FC Porto beat Rio Ave away (3-0), for matchday 33 of the League. Toni Martínez (56m), Luis Díaz (58m) and Sérgio Oliveira (67m) made the victory possible, which ensures the second place in the championship and the direct qualification to next season’s Champions League.

Counting on the usual wind at Estádio dos Arcos, along with some rain, FC Porto and Rio Ave took to the pitch with different goals on the horizon. The blue and whites wanted to ensure, right away, the direct qualification to next season’s Champions League and, for that reason, the first-half had clear dominance for the Dragons, sometimes even suffocating. Taremi had the best goal situation in the first-half when, 25 minutes, he dribbled Kieszek and hit the post. Despite the control in possession of the ball, FC Porto couldn’t make it count in the first 45 minutes, which meant a 0-0 tie at halftime.

After the break, FC Porto went in with better aim, and, in two minutes, scored two goals. Toni Martínez (56m), first, shot at the far post after a superb assist from João Mário and then, 58 minutes in, the Dragons went from danger to team celebration: Pepe made a bad back pass, as Rio Ave’s attack got it, but Marchesín was quick on his feet and passed the ball to Otávio, who found Taremi; the Iranian forward passed to Luis Díaz, who dribbled an opponent inside the area and shot between the legs of Nélson Monte straight at the back of the net. Less than ten minutes later, and just two minutes after going in, Sérgio Oliveira scored, receiving the ball inside the area. Luis Díaz could have scored again, but couldn’t get to the ball in the best conditions, after an excellent job from Toni Martínez on the right. A word also for the return of Iván Marcano, who played his first minutes since March 2020. The match ended with a display of excellence from Marchesín, with two great saves, and the three points went for FC Porto.

The Dragons will play again next Wednesday, at Estádio do Dragão, against Belenenses, in a match that will finally count on around 5000 blue and white fans on the stands.