Farioli Hails Moffi Milestone as Porto Cruise Past Stuttgart into Europa League Quarter-Finals

Posted : 20 March 2026

Porto coach Francesco Farioli rotated his squad heavily for the second leg at the Estádio do Dragão, making eight changes from the side that beat Moreirense 3-0 on Sunday. Despite the reshuffled lineup, the Dragons were clinical and composed, advancing comfortably to the quarter-finals.

William Gomes opened the scoring in the 21st minute, converting from close range after a sharp combination down the left involving Zaidu Sanusi and Borja Sainz. Victor Froholdt sealed the tie in the 72nd minute, driving forward before firing a powerful long-range effort into the net to make it 2-0 on the night.

Moffi's physical progress was the standout subplot of the evening. The 26-year-old, who joined Porto on loan from OGC Nice in January, has been gradually working his way back to full sharpness after an extended spell on the sidelines. Speaking after the final whistle, Farioli highlighted the significance of the forward's endurance. "William, Moffi played the full 90 minutes, which he hadn't done in a long time. We had very strong collective and individual performances, and the effort paid off," the Italian coach said.

The match against Stuttgart also marked Moffi's first Europa League start since joining from OGC Nice during the January transfer window. He had already contributed his first Europa League goal for the club in the first leg, opening the scoring in Stuttgart in the 21st minute during Porto's 2-1 away win on March 12.

After that first leg, Farioli had spoken positively of Moffi's display, calling his link-up play and involvement in duels impressive; he did however acknowledge that signs of fatigue were expected given the striker had been out of action for over two months before his January move. The second leg, where Moffi ran the full game without being substituted, signals a clear turning point in his fitness recovery.

Across four Europa League appearances this season, Moffi has now logged 188 minutes, scored two goals, and registered six total attempts. His improving match sharpness will be a major boost for Porto as they prepare for the next round.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa was outstanding throughout the evening, producing multiple key saves to deny Stuttgart, who attacked aggressively in pursuit of an early goal. Victor Froholdt also scored his second goal at the Estádio do Dragão in what proved to be a commanding home performance.

Porto will now face Nottingham Forest in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League. The Dragons continue to lead the Primeira Liga table, maintaining a seven-point gap at the top and remaining unbeaten domestically since a loss to Casa Pia in early February. With Moffi back to full fitness, Porto's ambitions across all three fronts are growing by the week.

Farioli Hails Moffi Milestone as Porto Cruise Past Stuttgart into Europa League Quarter-Finals

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