Kiwior cements his place at Porto: defensive rock and left-side solution | OneFootball

After eight appearances in service of FC Porto, it is almost universally agreed that the board led by André Villas-Boas made the right move by securing the Polish centre-back from Arsenal on loan with an option to buy. With experience in the Premier League and the Champions League, the number 4 for the Dragons quickly established himself as an undisputed presence in the heart of defense, alongside his compatriot Bednarek, forming a partnership that has shown very positive signs of solidity.

Despite promising indications in terms of passing, the 25-year-old player had yet to showcase in Portugal one of his most recognized qualities: the ability to carry the ball and create imbalances from the back. In this regard, Monday’s match against Moreirense brought reassurance to the Porto faithful.

Confident in possession, Kiwior completed the most accurate passes in the hard-fought away win in Minho (2-1): 96 successful passes out of 107 attempts. However, the most notable statistic came in his occupation of the final third: among the 30 players on the pitch, no one delivered more accurate balls into that area than the centre-back—17 out of 24 attempts, a 71% success rate. Remarkable numbers for a defender who, close to the 90th minute, pushed up into the box for a corner to head the ball and assist Deniz Gul in the move that turned the game around for Porto.

At a stage when opponents are starting to better read Francesco Farioli’s playing model, Kiwior proves to be a valuable solution for offering alternatives, including a more direct style of play. The centre-back completed four of the nine long passes he attempted, another useful quality against teams that make organized attacking build-up difficult. And there’s also the versatility the player brings…

In addition to the centre-back position, Kiwior has often played as a left-back for Arsenal and the Polish national team. It was no surprise, then, that he took up that position from the 73rd minute in Moreira de Cónegos, when Francisco Moura made way for Prpic.

Not everything went perfectly when he moved out wide, but Farioli was quick to state that he counts on Jakub for that role if needed. “He can easily cover that position. What we expect from defenders is quality and physicality,” said the FC Porto coach after the final whistle.

From a defensive standpoint, Kiwior delivered with distinction: he won four of the five duels he contested throughout the match and showed composure in his tackling attempts. If he maintains this level and increases his involvement in the attacking phase, there are clear signs that the investment planned for the end of the season—17 million euros, plus €5 million in add-ons—will be fully justified.

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