In Porto, where the autumn schedule has kept the Dragons moving steadily through the Primeira Liga, Santiago Giménez watched another league afternoon unfold from the substitutes’ bench. Porto’s win over Marítimo in the eighth round preserved an unbeaten run that has reached eight matches, but it also brought a second successive game without minutes for the Mexican forward.
Francesco Farioli began with André Silva as his lone central attacker. When the Portuguese striker was withdrawn after 67 minutes, Giménez was not selected as the replacement: Samu Aghehowa entered instead. Further changes involving Pepe and William Gomes did not open a route onto the pitch for the former Cruz Azul academy player either.
The decisive late contribution came from an even younger attacking option. Oskar Pietuszewski, the 18-year-old Polish forward, was introduced and scored the goal that settled the match for Porto. For Giménez, it was another difficult reminder of the competition for places in a side continuing to collect results.
Farioli asks for patience
The manager’s recent words, however, offered a more measured view of Giménez’s situation. Before facing Marítimo, Farioli had defended the striker amid his reduced form and scoring drought, calling for him to be spared excessive media pressure as he works towards his best level again.
Giménez had returned to Porto later than usual after representing Mexico during the international window. Farioli considered the forward’s playing time with the national team a positive, even though it meant missing some club training sessions.
“He played more minutes than we would have given him here,” Farioli said. “It was good that he went there and played. Naturally, he missed training, but he has time to return, work, make an impact and help when needed.”
That opportunity did not arrive against Marítimo. Yet with Porto’s unbeaten start intact and the season still offering matches across club and international duty, Giménez remains part of a squad in which his manager has indicated that patience, work and renewed influence are still expected.
