Match report

FC Porto Defeats Rio Ave 1-0 in Primeira Liga Clash

FC Porto
FC Porto
1–0
FT
Rio Ave
Rio Ave
Feb 22, 2026

FC Porto held off a tenacious Rio Ave to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the Primeira Liga. V. Froholdt's early goal stood as the difference, despite several key substitutions and a controversial VAR decision that canceled one of FC Porto’s goals.

Key Facts

  • • Final score: FC Porto 1-0 Rio Ave
  • • Goal by V. Froholdt in the 22nd minute, assisted by O. Pietuszewski
  • • VAR canceled a goal for FC Porto in the 51st minute involving D. Gul
  • • Rio Ave made three substitutions: K. Zoabi out for D. Spikic, J. Tome out for O. Pohlmann, and Ryan Guilherme out for T. Nikitscher
  • • FC Porto also made several changes, including B. Sainz for Pepé Aquino, S. Fofana for D. Gul, and T. Moffi for V. Froholdt

Lineups

FC Porto

Formation: 4-3-3

Starting XI

  • 99 Diogo Costa (G)
  • 20 Alberto Costa (D)
  • 5 Jan Bednarek (D)
  • 13 Pablo Rosario (D)
  • 12 Zaidu Sanusi (D)
  • 8 Victor Froholdt (M)
  • 22 Alan Varela (M)
  • 10 Gabri Veiga (M)
  • 11 Pepê (F)
  • 27 Deniz Gül (F)
  • 77 Oskar Pietuszewski (F)

Substitutes

  • 86 Rodrigo Mora
  • 7 William Gomes
  • 42 Seko Fofana
  • 17 Borja Sainz
  • 29 Terem Moffi
  • 14 Cláudio Ramos
  • 74 Francisco Moura
  • 21 Dominik Prpić
  • 73 Gabriel Brás

Rio Ave

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 99 Ennio Van Der Gouw (G)
  • 17 Marios Vrousai (D)
  • 32 Jakub Brabec (D)
  • 39 Gustavo Mancha (D)
  • 77 Omar Richards (D)
  • 44 Tamás Nikitscher (M)
  • 5 Andreas Ndoj (M)
  • 7 Diogo Bezerra (M)
  • 80 Ole Pohlmann (M)
  • 18 Dario Špikić (M)
  • 11 Jalen Blesa (F)

Substitutes

  • 20 João Tomé
  • 14 Karem Zoabi
  • 19 Antonis Papakanellos
  • 8 Ryan Guilherme
  • 21 João Graça
  • 22 Kevin Chamorro
  • 6 Nelson Abbey
  • 23 Francisco Petrasso
  • 54 Georgios Liavas

Timeline

  1. FC Porto
    22' FC Porto Goal · Normal Goal
    V. Froholdt · Assist: O. Pietuszewski
  2. FC Porto
    51' FC Porto Var · Goal cancelled
    D. Gul
  3. Rio Ave
    65' Rio Ave subst · Substitution 1
    Off: D. Spikic · On: K. Zoabi
  4. Rio Ave
    65' Rio Ave subst · Substitution 2
    Off: O. Pohlmann · On: J. Tome
  5. FC Porto
    75' FC Porto subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Pepê Aquino · On: B. Sainz
  6. FC Porto
    75' FC Porto subst · Substitution 4
    Off: D. Gul · On: S. Fofana
  7. Rio Ave
    83' Rio Ave subst · Substitution 3
    Off: T. Nikitscher · On: Ryan Guilherme
  8. Rio Ave
    83' Rio Ave subst · Substitution 4
    Off: M. Vrousai · On: A. Papakanellos
  9. FC Porto
    85' FC Porto subst · Substitution 5
    Off: V. Froholdt · On: T. Moffi
  10. Rio Ave
    88' Rio Ave subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Andreas Ndoj · On: J. Graca
  11. Rio Ave
    90'+2 Rio Ave Card · Yellow Card
    J. Graca

    Argument

Match Stats

Stat FC Porto Rio Ave
Fouls 14 16
Pass Accuracy 86% 80%
Offsides 2 0
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 16 6
Corners 10 1
Total Passes 472 397
Yellow Cards 2 3
Blocked Shots 5 2
Shots on Target 3 1
xG 1.95 0.24
Shots off Target 8 3
Possession 55% 45%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 404 319
Shots Inside Box 11 2
Saves 1 2
Shots Outside Box 5 4

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ The early goal by V. Froholdt in the 22nd minute set FC Porto on course for victory
  • ▸ A controversial VAR decision to cancel a legitimate-looking goal for FC Porto at half-time shifted momentum, allowing Rio Ave to push harder