Without Samu, FC Porto lose a key weapon: the high press scares less | OneFootball

The absence of Samu continues to weigh on FC Porto’s performances, especially in one of the aspects that most shaped the team’s recent identity: high pressing in the attacking third. After Saturday’s match, the drop in intensity without the ball was once again laid bare, with less ability to disrupt the opponent’s build-up phase and recover possession in advanced areas.

Before the striker’s injury, that behavior was one of the Porto side’s most consistent weapons. The team was able to close down spaces, force mistakes from the player on the ball, and turn quick recoveries into dangerous situations. Without Samu, that dynamic has lost strength, both because of a less aggressive approach and a drop in coordination in the first line of pressure.

The impact is not limited to the defensive phase. The striker’s presence also helped push the team forward, pin back center-backs, and give continuity to attacking moves after regaining possession. His absence has forced FC Porto to look for other solutions, but the difference in their off-the-ball play remains clear. And that is without even mentioning the goals scored.

At a decisive stage of the season, the loss of that ability to suffocate the opponent in high areas of the pitch has had an impact on game control and chance creation. The team’s overall performances show that Samu was not just another attacking option: he was an important piece in the team’s competitive balance. Francesco Farioli said exactly that in a press conference, asking: “What would Benfica be without Pavlidis, or Sporting without Suarez?”

The takeaway from the match against Famalicão reinforces precisely that idea. In Porto’s system, the attacking press has not had the same impact since the striker went down injured.

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