FC Porto routs Estoril 4-0 to win all ten league matches so far

Froholdt breaks the deadlock early

FC Porto opened the scoring in the fourth minute at the Estádio do Dragão, when Victor Froholdt finished first time after a team move that involved Pepê. A VAR review of Pepê's position in the build-up found him seven centimetres onside, and the goal stood. Estoril, who were bottom of the league table, defended in a deep 5-4-1 shape, and Porto struggled to turn their territory into clear chances before the break. Martin Turk was the visitors' main barrier, keeping out efforts from Pablo Rosario and Borja Sainz, and at the 25th minute he tipped Alberto Costa's shot onto the crossbar. Jan Bednarek and Pablo Rosario also came close in the ninth to eleventh minutes, and Porto led 1-0 at half-time.

Three goals after the break

Borja Sainz doubled the lead in the 64th minute, and the goal came from a run and finish that Gabri Veiga started by winning the ball and finding him. SAPO reports differ on the assist, with one piece crediting Pepê and another crediting Gabri Veiga. André Silva, who came on for Samu, scored in the 70th minute from a rebound after Gabri Veiga's shot was saved by Turk. Gabri Veiga made it 4-0 in the 73rd minute, cutting past a defender after a pass from Borja Sainz and finishing low into the far corner. Silva's goal was his fourth in the competition over ten matches and his 28th for the club in 72 games, while Borja Sainz and Gabri Veiga each reached five in the competition.

Borja Sainz5

Gabri Veiga5

André Silva4

Borja Sainz

5 goals

Gabri Veiga

5 goals

André Silva

4 goals

Data from the article text

Ten wins and a club record

Notícias ao Minuto reported that the win gave Porto ten victories in ten matchdays, a start the club had achieved only once before, in the 1939/40 season, when it reached 13 wins. The same report notes that the 13 consecutive wins recorded by Hungarian Mihaly Siska are getting closer. Porto had entered the match after a 2-0 win over Académico de Viseu in the Taça da Liga, and their league form had been steady rather than convincing before this game. Sérgio Raimundo, the Estoril interim coach, had been in charge for his third game after Vasco Matos was dismissed, and the visitors had lost their previous match to Moreirense.

Farioli's preview and Estoril's changes

Before the match, Porto coach Francesco Farioli warned against complacency based on the table and the opponent's position.

“We cannot fail, look at the table and believe we will have an easy game ahead.”

Farioli also pointed to the unknown elements Estoril could bring, including a new energy under their new coach. Raimundo made seven changes to the side that lost to Moreirense, with Peixinho, Rafik Guitane and André Lacximicant starting up front. Martim Fernandes missed the game for Porto with tonsillitis, and Hwang In-beom and Alan Varela began on the bench. Farioli chose Samu as the central attacking reference, with Pepê and Borja Sainz in support.

Naples and the weeks ahead

The match came days before FC Porto travel to Naples for their next Champions League fixture, after two consecutive defeats in that competition. Sporting had already played and won their league round, while Benfica were due to play on Monday, 2 November. Porto's next test is therefore the trip to Italy, and the squad will leave with ten league wins from ten matches and a clean run of results in the domestic league.