There are beatings, and then there are statements. On Sunday night at the Estádio do Dragão, Futebol Clube do Porto produced the latter — a 4–0 hammering of Casa Pia that wasn’t just about points, but about power.
This wasn’t a football match. It was a display of authority, a thunderous declaration from Francesco Farioli’s new Porto that the Dragons aren’t here to play nice. They’re here to scorch the league.
Borja Sainz: The Spark of Fire
Borja Sainz didn’t just score goals — he tore the script apart. Two finishes, both ruthless in execution, and a performance dripping with confidence.
The first was classic Porto under Farioli: pressure high up the pitch, Victor Froholdt nicking the ball, and Sainz pouncing with a finish that set the stadium on fire. The second? Pure predator instinct — intercepting a loose pass, striding into the box, and killing off any lingering Casa Pia resistance.
For a man fresh from Norwich City, where he scored 19 goals last year, this debut at the Dragão felt like a coronation.
“Here, we are a family,” Sainz declared afterwards. The family he’s talking about? Right now, it looks like a wolf pack with blood on its teeth.
William Gomes: A Wonder Goal That Shook the Stands
When Pepê dropped out injured, William Gomes got the nod. He didn’t just seize his chance — he painted his name across the night.
Picking the ball up on the flank, he slalomed past defenders like they were training cones before curling a shot into the far corner. A goal so good it silenced the crowd for a half-second before erupting.
That’s what Farioli wants: intensity, bravery, football that crackles with electricity. William delivered it in spades.
Luuk de Jong FC Porto Redemption Arc
It wasn’t just about scorers. Luuk de Jong, a player some dismissed as a stopgap, turned in the kind of performance that coaches drool over.
He didn’t score. He didn’t need to. Instead, he bullied Casa Pia’s defenders, linked play with a master’s touch, and dropped deep to press like a man ten years younger. Farioli called it a “masterclass” — and he wasn’t exaggerating.
For young Porto forwards, this was a lesson in what sacrifice and tactical intelligence look like. The “Luuk de Jong FC Porto experiment” is looking less like an experiment, more like a weapon.
The Captain’s 200th: Diogo Costa the Wall
While the goals flew in at one end, Diogo Costa stood unflinching at the other. His 200th game for Futebol Clube do Porto could hardly have been more symbolic: a captain’s clean sheet, minimal fuss, maximum presence.
The Dragão crowd honoured him, and rightly so. Costa isn’t just a goalkeeper. He’s the symbol of Porto’s resilience.
Nehuén Pérez Opens His Account
As if to underline the collective power, even the defenders joined in. Nehuén Pérez bundled home his first Porto goal, deflecting in Alberto Costa’s shot. It was scrappy, but in this kind of performance, it felt inevitable. Porto weren’t going to leave without spreading the joy.
Casa Pia: Drowned Without Mercy
For Casa Pia, this was a nightmare on loop. Porto pressed them into submission, dragged them across the pitch, forced errors, and showed no sympathy.
Gaizka Larrazabal admitted afterwards: “It’s a psychological battle. They drag the ball from one side to the other, we chase shadows, and it’s impossible to maintain concentration.”
That’s what Farioli has built — a machine that doesn’t just beat you, it breaks you.
The Verdict
Futebol Clube do Porto didn’t just win 4–0. They reaffirmed themselves as contenders, with swagger, hunger, and a system that looks like it could bulldoze anyone in Portugal.
Borja Sainz lit the fuse, William Gomes delivered fireworks, Luuk de Jong turned doubters into believers, and Diogo Costa celebrated his milestone the only way he knows — with another clean sheet.
Three games, three wins, nine points, nine goals scored, zero conceded.
The Dragons are breathing fire again.
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