FCPorto continues its unbeaten streak in the Primeira Liga with a 2-1 victory over Marítimo, although the team is without winger William Gomes, who injured his ankle and will not be able to accompany the club in its next Champions League match against RealBetis. The win marked the eighth victory of the season and consolidated the position of leader of the Portuguese championship.
The match, played on Saturday, saw Marítimo open the scoring in the 16th minute, but Porto reacted before the break. Midfielder Victor Froholdt tied the match with a goal in the 42nd minute, and Poland's OskarPietuszewski sealed the victory with the second goal in the 84th minute. Goalkeeper FranVieites, a former Betis player, made seven saves, earning him an outstanding performance despite the defeat.
FrancescoFarioli, in charge of the team, opted for a solid starting eleven: DiogoCosta, AlbertoCosta, Bednarek, Kiwior, FranciscoMoura, HwangIn‑beom, Froholdt, WilliamGomes, AlanVarela, Pepê and AndréSilva. In the second half, the coach introduced PabloRosario and Pietuszewski, who scored the decisive goal. The Spaniards GabriVeiga and BorjaSainz also participated, the latter being a replacement for the injured Gomes. SamuAghehowa returned to the playing field after recovering from a serious knee injury that had kept him out for several weeks.
The injury to William Gomes, a 20-year-old Brazilian winger, represents a major blow for Porto. The player suffered a grade II sprain in his right ankle and is out of action for the match against Betis, scheduled for Wednesday. Despite this loss, the team maintains a dominant position in the table, with 24 points out of a possible 24.
With the victory over Marítimo, Porto reinforces its leadership position and prepares for the European challenge. The next match against Betis in the Champions League will be crucial, both for qualification and for the consolidation of the squad after Gomes' injury. The Portuguese club will continue working on the player's recovery and searching for alternatives to maintain their performance in the group stage.