THE At the end of this Tuesday morning, the main squad of FC Porto concluded the preparation work for the match on the fourth round of the Champions League league stage, against Napoli, in a session that, as determined by UEFA regulations, was open to the media for the first 15 minutes.
A session in which it was possible to confirm that Francesco Farioli still has two ‘headaches’ to resolve, given that the names of Oskar Pietuszewski and William Gomes They continue to appear in the clinical report, and it is not possible to conclude for now whether or not they will recover in time for the millionaire test duel.
The Polish international, who was injured during the warm-up period for the victory achieved in the trip to the Cidade de Barcelos Stadium, against Gil Vicente, by 0-1, took to the pitch at the Jorge Costa Sports Training and Training Center, in Olival, but worked in a conditioned manner.
As for the Brazilian, who contracted a grade 2 sprain in his right ankle, almost a month ago, in the 1-2 victory over MarÃtimo, at the Estádio dos Barreiros, he did not even get to join his teammates, so the evolution of the next few hours will dictate the availability of both.
Who will certainly not be included in the Italian coach’s options for welcoming his compatriots is Chris Smalling, Dominik Prpic, Vasco Sousa and Gabriel Mecwho were not registered with UEFA, meaning they are prevented from being called up for what is the biggest club competition in European football.
In fact, the English central defender and the Portuguese midfielder did not exercise because they were also injured, the first, with an injury to the internal collateral ligament of his right knee, and the second, with a serious fracture in the fibula of his right leg, and it is practically certain that they will only be able to play again in 2027.
It should be noted that Francesco Farioli chose not to call up any player from the youth ranks ready for the defending national champions, unlike what happened the day before, with Mateus Mide, who, it seems, will be called up by João Brandão for the UEFA Youth League.
FC Porto’s schedule in the Champions League
Later this Tuesday, at 12:45 pm (Mainland Portugal time), Francesco Farioli and André Silva will participate in the press conference to preview this game. This, after the former had taken advantage of the period leading up to training to exchange a few words with the president of FC Porto, André Villas-Boas.
Later, at 5:30 pm, Napoli will carry out the traditional adaptation training to the Estádio do Dragão pitch, but, before that, Massimiliano Allegri and a player (whose identity has not yet been revealed) will also speak to journalists, in the blue and white ‘house’.
As for the game itself, the starting whistle is scheduled for 8pm (Mainland Portugal time) and will be officiated by the Englishman Michael Oliver, who will have Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring as assistants, Thomas Bramall as fourth referee, Stuart Attwell as VAR and Christian Dingert as AVAR.
