Porto Vs Arouca: Kiwior Set to Start as 3,000 Tickets Remain for Dragão Match
FC Porto readies for porto vs arouca in the 23rd round with a likely defensive reshuffle and limited tickets left for the match at the Estádio do Dragão. The encounter matters because Porto lead the title race by four points and must manage squad absences while protecting a stout defensive record.
Porto Vs Arouca: likely lineup and injuries
Manager Francesco Farioli will be without key defenders Thiago Silva and Martim Fernandes, both still recovering from injuries, and midfielder Alan Varela, who is suspended for the fixture. Those absences are driving forced changes: Kiwior has recovered from a thigh muscle issue and is expected to step straight into the starting eleven, partnering Jan Bednarek in central defence to create a Polish centre-back pairing.
With Varela unavailable, Pablo Rosario is the favored option to occupy the number 6 role in midfield, a selection shaped directly by the suspension rather than tactical preference. The coaching staff also promoted three players from the B team into the matchday squad—midfielders André Oliveira and Tiago Andrade and winger André Miranda—adding depth and options on the bench.
Porto enter the game on the back of strong defensive numbers: the club has conceded just seven goals this league season, the best record in the division. At home, their form is notable—across 19 matches at the Estádio do Dragão this season they have lost only once, a 1-3 defeat to Vitória de Guimarães that also resulted in elimination from the Taça da Liga. In the stadium specifically, the team has managed only a single draw in their last 14 fixtures there, underlining a tendency to produce decisive results at home.
Estádio do Dragão: ticket situation and title implications
There are still 3, 000 tickets available for the match at the Estádio do Dragão, and organizers expect another full house for the 23rd jornada. The remaining tickets underline strong demand: local expectations point toward a sellout despite a limited block of seats still on sale.
The broader competitive context elevates the match's significance. Porto head into the fixture with a four-point margin over Sporting; that gap means Porto can theoretically drop a match and remain top if Sporting wins elsewhere, but the margin leaves little room for error in a tight run-in. The opponent, Arouca, sits 10th with 26 points and is focused on securing top-flight safety rather than challenging for European places, which frames the game as a chance for Porto to consolidate rather than to chase a comeback.
What makes this notable is the confluence of squad disruption and defensive strength: a side that has conceded only seven goals must reshuffle its defensive axis while preserving a narrow lead in the standings. The timing matters because the fixture arrives late enough in the campaign that every dropped point can reshape the title race dynamics.
Farioli's selection decisions—elevating a recovered Kiwior into the back line, shifting Rosario into a holding role and supplementing the squad with three B-team call-ups—are direct responses to injuries and suspension. Those official actions signal a pragmatic approach aimed at maintaining Porto's defensive baseline while managing player availability as the team defends its lead.
Fans still able to purchase seats are likely to find limited inventory, and the club anticipates heavy support at the Dragão as Porto looks to protect its position at the top of the league table.
