Jan Bednarek suffers concussion in FC Porto win, Poland camp trip delayed

The collision in Guimarães

FC Porto won 2:1 away at Vitória Guimarães in the 11th round of the Liga Portugal on 8 November. Jan Bednarek, the 30-year-old Poland defender, started the match and was struck in the face at close range by a shot from a Vitória player, identified as Jakupovic in one report. The impact left him with difficulty seeing out of his left eye, and he went down on the pitch. Medical staff treated him for several moments before he got up and walked off under his own power, visibly dazed. Reports differ on the timing: most place his exit in the 66th minute, while one report from SAPO puts it in the 64th minute.

Medical checks and the Poland camp

Porto coach Francesco Farioli confirmed the concussion at his post-match press conference. He said Bednarek could barely see when he left the pitch and would be tested that night. The club's medical department then carried out an assessment that found no injury ruling him out, and the defender remains under observation as a precaution. SAPO reports that he has postponed his trip to Poland's training camp and will join the squad later. Interia, citing Tomasz Włodarczyk, says there are no serious concerns about his health and that he is expected at the camp. The two accounts do not match on whether he travels with the group. Poland's squad was due to begin its gathering on Monday, 9 November, under coach Jan Urban, and Bednarek was among the players called up.

Poland's next fixtures

Poland play Romania in Bucharest on Saturday, 14 November, and then meet Sweden in Wrocław on 17 November, both Nations League group matches. Jakub Kiwior, Porto's other Poland defender, was also called up and played the entire Guimarães game from first whistle to last. Two players picked up head injuries in the match, Bednarek among them, which allowed each side an extra substitution. Vitória made seven changes in all, and its reserve goalkeeper was Oliwier Zych.

Porto's league form and the bench

Porto have now won 11 league matches in a row this season and have not lost in the Liga Portugal. Interia puts Porto on 33 points, five ahead of Benfica, whereas RMF24 says second-placed Benfica trail by eight points. Oskar Pietuszewski, an 18-year-old winger who has struggled to reach full fitness since the start of the 2026/2027 campaign, sat on the bench throughout. His last appearance came on 20 October, in the Champions League against PSV. Farioli said the teenager had trained with the team only twice in the previous week and that he had considered using him at a difficult moment but chose otherwise, because other players had performed well, some in unfamiliar positions.