Porto have less margin for error in the Liga Portugal, with all indications pointing to several changes against Nottingham Forest
Ahead of a finely poised second leg against Nottingham Forest in the Europa League quarter-finals, FC Porto head coach Francesco Farioli is expected to make several changes once again in order to keep his squad fresh.
Despite a place in the semi-finals at stake, it is believed the Italian will stay true to his approach to European competition throughout the campaign.
The need to keep the squad fresh is arguably now of even greater importance after Porto drew with Famalicão at the beginning of the month, allowing Sporting CP to make up ground in the Liga Portugal title race. The Lions are now just five points behind the Dragons with a game in hand.
Europa League rotations
After that draw at home to Famalicão, in which Farioli started his favoured XI, he made seven changes to the lineup for the game against Nottingham Forest. Then, for the following game, a Liga visit to Estoril, he again made seven changes and the team won 3-1.
Now, for the trip to Nottingham, we can expect Farioli to ring the changes once again and field his Europa League team.
With the size of the task at hand and the potential reward, however, there may be some temptation to stick closer to his first-choice team.
Suggested Articles
Headache at right back
After Martim Fernandes had to be substituted off with an injury after less than 20 minutes of the first leg, Albert Costa came on and subsequently started in the victory over Estoril. He is likely to start again as the only real option in that position.
Farioli has rotated between the two young Portuguese right backs this season and he has hinted that midfielder Pablo Rosario could fill in there, but the latter is likely to start in midfield.
That means that Costa is in line to start consecutive games for the first time since the beginning of March.
Balancing form and freshness
With injuries in mind and the temptation to keep in-form players such as Gabri Veiga and Pepê in the team, Farioli might only make four changes for the second leg.
In his thoughts, too, however, may be the Portuguese Cup semi-final second leg against Sporting CP next Wednesday when the Dragons will be looking to overturn a 1-0 defeat in Lisbon.
Always attentive to the load of his players, Farioli will no doubt be weighing up how best to compete on all three fronts in the coming week.
FC Porto predicted lineup against Nottingham Forest
Porto predicted lineup: Diogo Costa; Alberto Costa, Thiago Silva, Bednarek, Zaidu; Fofana, Pablo Rosario, Gabri Veiga; Pepê, Deniz Gul, William Gomes.
