Farioli facing major headaches: injuries hit every area of FC Porto 😬 | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli will have to find solutions at FC Porto to put together a starting eleven, given the various injuries affecting the blue and white squad. After the break for international commitments, the Primeira Liga leaders play at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, hosting Nacional from Madeira, in a match for the 5th round.

The Dragons still have two days to prepare for the match, so it is unknown whether any of the injured players will recover in time. It is certain, however, that there will be changes in the starting eleven.

Defense

The absences of Alberto Costa and Martim Fernandes have left FC Porto without a right-back. The spot should be filled by Pepê in the match against Nacional, a player who has regularly played in that position under the management of Sérgio Conceição and Vitor Bruno. The Brazilian international returns after missing the last two games due to eye surgery.

Center-back Zé Pedro appears as an alternative. Farioli used him as a right-back in some pre-season friendlies, but against a Nacional side expected to spend more time defending, his use is unlikely.

Another possibility is the young Pedro Lima, who was tested in that position in the 2-2 draw with Lusitânia de Lourosa, in a friendly at the start of the week. The new signing, who arrived on the last day of the transfer window on loan from Wolverhampton, has shown good performance in training.

Midfield

Farioli may also have to adjust the midfield. Gabri Veiga has been doing integrated but limited training, so it is likely he will be rested by the Italian coach.

Rodrigo Mora may take his place, as happened in the last round at Alvalade against Sporting. Pablo Rosario is also aiming for a starting spot. Stephen Eustaquio is in the final phase of recovery and is another option for the midfield.

Attack

Up front, Samu is guaranteed to play, having missed the last two matches due to a muscle injury and returning against Sporting, coming on in the last 11 minutes.

Without Luuk de Jong, who suffered a knee sprain last Tuesday, Farioli is left with only Denis Gul as an alternative to the Dutch international striker.

William Gomes, who took advantage of Pepê's absence to score two great goals and deliver two standout performances, is out of contention after picking up a muscle injury in the friendly against Lourosa. Everything indicates he will be recovered for the game against Nacional, but he will likely start on the bench or be rested. In that scenario, Rodrigo Mora would move up the field and Pablo Rosario would come into midfield; another possibility is for Pepê to play on the right wing, opening the right-back spot for Pedro Lima.

The young Colombian Bryan Caicedo, 19 years old, is training with the first team, but is unlikely to start.

Currently, FC Porto cannot count on defenders Martim Fernandes and Alberto Costa, midfielders Gabri Veiga and Stephen Eustaquio, nor forwards William Gomes and Luuk de Jong. The Dutch striker is not expected to recover in time for the classic against Benfica on October 5, nor is the young former Juventus right-back.

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