FC Porto faces four player absences before their upcoming presentation, as indicated by Farioli's recent announcement.
FC Porto Secures Victory in Preseason Friendly Against Pontevedra
FC Porto B clinched a 2-1 victory over Pontevedra in a friendly match during their preseason stage in Melgaço. The winning goal was scored by Kaue Rodrigues from a penalty, sealing the win for the Portuguese side.
Anha Cande opened the scoring for FC Porto B early in the game, before Pontevedra managed to pull one back. However, Rodrigues' late penalty ensured that FC Porto B emerged victorious.
The match saw the absence of several key players, including André Oliveira, Diogo Fernandes, Gabriel Bras, who were all playing for FC Porto B. Gabri Veiga was also not an option for the game against Famalicão, as he was serving a one-game suspension following his expulsion against Twente.
Veiga will, however, be available for FC Porto's presentation game with Atlético de Madrid on Sunday and for the championship debut against Vitória SC on August 9. Francisco Moura, who is currently injured and still in recovery, is expected to miss the game against Atlético de Madrid. He did not participate in the team's only morning training session before the match, confirming his likely absence.
The training session was led by Francesco Farioli, with Moura absent due to injury and assessment by the medical department. Rui Monteiro and Gonçalo Silva remained on the clinical report, with Rui Monteiro doing conditioned training and Gonçalo Silva receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, Rúben Neves has expressed his desire to return to FC Porto and become champion, stating it as his "lifetime goal". The midfielder, who left the club in 2020, has been linked with a return to the Dragão Stadium.
FC Porto's main team will train again tomorrow morning at the Olival, as they prepare for the game against Atlético Madrid tomorrow at 7:00 PM. The match will be the last preseason game before the official start of the 2025/26 season.
João Brandão rotated the squad for the friendly match against Pontevedra, using 17 players in total. While Veiga may be an option for the game against Atlético de Madrid, the absence of Moura is a significant blow for FC Porto as they look to secure a win in their final preseason fixture.
Despite the absence of key players, FC Porto's reserve team, FC Porto B, managed to secure a 2-1 victory in a preseason friendly against Pontevedra, setting a positive tone for the upcoming season. The winning goal was scored by Kaue Rodrigues from a penalty, reflecting the team's determination in European-leagues matches such as the Premier League.
