Lino Godinho: the man behind FC Porto’s set-piece secrets | OneFootball

Almost a quarter of FC Porto's goals under Farioli's command come from set pieces, especially from corner kicks: 23% of the team's 69 goals this season (16 in total, 10 just in the League) resulted from these plays.

As for goals conceded from corners, Porto only allowed one in the main competition, during the home match against SC Braga (2-1). Casa Pia scored from a lateral free kick and Sporting converted a penalty against the Invicta team.

The main person responsible for this performance in set pieces is Lino Godinho. Assistant to Farioli – with whom he crossed paths at the Aspire Academy in Qatar – he is the strategist for set-piece situations at Dragão and, with the support of Lucho González and Carlos Pintado (analysis coordinator), he has devised a true laboratory at Olival. The former Argentine midfielder plays an essential role in preparation and analysis.

A specialist in Big Data and faithful to a method based on data and statistics – an approach increasingly present in modern football – Lino joined FC Porto's staff last summer. Before that, he gained experience in the Middle East (Qatar, 2011–2020), as well as stints at Grasshoppers (Switzerland), Académica (Portugal), and Italian clubs like Venezia and Torino.

During games, he is very active, getting up and directing both offensive and defensive routines in set pieces. João Carlos Pereira, who worked with him at Aspire Academy, Grasshoppers, and Académica, describes him as "a prepared professional" who understands "all areas of training."

Pereira also recalls: "With me, he had a different role, he was an assistant with more responsibilities in individual training. That is, everything that was complementary to collective training and related to tactical issues, with game fundamentals. Everything that was on the individual field, development or establishment of individual player goals, implementation of exercises related to players' deficiencies. But Lino is a prepared professional who understands all areas of training well." He adds: "It's no surprise, especially since we also did all the set-piece work. It was developed, at the time, by João Gião, who is in Sporting's B team, but we all touched on all areas. It was clear that it was something he liked and enjoyed. There's no doubt about that."

Regarding the coach's trajectory, Pereira emphasizes: "I don't know if it was he who ventured into this area or if it was this type of task that was assigned to him. He is a well-prepared person with the ability to reflect on the training process. It doesn't surprise me at all that he is doing a good job. As he would in other areas." He concludes: "Those in football must surround themselves with good people and good professionals. Opportunities sometimes come, other times they don't. And there's something fundamental for me: when they come, people must be prepared and competent. And Lino is one of those professionals who, throughout his career, has equipped himself with knowledge, surrounded himself with people who could also provide him with knowledge. He learned, he evolved, and I have no doubt that he is a highly qualified coach because he prepared for this."

Gabri Veiga stands out as the main executor in set pieces. In the match against CD Nacional, he placed the ball on Jan Bednarek's head for the goal that decided the game, reaching his eighth assist of the season – the highest in the squad – and the fifth from a corner. The number 10 hadn't made a decisive pass since January 14, when, in the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, he assisted Bednarek in the victory over Benfica by 1-0.

The influence of corner kicks on FC Porto's offensive production in the League is notable and coincides with the season's percentage: 23%. The dragons lead the championship in goals obtained from these plays; in contrast, teams like Tondela manage to score a third of their goals this way.

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