Porto Face Nottingham Forest As Pereira Returns To Challenge Farioli In Europa League Quarter-final

Porto and Nottingham Forest meet at Estadio Do Dragao on Thursday in the Europa League quarter-final first leg, renewing a contest that already featured in the league phase. Forest previously claimed a 2-0 home victory at the City Ground, with Sean Dyche’s debut bringing two penalties, converted by Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus.

Francesco Farioli’s team now enter this tie with a strong European home record but mixed domestic form. Porto drew 2-2 with Famalicao in their first match after the international break, a result that allowed Sporting CP to close the gap at the Primeira Liga summit and added pressure before this continental test.

Porto stand among three clubs with a perfect home record in the Europa League this season, alongside Aston Villa and Freiburg. They have won all five matches at Estadio Do Dragao in this campaign. Only once have Porto managed six European home wins in a single season, in 2010-11, when they lifted the Europa League trophy.

The Europa League quarter-final also frames a reunion, as Vitor Pereira returns to face Porto after earlier success. Pereira coached Porto between 2011 and 2013, overseeing 93 competitive matches, with 65 wins, 16 draws and 12 defeats, for an average of 2.27 points per game. That spell brought four major trophies but also defeats in a UEFA Super Cup and a Taca da Liga final.

Forest arrive in this Europa League quarter-final encouraged by a recent upturn since Vitor Pereira took charge. Pereira’s first Premier League victory came before the international break, a 3-0 away success at Tottenham. Earlier in the season, Forest had already hurt Porto’s prospects with that 2-0 win in Sean Dyche’s first match after replacing Ange Postecoglou.

Farioli expects this Europa League quarter-final against Nottingham Forest to demand a high standard from Porto. "[Pereira] did important things at Porto, and he will prepare Nottingham to be at their best," Farioli told reporters. "We will have to be at our best to compete.They have quality in their coach and their squad. They have been on the up since Vitor's arrival. And of course, all these elements will force us to give our best on the field."

Porto are involved in a Europa League or Champions League quarter-final for the 18th time. Their last appearance at this stage came in 2020-21, when they were knocked out by eventual Champions League winners Chelsea. Porto have gone out in four straight quarter-finals since eliminating Spartak Moscow in the 2010-11 Europa League.

The only Portuguese coach previously to face Porto in the Europa League was Domingos Paciencia, whose Braga side lost 1-0 in 2011. That context adds another layer to this meeting with Nottingham Forest, as Vitor Pereira becomes the next Portuguese manager to oppose Porto in this competition, carrying detailed knowledge of the club.

Farioli has tried to steer focus away from Porto’s recent quarter-final record and towards present levels. "At the moment, the level of motivation is high. It's a privilege to play in the Europa League quarter-finals against an opponent like this," Farioli added. "We are where we should be in terms of level of performance and commitment, will to win and ability to advance in the competition."