Porto qualified for the final four of the Alianz Cup, beating Académico Viseu 1‑0 thanks to Santiago Giménez's penalty. The match, played at the Estádio do Dragão, was characterized by numerous lineup changes and a new tactical choice that surprised the spectators.
Santiago Giménez, who was the team's goal, scored the penalty goal at a crucial moment, proving to be a point of reference for the team. Italian coach FrancescoFarioli praised the midfielder's performance, saying he "did very well" and that his presence was crucial to the result.
Farioli also underlined the importance of giving minutes to players who arrived late or were little used. "It was very important to have this match to give minutes to the players who arrived late. We saw 90 minutes with SantiGiménez, who was a target, and he did very well. Mec and Souza too. Fofana had never been a starter. There were many positive things," explained the coach.
The choice to deploy a three-centre defense was the first time that Porto adopted this structure. Farioli justified the decision by saying: "After Oskar's injury we are shorter on the wings. I wanted to spare Pepê and Borja, who always played. We changed the structure, something we had never done. In Turkey I played like this for six or seven months and I felt that the players could understand this idea".
The coach especially appreciated the control of the game and the team's attitude, although he noted the lack of presence in the area. "We lacked presence in the area, but in terms of control and possession it was very positive. The attitude was top", he declared.
Finally, Farioli reported the injury of ChrisSmalling, forced to leave the pitch due to a knee problem. “It's difficult to say something now, we have to evaluate tomorrow,” he added, leaving the question open for the next matches.
With the victory, Porto advances to the final of the Alianz Cup, where they will face the other two qualified teams. Farioli's team is now preparing to consolidate their form for the next match, with the aim of bringing the cup home.