Four centimetres cost two points

FC Porto missed an excellent opportunity to reach the minimum distance to the leader of the championship. Facing Rio Ave immediately after Sporting's game in Famalicão was postponed, the Dragons failed to score (while also maintaining a clean sheet) and got only one point instead of the three intended. This result leaves them at 45 points, three behind Benfica and four behind Sporting, with both rivals having a game in hand.

The team taken by Sérgio Conceição to Faro came back to Estádio do Dragão and needed little time to create danger. Three minutes in, in Northern area, Evanilson was tackled by an opposing defender and referee António Nobre signalled to the penalty spot; however, alerted by the VAR, the decision was reverted and the game continued.

Ten minutes later, after recovering the ball, Francisco Conceição had a perfect cross, Nico González hit the target, goalkeeper Jhonathan saved it and Galeno made it count, but was four centimetres offside. Rio Ave responded, sending shivers down the spine of the many fans at the stands and reminding the home team to the danger they pose.

Evanilson and Francisco Conceição gave the visiting goalkeeper something to do again before the half an hour mark, Jhonatan proved he was on his toes, and the winger tried again shortly after, again without success. The VAR's third intervention came very close to the rest, again to disallow a goal from the only team capable of shooting on target (this time, the offside was by 19cm), frustrating the blue and white universe even further. After all, at half time, the VAR had already disallowed two goals and a penalty for FC Porto.

A confusing play by Evanilson between the defenders was an omen to the second half. The Dragons played completely on the opposing midfield, with the defence 50 meters up on the pitch and applied pressure close to the area, but lacked ideas and finishing capacity.

Iván Jaime and Toni Martínez went in, replacing Nico González and Galeno, and Francisco Conceição tried to pick up the ball and go for goal, but never succeeded. Sérgio Conceição sent in Gonçalo Borges and Danny Namaso, removed João Mário and Francisco, Boateng saw a red card in stoppage time and Alan Varela was close to breaking the tie from the free kick given, but luck wanted nothing to do with the Dragons and the final whistle came with the scoreboard unchanged.

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