Rio Ave 0-3 Porto Player Ratings: Gabri Veiga 9/10 Rated as Porto Dominates in a 3-0 Rout

Porto arrived at the Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube and simply took over. Porto looked hungry from the first whistle. They completely controlled the tempo of this Liga Portugal clash from start to finish. The home side just had no answers for the onslaught. Their defense was breached within four minutes of the opening whistle. Pablo Rosario found the back of the net from a corner kick. The host barely had time to catch their breath before it happened all over again. Samu Aghehowa made it 2-0 inside a chaotic first 13 minutes.

What really stood out to us was the sheer creative force of Gabri Veiga. The midfielder was simply electric, a livewire in the center of the park. He assisted both first-half goals and looked a class above everyone else. It felt like every time he touched the ball, something dangerous was about to happen. This match was effectively put to bed before halftime, a testament to Porto's ruthless efficiency. The second half saw more of the same, with Veiga deservedly getting his own goal to cap a masterful performance before being subbed off to a huge round of applause. Here are the Rio Ave vs Porto player ratings.

Rio Ave Player Ratings vs Porto

Here are the Rio Ave player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Cezary Miszta - 6.5: A very tough day at the office for the Rio Ave keeper. He conceded three goals, but frankly, he was left completely exposed by his defense. We noticed he made four crucial saves, including three from inside the box. Without him, the scoreline could have been far uglier for the home side. He commanded his area with a punch and a good high claim. It's really hard to fault him when his team was so comprehensively outplayed from start to finish.

Defenders

Andreas Ntoi - 5.5: Seemed overwhelmed for most of his time on the pitch. He was substituted after 73 minutes of chasing shadows. Ntoi won five of his six duels, which is a positive point, but he also lost possession 14 times. This just shows how much pressure he was under. He struggled to contain Porto's fluid attack and was often pulled out of position.

Nelson Abbey - 5.0: A really forgettable evening for the central defender. He had a torrid time trying to handle the movement of Porto's attackers. The stats tell some of the story, winning only one of his three duels. He did make six clearances, which indicates how busy he was throughout the match. However, he looked a step off the pace and was part of a backline that simply could not cope with the pressure.

Jakub Brabec - 5.5: Like his defensive partners, he had a torrid time. He picked up a yellow card for a clumsy foul. Brabec made five clearances and three interceptions, showing he was in the right place at times. However, losing two duels and only winning two long balls shows his struggle. He was constantly under duress and couldn't impose himself on the game.

Midfielders

Nikolaos Athanasiou - 6.0: He was busy and tried to make things happen before being subbed off. He drew three fouls, showing he was at least trying to get into combative areas. His passing was accurate at 92%, but it was mostly safe and sideways. He failed to create much going forward and was overrun by Porto's midfield engine room. A decent effort, but ultimately ineffective.

Brandon Aguilera - 6.5: One of Rio Ave's brighter sparks, if you can call it that. He created three chances and showed some nice touches on the ball. His passing was neat and tidy with 92% accuracy. However, he lost four of his six duels and was dispossessed once. He tried to get his team moving but fought a losing battle against a superior midfield.

Marios Vrousai - 6.0: The captain had a frustrating game. He was very busy, with 73 touches, but lost possession a staggering 21 times. That's just not good enough. He did have four shots, but only one was on target. He worked hard defensively, making two tackles and recovering the ball seven times. But his final product was seriously lacking.

Georgios Liavas - 6.0: Played for 57 minutes and had a quiet game. His 97% pass accuracy is impressive, but it came from just 36 passes, none of which were particularly incisive. He won two of his three duels and made two tackles. He was solid enough without the ball but offered very little with it before being substituted.

Forwards

Clayton - 5.0: A really isolated and ineffective performance from the striker. He had only 18 touches in 65 minutes. He was caught offside once and lost five of his eight duels. He was completely starved of service and failed to make any impact on the game.

André Luiz - 5.5: Another forward who struggled to get into the game. He had 40 touches but lost possession nine times and was dispossessed twice. He picked up a yellow card and offered very little threat going forward. He was physically outmatched, winning only three of his ten duels.

Dario Spikic - 5.5: Barely featured in the 65 minutes he was on the pitch. Only 19 touches for an attacking player is a very poor return. He did complete two successful dribbles but lost possession four times. The Croatian was another victim of Porto's dominance, unable to get on the ball in dangerous areas.

Substitutes

Substitutes: Several players came on but none had enough time or impact to fundamentally change the course of the match or warrant a full rating. The damage was already done.

Manager

S. Silaidopoulos - 4.5: From our perspective, his team looked unprepared for Porto's intensity from the first minute. The defensive structure crumbled almost immediately. His side was completely outplayed in every department, and his substitutions did little to change the flow of the game. A very difficult day at the office for the manager, who was tactically outclassed.

Porto Player Ratings vs Rio Ave

Here are the Porto player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Diogo Costa - 7.5: A comfortable evening for the Porto captain. He had very little to do for most of the match but was alert when called upon. He made two important saves from inside the box to preserve his clean sheet. His distribution was excellent, with a 75% success rate on long balls.

Defenders

Jakub Kiwior - 8.0: A fantastic all-round performance. Defensively solid, winning all his duels and making key tackles. What stood out to us was his contribution going forward. He created three chances, including one big chance, and had a pass accuracy of 87%. He was a constant outlet on the left and balanced his duties perfectly.

Jan Bednarek - 7.0: A solid and untroubled display at the heart of the defense. He was strong in the air, winning both his aerial duels. His passing was crisp and accurate at 94%. He did commit five fouls, which is a bit high, but it shows his aggressive intent to win the ball back.

Pablo Rosario - 8.0: What a start to the game for him. He scored the opening goal with a smart finish from a corner. He was a rock in the backline, winning four of his six duels. He even drew two fouls and made a crucial interception. The yellow card was the only small blemish on an otherwise excellent performance before he was subbed off.

Francisco Moura - 7.5: Another defender who impressed. He was a bundle of energy down the flank. He won six of his ten duels and was successful with both of his dribble attempts. He created a big chance and was a constant threat. Defensively, he was solid, making two tackles and three interceptions.

Midfielders

Victor Froholdt - 8.0: The metronome in Porto's midfield. He controlled the tempo of the game with his incredible 95% pass accuracy. The Danish midfielder created four chances for his teammates, showing his creative vision. Froholdt was also diligent defensively, recovering the ball five times and making a key tackle. A very classy and composed performance.

Gabri Veiga - 9.0: Simply sensational. From our perspective, he was the undisputed man of the match. He ran the show completely in his 58 minutes on the pitch. A goal and two assists speak for itself, but it was his overall influence that was so impressive. He created chances, took shots, and was a nightmare for the Rio Ave defense.

Alan Varela - 6.5: A quiet but effective first half before being substituted at halftime. Varela kept the ball moving with 95% pass accuracy. He was a calming presence in midfield, recycling possession and keeping things simple. The Argentine midfielder didn't make a huge defensive impact but played his part in Porto's complete dominance of the ball.

Forwards

Samu Aghehowa - 8.0: Led the line brilliantly. He scored a classic poacher's header to make it 2-0. Aghehowa was a real handful for the defenders, winning four of his five duels and three aerial battles. He took four shots in total and was a constant menace until he was substituted.

Pepê - 7.5: A lively and creative performance. He grabbed an assist for Veiga's goal and created three chances in total. Pepe was always looking to make things happen, even if it meant losing the ball a few times.

Borja Sainz - 7.0: A very frustrating night for him in front of goal, but a good performance nonetheless. He had six shots, with three on target, and was desperately unlucky to hit the post. The Spanish forward was a constant threat, drawing three fouls and always looking to run at his man.

Substitutes

Substitutes: The substitutes came on when the game was already won. They helped see out the victory but didn't need to produce any heroics.

Manager

F. Farioli - 8.5: His game plan worked to perfection. His team came out with incredible intensity and blew Rio Ave away in the first 15 minutes. The attacking patterns were fluid and devastating. His decision to start the explosive Gabri Veiga paid off handsomely. A tactical masterclass that secured a comfortable and dominant victory on the road.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Gabri Veiga