FC Porto continued their Portuguese title defence with a 2-0 victory over Rio Ave in Vila do Conde on Saturday.
Goals from defender Nehuen Perez and substitute Borja Sainz secured the win for the reigning champions, keeping their unbeaten record intact despite a display that lacked attacking fluency.
Manager Francesco Farioli opted for a tactical adjustment by deploying center-back Nehuen Perez at right-back. With midfielder Alan Varela sidelined by injury, Pablo Rosario stepped into the defensive midfield role. In attack, Deniz Gul started in place of Andre Silva, who began on the bench after training under physical restrictions during the week.
Set Piece Breakthrough in Vila do Conde
Porto found it difficult to break down the host defense from open play and relied on set pieces to create danger, repeating a pattern from their earlier match against Alverca where they scored twice from the penalty spot.
Farioli's decision to shift Perez to the flank paid off after 11 minutes when the defender scored the opening goal, heading home from a corner delivered by Gabri Veiga.
The visiting side continued to press and thought they had doubled their lead in the 35th minute. Polish player Jakub Kiwior put the ball into the net following another set piece, but refereeing officials disallowed the goal after ruling that Deniz Gul was offside.
Rio Ave Response and Second Half
Rio Ave sought opportunities on the counter-attack throughout the match while attempting several shots from outside the penalty area that failed to find the target.
The home team came closest to scoring in the final minute of the first half when Tamble Monteiro launched a dangerous effort. Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa produced an eye-catching save to preserve his team's lead before the interval.
Porto maintained control in the second half, though the team appeared to be playing at a pre-season pace and showed signs of haste and unease in front of goal.
Late Goal Seals Victory
The champions created clearer opportunities late in the second half following a series of substitutions. Deniz Gul came close to expanding the lead when his header struck the post.
Borja Sainz scored Porto's second goal in the closing phase of the match to secure the three points. The forward finished a neat attacking movement following a subtle assist from midfielder Hwang Inbeom past Rio Ave goalkeeper Van der Gouw.
The victory keeps Porto unbeaten in their domestic campaign, though the team performance fell short of the dominant form shown during the early stages of last season.
