Farioli grants two days off before facing Sporting and Benfica | OneFootball

Anticipating the great physical and mental strain of the coming month, Francesco Farioli granted the squad a double break before a marathon of six matches in 28 days, most of them highly demanding.

After fulfilling their obligation in the traditionally difficult trip to Choupana – a 1-0 victory thanks to a solitary goal by Bednarek, following a corner taken by Gabri Veiga – Farioli’s team begins, on Sunday at Estádio do Dragão, a decisive phase in which the league leadership and the possibility of qualifying for the final of the Taça de Portugal will be at stake.

The first challenge of this cycle, which only ends on March 22 due to international commitments, is against Rio Ave. This is followed by two consecutive home league games, including the rescheduled match with Arouca on February 27. In midweek, on March 3, they travel to Estádio José Alvalade for the first leg of the Taça de Portugal semi-finals against Sporting, and the following week, on March 8, they will once again travel to Lisbon to face Benfica at Estádio da Luz.

No time to breathe

The schedule is so tight that, on March 15, FC Porto hosts Moreirense at the Dragão, and before the break, they will still have a demanding away match at SC Braga – a team that made them fight hard for victory in the first round, with Borja Sainz scoring the decisive goal at the end.

The moment of truth is approaching for Francesco Farioli and the squad, with two tough classics in Lisbon and a tricky trip to Braga. With a four-point lead over Sporting and seven over Benfica, FC Porto is trying to preserve that margin, fully aware, however, of the great difficulties ahead.

The injuries to forward Kiwior – the latter less serious – further complicate the coach’s task, who saw the team drop five points in two consecutive rounds (a defeat to Casa Pia in Rio Maior and a home draw with Sporting) and cannot afford to slip up again. In the Taça de Portugal, it should be remembered, the tie with Sporting is played over two legs.

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