Rosario, William Gomes, Thiago Silva and Fofana fresh for Forest decider | OneFootball

With the league temporarily out of the equation, FC Porto now turn their focus back to Europe as they face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in a match that will decide qualification for the Europa League semi-finals. The weight of the tie, after the 1-1 draw at the Dragão, should not alter Farioli’s approach, with the coach having relied on heavy rotation between domestic and international fixtures.

In that context, there are players whose presence is all but guaranteed, whether because of the physical freshness gained from being absent or playing few minutes in Estoril, or because they have been key figures in the blue-and-whites’ European campaign. Pablo Rosario and William Gomes are FC Porto’s standout names in Europe, with the former leading all outfield players in minutes played in the competition (922) and the latter being the top scorer with four goals, including the one that secured the draw in the recent match against Nottingham Forest at the Dragão. Added to them are two more January signings who quickly became indispensable for Farioli once they became available for European competitions. We are talking about Thiago Silva and Fofana, a duo that started all three knockout-stage matches and has made a positive impact on the team.

What these four players have in common is that they were spared the strain of the match against Estoril, with Fofana the only one to get any minutes, and only eight at that. Thiago Silva and Pablo Rosario did not even leave the bench, while William Gomes was unavailable through suspension. They therefore arrive with fresh legs for the push towards the semi-finals.

Rodrigo Mora has also been a standout figure in the European run and, like the four names mentioned, has found more space in international matches. He was not used in the first leg as he was not yet fully fit, but he showed encouraging signs in Estoril and is still waiting for an opportunity at the City Ground.

Martim injury affects rotation

After a day off following the win in Estoril, Farioli’s squad returned to work at Olival yesterday morning. The start of preparations for the match against Nottingham Forest did not include Martim Fernandes on the pitch, with the player still receiving treatment and doing gym work. This situation is expected to rule out the possibility of him recovering in time for the trip to the City Ground, which could limit the rotation policy devised by the Italian coach. Alberto Costa played every minute in Estoril but, with no alternative available, risks having to shoulder the workload again, although Pablo Rosario could be moved back into that position. However, that would mean increasing the burden on Alan Varela…

The management implemented by Farioli has been strict and covers virtually the entire squad, but there are exceptions that prove the rule. Diogo Costa and Bednarek are the players with the most minutes accumulated over the course of the season and, in the last seven matches — a period in which rotation has become more pronounced — both have always started. Then there is also Zaidu, who spent much of the season outside the Italian coach’s plans, but has gained prominence in recent weeks and has also been in the starting eleven in the Dragons’ last seven matches.

A trio that, as has been the case, should once again start Thursday’s match. Diogo Costa has his place practically guaranteed, Bednarek brings a great deal through his leadership on the pitch, and Zaidu is one of the fittest players in the squad.

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