Samu speeds up thinking about the PSV and puts André Silva on alert

Samu is getting closer and closer to being a starting option for Francesco Farioli in FC Porto. The Spanish advance added 60 minutes in the last three official blues and whites games, standing out the half hour before Real Betis, last Wednesday, in which it was still time to score a nice goal, debuting in the best way in the Champions League. 

In this sense, Samu promises to shuffle Farioli's accounts for the next blue and white game, with a PSV reception scheduled for Tuesday. Gradually, the Spanish international is recovering the competitive pace it had shown before the serious injury suffered last season and may even be one of the surprises of FC Porto for the European clash against the Dutch ensemble.

In reverse, André Silva has the place in danger, because in the last two games he was not particularly inspired. The Portuguese international scores three goals scored in a total of 11 games, also highlighting the two assists in the Classic in front of Benfica. 

With FC Porto in need of goals and points in the Champions League, Farioli may be tempted to bet on Samu at first, as he has already recognized that it is necessary to chase the damage. 

“ Against Manchester City, we kept the game open until the end. We faced Manchester City at a great time and by tonight had won every game this time of year. Today we faced Real Betis in a great moment and they are things that can affect. We did a lot of good to have at least achieved something of these two games, but the Champions League always demands more”, said the Italian technician, at a press conference, in the aftermath of the defeat in Seville. 

“ It's gonna be important, we know how it is. With this new format of the Champions League, it's always important to make points, because many things can happen. We have to start somewhere and the game with the PSV Eindhoven has to be that game”, pointed Farioli. 

I meet again more than 30 years later..

The match between FC Porto and PSV will mark a reunion between the two teams, in official games, more than 30 years later. The last fight dates back to April 1993, in Eindhoven, with blues and whites winning by 1-0. 

Moreover, the short history of confrontation is slightly favorable to FC Porto, which accumulates two triumphs, a draw and a defeat. 

...and specialist Farioli

In turn, Farioli's record against the PSV is much more categorical. The now FC Porto coach was a season (2024/25) in service of Ajax and ‘cleaned’ the games against the opponent who will meet again, now in the context of Champions League. 

In the 1st round of the Netherlands Championship, Ajax won 3-2, also leading the best in the 2nd round, away from home, with a 2-0 triumph. However, the last one to laugh would end up being the PSV, who would be a champion after being long behind Farioli and company..