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FC Porto returned to training at the Jorge Costa Training and Sports Development Centre in Olival, according to club reporting, following a day off after defeating Alverca 2-0 at the Estádio do Dragão in their opening I Liga fixture. Francesco Farioli immediately launched preparations for Saturday’s second-round fixture against Rio Ave at the Estádio dos Arcos, though the session was severely impacted by an extensive injury list containing eight players.
Injury Crisis Depletes Farioli’s Squad Ahead of Rio Ave Clash
Alan Varela, Oskar Pietuszewski, and André Silva are restricted to treatment-only regimes. Goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos and defender Alberto Costa are undergoing treatment combined with conditioned training. Meanwhile, Vasco Sousa, André Miranda, and Samu Aghehowa continue working under restricted, conditioned programs.
Specific details outline the physical setbacks across the squad. Cláudio Ramos sustained a muscular injury in his right thigh during the final stretch of pre-season. Alberto Costa is recovering from a right thigh contusion picked up near the end of the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira victory over Torreense, a match that ended 1-0. Alan Varela and André Silva both picked up knocks during the home win against Alverca; Varela was diagnosed with a traumatic sprain in his right ankle, while Silva suffered a right ankle sprain, with no official timeline provided for their returns.
Oskar Pietuszewski suffered a muscular injury during a training session. Longer-term absences stem from the previous 2025/26 season, including Samu Aghehowa with a total rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, André Miranda with a left thigh injury, and Vasco Sousa carrying a fracture in his right fibula, as reported by club sources. Additionally, central defender Bednarek has combined gym work with treatment for an injury sustained on the poor pitch conditions at the Cidade de Coimbra during the Supertaça, according to coverage from fcporto.ws.
Academy Call-Ups Step In to Fill First-Team Gaps
To offset the mounting absences, Francesco Farioli turned extensively to the club’s youth ranks. According to club reporting, the Italian coach promoted goalkeeper Gonçalo Ribeiro, defender António Ribeiro, midfielder Eirik Granaas, and forwards Duarte Cunha and Mame Niang to the senior session. Coverage from fcporto.ws noted that Farioli expanded this youth integration further by calling up a total of seven players from the B team, adding defender Luís Gomes, midfielders Tiago Silva and Bernardo Lima, and forward Mateus Mide to the group.
Did you know? Mame Niang arrived at the Estádio do Dragão during the summer transfer window from HamKam for a reported fee of 1,6 milhões de euros, plus 725 thousand euros in bonuses, while Eirik Granaas joined from Fredrikstad for 1,8 milhões de euros plus 1,5 milhões de euros in bonuses.
Several of the promoted youngsters are looking for their breakthrough moments. Gonçalo Ribeiro, born in Vila Nova de Gaia, joined Porto in 2013 from Pedroso and has trained regularly with the senior team since 2023 without making an official appearance. António Ribeiro, 22, similarly continues his search for a senior debut. Eighteen-year-old Duarte Cunha holds under-17 European and World championship titles and recently featured for the B team under coach João Brandão in a 2-0 defeat away to Lusitânia de Lourosa in the II Liga, as detailed in club records.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is FC Porto’s next I Liga match?
Porto faces Rio Ave on Saturday at 20h30 Continental Portugal time at the Estádio dos Arcos.
How many players are currently on FC Porto’s injury list?
Club reports list eight players dealing with various physical issues, ranging from recent ankle sprains to long-term knee and leg injuries.
Which youth players have been called up to train with the senior squad?
Francesco Farioli has evaluated several academy prospects, including Gonçalo Ribeiro, António Ribeiro, Eirik Granaas, Duarte Cunha, Mame Niang, Luís Gomes, Tiago Silva, Bernardo Lima, and Mateus Mide.