Porto’s goalless draw at Belenenses on the weekend, in conjunction with Braga’s 6-2 thumping of Feirense last night, saw the Dragons fall to fourth place in the standings.
Out of the Portuguese Cup and making hard work of a seemingly straightforward Champions League group, a section of Porto’s supporters showed their discontent at coach Nuno Espírito Santo for the first time after Saturday’s blank in Lisbon, with a number of white handkerchiefs waved at the end of the 90 minutes.
The Porto manager cut a disconsolate figure as he trudged off the Restelo pitch in the rain, head bowed. Porto are back in action tonight in the Taça da Liga, the opponents again Beleneneses only this time at the Estádio do Dragão. However, it is the following two games, also at home, against Braga and then Leicester that could be pivotal to Porto’s season… and Nuno’s future.
All is not lost for Porto. It is worth remembering that this time last season Benfica were lagging seven points behind leaders Sporting, with a series of poor performances giving the impression the campaign was close to being a write-off. Coach Rui Vitória’s tenure at the helm of the club appeared to be at risk, but Benfica suddenly clicked, reeled off an incredible run of results right until the end of the season to lift the championship and the Taça da Liga, in addition to a fine Champions League run to the quarter-finals.
FC Porto are currently seven points off the pace. Should they successfully negotiate their coming home matches the Dragons will be into the Champions League knockout stages and with the chance of gaining ground on Benfica and/or Sporting who meet in Round 13 of the Liga NOS, on the weekend Porto visit struggling Feirense. With 21 matches and 63 points still to play for after those matches, the mood surrounding the team could be very different in two weeks’ time.
“We’re very focused. We make an appeal to our supporters to give us their full backing, because we need everybody (helping) to get ourselves out of this rut,” said Rúben Neves yesterday.
Where have the goals gone?
There is a very clear explanation for Porto’s poor recent results – one win in their last six games – and it has nothing to do with their defence. In fact, Porto’s back line has been extremely impressive, with just 5 goals conceded in their last 15 matches in all competitions. The problem is at the other end of the pitch. A meagre two goals in six matches in November tells its own story.
| Opponent | Score | Competiton |
| Belenenses (a) | 0-0 | Liga |
| FC Copenhagen (a) | 0-0 | Champions League |
| Chaves (a) | 0-0 | Portuguese Cup |
| Benfica (h) | 1-1 | Liga |
| Club Brugge (h) | 1-0 | Champions League |
| Vitória Setúbal (a) | 0-0 | Liga |
With an attack boasting Portugal No. 9 André Silva and the hugely talented Diogo Jota, backed up by highly creative midfielders Otávio and Olíver Torres, not to mention the threat down the flanks provided by livewire Mexican winger Jesús Corona and full-backs Alex Telles and Miguel Layún/Maxi Perreira, Nuno is plainly not getting the most out of a potent set of forward options.
Brahimi mystery
While the signing of Belgian striker Laurent Depoitre has been an unmitigated flop, Nuno has done little to help himself with some questionable selection decisions. His early persistence with Adrián Lopez was difficult to fathom, and the complete freezing out of arguably Porto’s most talented attacker Yacine Brahimi is completely incomprehensible given the lack of cutting edge.
André Silva, provided he avoids injury, is set for a sparkling career, but he is the only squad member who has played in every single one of Porto’s 20 games this season, when a rest or more frequent substitutions (Silva has been subbed off only once in the last 14 matches) would likely be beneficial for all concerned. Having only recently turned 21, and taking into account his international appearances, it is not surprising Silva has looked jaded of late and has now gone four matches without finding the net.
Furthermore, the option for Maxi Pereira at right-back rather than the more attack-minded Miguel Layún betrays Nuno’s tendency to err on the side of caution, and helps explain the paucity of goals.
“The team is going to pick itself up. We’re going to get out of this (rut),” said Nuno after the draw at Belenenses. “We’ll only do so with hard work. We continue to believe we are on the right path, and as a united squad we will invert the situation.”
Nuno’s commendably calm discourse is eerily similar to that used by Benfica’s Rui Vitória 12 months ago. Unless the former Rio Ave and Valencia coach can operate a similar turnaround in fortunes, and fast, Porto’s three-year trophy drought is set to continue.
By Tom Kundert
