Without Samu, 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 moments that most defined the team’s recent identity: the high press in the attacking third. After Saturday’s match, the drop in intensity without the ball was once again exposed, with less ability to disrupt the opponent’s build-up from the back and win back 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 space, 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 less aggression in the approach and reduced 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, occupy the 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 the team’s play without the ball remains clear. And that’s without even mentioning the goals scored.

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

The reading 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 was sidelined through injury.

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