s visit on Tuesday at 21:00 will offer the first gauge of whether Porto can rise a level. Last season they lost twice to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League, both in England, 0-2 in the league phase and 0-1 in the quarter-finals. Their previous Champions League run, in 2023-2024, ended against Arsenal on penalties in the last 16.

Source: L'Équipe

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