Without a single title since 2013, FC Porto have since seen six different managers leading
their team.
They never dropped out of the famous top three over that period, but anything other than
titles is just deemed not good enough.
The passionate Sérgio Conceição, a Portuguese international who played at the club, was
chosen to lead the side after overseeing an impressive turn-around with Nantes last season.
In a troublesome financial situation, the team had to sell some of their most valuable
assets: previous boss Nuno Espírito Santo took Ruben Neves with him to Wolves, while
André Silva’s moved to AC Milan to provide a much-needed monetary injection.
Unable to invest any of it, Conceição boosted the squad by calling back a series of players
who were out on loan – such as Marega, Aboubakar, Sérgio Oliveira and Ricardo – and gave
them new life under the new regime.
Sérgio Conceição’s approach with this FC Porto team is all about adaptability.
Not only is he in favour of switching his approach based on the match, but the squad
is also thin in depth which means that the set-up will often change based on who is available.
Formation-wise it tends to shift between a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3.
In their league campaign, for the most part, they’ve been presenting themselves in the
4-4-2.
With Aboubakar and Marega as the striker partnership, Brahimi and Corona as the wingers, and a midfield
duo composed by Herrera and one of Danilo or Sérgio Oliveira.
During their Champions League campaign and in other big matches against title candidates,
Conceição favoured the 4-3-3 for the extra defensive support through the centre it naturally
provides.
All three aforementioned midfielders are used and Marega slides to the right side of the
attack.
The four-man backline has been the most consistent – and arguably one of the most important
– section of the team throughout the season.
Felipe and Marcano are good all-around centre-backs who feel comfortable in possession during
build-up.
Both Alex Telles on the left and Ricardo Pereira on the right are technically gifted and tend
to push high up the wide areas where they are important part of build-up.
You’ll often see their wingers move inwards where they can receive and act as the connection
between midfield and attack.
Aboubakar and Marega are skilled finishers but aren’t particularly involved in the
team’s build-up, so the wide men turn into playmakers from those half-spaces and the
centre-backs will even often look for them via vertical passes that break opposition
lines.
Yacine Brahimi is FC Porto’s key to opposition deep blocks.
The Algerian international is agile and takes on defenders like few in Europe.
He completes more dribbles per 90 minutes than anyone else in Portugal and only Neymar
and Bruma’s numbers could rival with his in the Champions League.
Not only does he naturally open spaces with his movements to the centre, he grants Telles
ownership of the left wide space.
The Brazilian leads the league in assists, key passes and accurate crosses per 90 minutes,
an illustration of his importance in the side.
Having two robust strikers in the box as targets to aim at, also helps.
Aboubakar and Marega will often encounter themselves in 2v2 situations in the box against
the opposition centre-backs, where they’ll use their physicality to get in positions
to score.
But Conceição’s side isn’t against getting the ball to their forwards via a more direct,
long-passing game.
In bigger fixtures where they might divide possession, the 4-3-3 comes out.
With it, the ability to defend in a slightly deeper block if chosen and the freedom to
play long balls onto the runs of the pacy front trio who will exploit the space in behind
of the opposition or outmuscle the defenders to hold the ball up.
Marega, although starting from wide, still tends to be a target for crosses aimed at
the back post, while the extra midfielder frees up Brahimi from a portion of his usual
defensive duties.
The midfield is at his most well-rounded form when all three of Danilo, Sérgio Oliveira
and Hector Herrera are on the pitch.
Danilo protects the back four and excels in physical duels.
Sérgio brings a more technical element with his ability to find players in good positions
through his passing.
And finally, Hector Herrera, an apt presser, is there for his ability to regain possession
high up the pitch.
Whenever Porto chose to press high, he leads the press.
He often does so side-by-side with the forward while the rest of his teammates keep the side
vertically compact behind them.
As an extremely physical team, the Dragons also take considerable advantage of set-pieces.
Not only do they have a dead-ball specialist in Alex Telles and around five usual starters
who are great aerially [Felipe, Marcano, Danilo, Aboubakar and Marega], they have a couple
of training ground routines to make these situations even more effective.
Regardless of shape and approach, FC Porto have consistently gotten results and are again
fighting for the title.
Time will tell whether they can bring it back to the north
of the county.