Football Season Guide

Porto finished second, last season, which is never good news for 'Dragões'. However, the season was decent enough to avoid any major commotion among the fans, as Porto was only beaten by an almost perfect Sporting, and finished above their strongest rivals Benfica. Sérgio Conceição kept the mentality of previous years: a strong, combative side, sometimes sacrificing the talent of their attackers in favour of a more direct and aggressive approach. Porto felt some difficulties to beat crowded defensive systems. Porto is struggling on the bank account, but they managed to add 3 important players and are looking for a couple more (a left-back and a central midfielder). Fábio Cardoso arrived to be the substitute for Pepe and Mbemba in short term, and perhaps be the replacement for the aging Pepe on the long term. Bruno Costa returned to his old club to bring some much needed playmaking skills to the midfield. The highest hopes of this season will however rely on the new Brazilian name: Pepê arrived from Grêmio and is a promise of dazzling dribbles and fast runs with balls. Marega left which should mean Porto will be adopting a less physical and more technique-oriented style in attack. Luiz Diaz had an astonishing Copa America and should be a major name for the season, giving the club the chance to sell Corona suffering too much. Conceição will also be hoping to count more and more with the many youth talent that is rising in the club. His own son, Francisco Conceição is a gem, but so it is Fábio Vieira, Vitinha and the Brazilian Evanilson. Taremi will continue to be the man for the goals.