Porto are the 2025-26 Primeira Liga champions after a 1-0 victory against Alverca at Estádio do Dragão.
Gabri Veiga’s corner hit the back post before Froholdt deflected strike hit the bar, Jakub Kiwior handling the ball before tucking it past Matheus Mendes.
Sandro Lima headed Nabil Touaizi’s cross over the bar but it would be Porto who would take the lead in the 40th minute. Gabri Veiga’s corner was met by Jan Bednarek who headed the ball into the net.
The second half began with Sandro Lima firing wide and Figueiredo forcing a save from Diogo Costa.
Borja Sainz came off the bench and headed Alberto Costa’s cross straight at Matheus Mendes.
The supporters were busy celebrating the title with flares and fireworks being unleashed from both ends.
Alverca came close in added time, Alberto Costa doing well to get back and deny Cédric Nuozzi a tap-in.
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Deserved champions
Porto have climbed back to the summit of Portuguese football, winning their 31st national championship title and first since 2021/22. Much has happened off the pitch since then, the Sérgio Conceição era coming to an end and followed by Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa who was comprehensively defeated by André Villas-Boas in the presidential election.
Villas-Boas needed some time to find his stride, going through Vítor Bruno and Martín Anselmi before hitting the managerial jackpot with Francesco Farioli.
The 37-year-old joined the club in the summer after a spectacular capitulation saw his Ajax side throw away the Eredivisie title.
Villas-Boas recently discussed the decision to hire the Italian manager: “Farioli is a coach who deserved to have succeeded at Ajax, but if he had succeeded at Ajax, he certainly wouldn’t be at Porto right now.
“Therefore, I think that the way that championship ended doesn’t invalidate the coach’s quality, his method, his leadership, the way he fought for that championship until the end.
“But it made him available on the market and we initiated the necessary contacts to bring him to Porto.
“I became more aware of coach Francesco Farioli through his work in France, when he finally established himself as a coach, as someone revolutionary in his ideas, methods, and leadership.”
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Fantastic transfer market
Not only did Villas-Boas hire the right manager at the right time, he oversaw a recruitment department that did tremendous work in the transfer market.
Porto brought in Victor Froholdt, Alberto Costa, Gabri Veiga, Borja Sainz, Jan Bednarek, Dominik Prpić, Luuk de Jong, Pablo Rosario, Jakub Kiwior and made Nehuén Pérez’s deal permanent.
The Dragons went back into the market in the winter transfer window, signing Thiago Silva, Oskar Pietuszewski, Seko Fofana and Terem Moffi.
Pérez played just five games before suffering a season-ending injury, but getting Bednarek on loan from Arsenal has proved a masterstroke. His central defensive partnership with Polish international teammate Bednarek has been the foundation for Porto’s success, conceding only 15 goals in 32 Liga matches.
Alberto Costa has done well when fit, midfielders Gabri Veiga and Victor Froholdt quickly becoming permanent fixtures in Farioli’s 4-3-3 formation.
Pablo Rosario cost Porto just €3.75m from Nice, the versatile player getting plenty of game time ahead of Alan Varela and filling in at the back when required.
Farioli hasn’t placed any faith in Dominik Prpić which saw 41-year-old Thiago Silva join on a free transfer and play just under 1000 minutes in 13 appearances.
🇵🇹⚽️🏆 FT Porto 1-0 Alverca. The Primeira Liga title returns to Estádio do Dragão after Jan Bednarek headed home Gabri Veiga's corner in the first half. Tremendous season from Andre Villas-Boas, Francesco Farioli and the players. Fully dederved! Report coming up for @PortuGoal1. pic.twitter.com/A5nRBmGf0t
— Matthew Marshall (@noobzcorp) May 2, 2026
Borja Sainz has been inconsistent and lost his spot on the left wing to 17-year-old Oskar Pietuszewski. The teenager has already doubled in value since Porto paid Jagiellonia €8m in January and is set to keep increasing.
Signing Seko Fofana on loan was another masterstroke, the experienced midfielder scoring important goals providing plenty of attacking thrust.
One of the most important factors in winning the title has been the ability to overcome season-ending injuries to Samu Aghehowa and Luuk de Jong. De Jong went down with a cruciate ligament injury in November and Samu suffered the same fate in early February.
Deniz Gül scored twice in the recent win at Estrela da Amadora but has hardly looked like producing the same output as Samu. Terem Moffi was an emergency signing and has been far from a crowd favourite at Estádio do Dragão, I would be extremely surprised if he is wearing blue and white next season.
Teams can often get lucky and win Cup competitions, but in long league seasons the cream always rises to the top.
The Dragons fully deserve to win the title and it’s wonderful to see the good times return to Porto after a painful end to Pinto da Costa’s reign.
Jorge Costa tribute
The title celebrations were briefly interrupted for a tribute to Jorge Costa who suffered a heart attack at a pre-season training session and died not long after.
It must have been a traumatic and impactful incident for everyone involved at the club, and this title will be remembered in conjunction with the club legend.
Farioli spoke about Costa after the victory: “Our strength throughout the season was Jorge. One of the things he said at the beginning of the season was that we had a team again. We gave everything we had to win, and his presence was evident in small things. Those two clearances off the line are Jorge Costa’s DNA. He’s not physically with us, but he’s with us in spirit."
2⃣ #ConseguimosJuntos pic.twitter.com/d3BRrUD0JL
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) May 2, 2026
Reaction
Diogo Costa spoke to SportTV after the victory against Alverca: "It’s a huge source of pride for this team, a lot of pride for the staff, and we are grateful for all the learning. We did the most important thing, which is to take FC Porto back to its rightful place.
“It’s a very united and young group. We have our core players, it was a very positive mix. This unity gave us the strength to face the difficulties. Above all, it’s the daily work, the dedication and the high standards. That was our best weapon. Our playing style represents exactly that: unity and hard work.
“I want to thank all the club staff, who often go unnoticed. I want to thank the president for all the support they have given us and will continue to give us. There is so much to say and remember. Our Jorge, Diogo Jota and his brother André. It’s a mixture of sadness and happiness.
“I woke up very emotional today and it’s as if I knew something good was going to happen because we deserve it. We are different. We are a different people. It’s true that we are grumpy but we are united at the same time, we welcome everyone.”
Farioli’s future
In January Villas-Boas extended Farioli’s contract to 2028. The manager has seen his stock rise significantly this season and when recently asked about the vacancy at Chelsea, he said: “I am the coach of FC Porto and I am very happy to be here.”
With his 38th birthday coming up this summer, Farioli should be in no hurry to leave Porto any time soon. Villas-Boas is setting into his presidency and all the players have bought into the project.
Gabri Veiga spoke about why Porto won the title: “It was somewhat the mentality of everyone who arrived. The president had a lot to do with it, he took responsibility. We made great signings, the manager was also important. If it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t have been successful.”
Farioli has an opportunity to build a dynasty at Porto and win multiple titles. The Dragons should be able to keep the core of their squad together and they will only get better next season.
LIVE: Conferência de Imprensa de Francesco Farioli
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) May 2, 2026
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