Farioli calls Napoli formidable, yet his Porto have no European points

Francesco Farioli chose respect. "We recognise Napoli's quality," the Porto head coach said on Tuesday 3 November, the day before the game. "It's clear that some players won't play tomorrow, but they have enough quality to put other players on the pitch. It will be a very competitive team."

A side that wins everything at home

That is the puzzle about this opponent. In Portugal, Porto have won 10 out of 10. They have 30 points to Benfica's 22, with 25 goals scored and 4 conceded. In Europe they look like a different team.

Farioli rejected the criticism of his side's approach and their lack of consistency in attack. "I see it differently. My aim is to get forward and score. At times we have had problems, we have already talked about them, but that strengthens our will to reach our goals. I've been here for 60 games and we have always been one of the teams with the biggest impact." Then he conceded: "We haven't got much back, they were difficult games, but we showed the right will to win."

His biggest compliment looked backwards. "The azzurri have been champions of Italy twice in the last two years: we're talking about a formidable opponent." Those titles came in 2022-23 and 2024-25. Last season Napoli finished second, and went out of the Champions League in 30th place in the league phase, a run that included the 6-2 defeat by PSV.

On Sunday in Turin, Napoli had one shot on target against Juventus's 18 attempts. That is not the "formidable" side Farioli describes, and Napoli supporters know it better than he does.

Who is missing

"Some players won't play" is a polite way of putting it. Allegri arrives in Portugal without any of his four recognised full-backs: Di Lorenzo and Olivera did not travel, and Spinazzola and Favasuli were already out. In the middle he has only Beukema, Rrahmani and Rafa Marín, because Marianucci is not on the club's List A squad for the competition.

Lobotka, Neres, Badiashile, Buongiorno and Alisson Santos are also missing. De Bruyne is a doubt with the ankle sprain he picked up at the Allianz Stadium.

"We will be the same Porto as always."

Farioli also made clear how Porto will play. "Tomorrow will be the same, even though we're facing a team that can launch the ball 80-90 metres from goal. We have players who can press in the right way. We will be the same Porto as always."

For Napoli, that means a high press against a back line built from whoever is left, with players out of position on the flanks. Napoli have 3 points in Europe so far: a 0-1 home defeat by Arsenal, a 3-1 loss at Villarreal, then the 4-3 win over Bodø/Glimt, the club's 100th European victory. They have conceded seven goals in three games. On Friday, Allegri did not dress it up: "At certain moments in the game we are missing the defensive side."

So how much is Porto's respect really worth, coming from a side without a Champions League win that is also promising to press Napoli all over the pitch? For Farioli, this is the game for his first points. For Napoli, it is the first outing since the collapse in Turin, in a competition where the fanbase does not forgive performances without character.

Michael Oliver referees, the same official who took charge of Feyenoord-Napoli in 2017. After Wednesday at the Dragão, Napoli host Lazio at the Maradona on Sunday 8 November at 12:30 CET.