FC Porto host Académico de Viseu in Taça da Liga quarter-final with a reshuffled side

Porto rotate their side

FC Porto host Académico de Viseu at the Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday, 28 October, with kickoff at 20:30 Portugal time, in a Taça da Liga quarter-final. Francesco Farioli has made many changes to the side that is unbeaten in national competitions, and the tie gives Porto a chance to reach the final four and avoid the early exit they suffered last season. Porto's most recent league result before this match was a 1-0 win at Gil Vicente. Mateus Mide, from the B team, is among the substitutes and is still waiting for a first appearance with the senior side.

The announced lineups

Porto line up with Cláudio Ramos in goal, a back line of Martim Fernandes, Nehuén Pérez, Chris Smalling, Dominik Prpic and Souza, a midfield of Alan Varela, Inbeom Hwang and Seko Fofana, and an attack of Gabriel Mec and Santiago Giménez. Viseu's XI has Juan Soriano in goal, Tomás Domingos, Hugo Gambor, Michelis and Gustavo Costa in defence, André Ceitil and Cristian Ferreira in midfield, Gohi, Messeguem and Valery in front of them, and Bouldini as the forward. Earlier probable lineups published by SAPO named different players, including Ewerton, so the announced side differs from the projection. Zaidu Sanusi and Samu Aghehowa are not in Porto's matchday squad. Zaidu has missed weeks with injury but started two games in a row, while Samu has been sidelined for months and is gaining rhythm in recent matches.

Bruno Pinheiro's approach

Viseu coach Bruno Pinheiro spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, 27 October, saying the team will keep the identity it showed against Benfica and Sporting. He expects many changes to the starting eleven, because Viseu had one fewer day of rest than Porto, some players are still recovering, and a match against Rio Ave follows on Sunday, 1 November. Pinheiro wants to limit injury risk and give minutes to players who have had less time on the pitch.

“We will keep our humility, but we will also keep our ambition.”

Pinheiro said Viseu will follow the approach they used at Benfica's Luz stadium and at Sporting's Alvalade, after a different start tried in an earlier home match against Porto did not produce the desired result.

Ambitions and the league

Pinheiro acknowledged how hard it is to play at the Dragão and called the ambition to win the Taça da Liga legitimate. He stressed, however, that the club's main objective remains staying in the Primeira Liga after several years away from the top flight. Viseu arrive in good spirits after beating Sporting 2-1 at Alvalade in the ninth round of the I Liga.

“The biggest focus, and we have never hidden it, is the league.”

He added that securing survival as early as possible would let the club grow, strengthen its structure and later aim for more ambitious goals.

The rest of the quarter-finals

Sporting beat Marítimo 2-1 on Tuesday, 27 October, becoming the first team through to the semi-finals. On Thursday, 29 October, Sporting de Braga host Famalicão at 18:45, and Benfica host Gil Vicente at 20:45. Benfica hold the competition record with eight trophies. The semi-finals are scheduled for 5 and 6 January 2027, with the Porto or Viseu tie facing the Benfica or Gil Vicente tie, and Sporting facing the Sporting de Braga or Famalicão tie.