Home record against English sides boosts Europa League hopes | OneFootball

There are coaches — Sérgio Conceição was a clear example — for whom statistical data means very little and almost ends up filed away in a museum. Even so, history shows that FC Porto have never managed to win in England in European competitions, a barrier that has stood for years and that Francesco Farioli’s side failed to break in the Europa League group stage, against the same opponent they will host on Thursday at the Estádio do Dragão: Nottingham Forest. On that occasion, the dragons suffered their only defeat so far in European competition, losing because of two penalties that Diogo Costa was unable to stop.

Looking at the blue-and-whites’ home record against English sides, the balance is clearly favorable considering that, in 25 official matches in European competitions — the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup — FC Porto have recorded nine wins, nine draws and only seven defeats.

The last time FC Porto hosted a Premier League team was in the 2024/2025 season, more precisely on October 3, 2024, in a thrilling match that ended in a 3-3 draw against Manchester United in the Europa League. In that clash with the Red Devils, the team then managed by Vítor Bruno produced a top-level performance, with goals from Pepê and Samu (2), but ended up suffering a bitter blow deep into stoppage time, when Maguire, playing as a striker, beat Diogo Costa with a header, causing huge frustration in the Dragão stands.

Porto’s last victory in the Invincible City came during Sérgio Conceição’s time, in 2023/2024, in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. Galeno, with a moment of great technical quality, made the FC Porto stadium erupt by scoring in the 90+4’, though it was still not enough for the dragons to go through, as they were eventually eliminated in London in the second leg on penalties.

It is with this positive home backdrop that FC Porto approach the tie against Nottingham Forest, who will be making their first appearance at the Estádio do Dragão, with some optimism, with Francesco Farioli expecting a strong reaction from the team after the surprising 2-2 draw against Famalicão. There are scores to settle with the side now coached by Vítor Pereira, a two-time national champion with FC Porto. Even so, a good result at the Dragão will be needed in what is expected to be a very balanced tie; the fact that the opponent is involved in the battle to avoid relegation in the Premier League does not lessen the difficulties for Farioli’s team in European competition.

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