FC Porto’s fitness under Farioli faces Stuttgart test | OneFootball

FC Porto are nearing their 40th match of the season in a congested March, with little time to rest before the international break. The next examination comes in Stuttgart on Thursday. Sebastian Hoeness’s side play offensive, pressing, high-intensity football.

According to O Jogo, the coaching staff viewed the recent meetings with Sporting and Benfica as confirmation that Porto have built a robust physical base, a pillar of Francesco Farioli’s identity.

The ability to sustain intensity, recover between matches and compete at a high level has been managed through daily work at Olival. March squeezes six games into 20 days.

Availability has been crucial, with most injuries coming from contact, something Farioli has repeated in press conferences. These have included two anterior cruciate ligament injuries, to Samu and De jong, and an Achilles tendon rupture for Nehuén Pérez. Muscle problems have been scarce, though Martim Fernandes has long-standing pain in the sole of his right foot.

Workload has been handled carefully in training and in matches, illustrated by six changes between Alvalade and the Luz. Further changes in Germany are anticipated.

Physical conditioning has clearly progressed from last season. From three defeats, two of them heavy, and a draw in 2024/25, Porto have moved to one win and three draws, recovering five points head to head. In the league, they have 16 more points than in the equivalent period.

At the Luz, despite allowing Benfica to erase a two-goal deficit, the staff were pleased with the physical response. They felt the team’s output in that area even increased after the interval.

Source: O Jogo