Farioli hails Pérez's return as FC Porto beat Rio Ave 2-0 in Primeira Liga
FC Porto secured their second consecutive Primeira Liga win with a 2-0 victory at Rio Ave, as coach Francesco Farioli praised Nehuén Pérez's attitude after the defender accepted a possible B-team stint and then scored on his return to the starting lineup.
Match result and context
FC Porto maintained a perfect start to the 2026/27 Primeira Liga season with a 2-0 win at Rio Ave on Saturday, 15 August, in Vila do Conde, repeating the scoreline from the opening-day victory against Alverca. Most sources report a 2-0 final score, though one source listed the result as 3-0. The match drew 4,583 spectators to the Estádio do Rio Ave FC, a ground with a regulated capacity of 5,000 that recently gained new changing rooms as renovation work continues. The fixture entered the record books for an unusual reason: Rio Ave committed only one foul across the entire match, a single-game low per GoalPoint records. Since the 2020/21 season, FC Porto had not managed consecutive away wins at this venue.
Nehuén Pérez's return
Nehuén Pérez marked his return to the starting lineup with a goal from a set piece, his first since scoring against Casa Pia in the third round of last season. The Argentine defender had been sidelined for an extended period after surgery. Farioli revealed that on Thursday he called Pérez into his office and proposed that the defender play with the B team to build fitness if he was not selected for the Rio Ave match. Pérez accepted without hesitation.
When you're 27, 28 years old, sometimes you might not take these things well, but he said: 'No, I want to do it, I want to improve and get in shape.'
A training injury to Martim Fernandes on the last ball of Friday's session, combined with Alberto Costa still recovering, opened the door for Pérez to start. Farioli described the outcome as karma rewarding good work. Pérez was later withdrawn after reporting cramps, forcing Farioli to accelerate substitutions and bring on André Silva earlier than planned. Silva had only returned to integrated training on Friday, and Farioli wanted to avoid any risk.
- Farioli calls Pérez to his office, proposes B-team minutes; Pérez accepts
- Martim Fernandes injured in training; André Silva returns to integrated training
- FC Porto beat Rio Ave 2-0; Pérez and Sainz score, one goal disallowed
Borja Sainz and squad milestones
Borja Sainz scored Porto's second goal, his first of 2026, which was also the team's first open-play goal of the season after three set-piece goals across two matches. Sainz dedicated the goal to his mother, who died in February, revealing an inner shirt with the message "Te quiero mamá." Hwang In-beom made his league debut, becoming the ninth South Korean to play in Portugal's top flight and the second for FC Porto after Suk Hyun-jun. Farioli's record in the Primeira Liga now stands at 30 wins from 36 matches, with 83% of points taken. As in the 2025/26 title-winning campaign, when Porto claimed their 31st championship, the team have again won their first three matches without conceding.
Farioli's post-match comments
Farioli emphasised set pieces as a deliberate weapon, noting that Porto scored from them last season and are doing so again because the team attacks corners and free kicks with conviction. He acknowledged areas for improvement despite the result, describing Rio Ave as a physically strong and well-organised side on a difficult pitch. On Deniz Gül, who worked intensively but again failed to score, Farioli expressed confidence that goals would come with continued effort. The coach also responded to comments from Luís Miguel Henrique, lawyer for young player Rodrigo Mora, who had said Mora is "suffering" at the club.
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