Goal drought on Porto’s wings worries Farioli ahead of the derby | OneFootball

FC Porto’s ability to stretch the field and launch their wingers at speed is a core part of Francesco Farioli’s game plan and a pillar of his philosophy. Opponents have already figured out the Porto “chessboard”: the Dragons’ inside runs are based on the connection between the center-backs—usually Bednarek—and the more physical midfielders, Froholdt and Gabri Veiga.

When that progression is halted, often by the opponent’s tactical adjustments, it becomes necessary to diversify, and the Italian coach has several options to energize the flanks. The problem: the wingers have not delivered in terms of goals or assists; the danger they create has proven inconsequential or is easily neutralized by opposing defenses, lacking decisive impact in breakthrough moments.

Paradoxically, this weakness was evident during FC Porto’s very strong start against Casa Pia, when in the first quarter of an hour the Dragons pinned Álvaro Pacheco’s team back into their own area and the wingers had freedom and space to appear in the heart of the box.

Borja Sainz showed up where expected but missed at the crucial moment—a recurring trend for the Spaniard, who has recently been more wasteful. In the match against Casa Pia, he took three shots (one on target, two blocked), scored no goals, and was caught offside twice, much to the relief of the opposing fans. This goal drought continues, in stark contrast to the explosive starts of the most-used trio—Borja Sainz, Pepê, and William Gomes—who began the season with goals and quality performances. The recent numbers are telling: Borja Sainz has scored two goals in the last 14 matches; William Gomes, one goal in the last nine; Pepê, just one in FC Porto’s last 26 games.

Francesco Farioli demands more aggression on the wings, and the Dragons are searching for lethal wide players at this decisive stage of the season, with Sporting seriously threatening Porto’s title ambitions. Could Oskar Pietuszewski, the latest signing for the flanks, gain more prominence in the upcoming classic? With William Gomes suspended after being sent off with a straight red card in Rio Maior for a hard tackle on center-back and compatriot David Sousa, the Pole emerges as an alternative to put pressure on Sporting’s full-backs and add more intensity to the flanks.

Farioli has already shown he does not hesitate to make changes. If Borja Sainz and Pepê continue to have little impact up to the classic, the Italian coach will not hesitate to field the new signings, as he has done before. With him, reputation does not guarantee a place or a starting spot. It’s up to the Dragons to wake up their wingers in time to turn the flanks into a lethal weapon and put Sporting back seven points behind.

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