Grief, Homage and Tradition: FC Porto Unbeaten in First Match for Over Half a Century
FC Porto has an impressive record of not losing at home in the first match of the season. The last defeat was almost 54 years ago against Sporting. This occurred on September 10, 1972, at the now-demolished Estádio das Antas.
The history books mark the 2019/2020 season as the last time FC Porto started poorly in the league: a 2-1 defeat in Barcelos against Gil Vicente. Away from home, the situation is different. Alverca stands out as a year without Jorge Costa.
In August 2023, the team faced Vitória de Guimarães at the Dragão after the sudden death of Jorge Costa due to cardiac arrest. The League accepted the request for the game between the blues and whites and Vitória de Guimarães to be postponed. On August 11, six days after the captain's passing, the stadium was full with a tribute to Bicho. Farioli's team put in an intense performance resulting in a clear 3-0 victory, with two goals from Samu and one from Pepê. The team transformed grief into defiance and paid an unforgettable tribute to Jorge Costa.
Last Home Victory
The last time Alverca won against FC Porto at the Dragão was in 2025 when Benfica, coached by Bruno Lage, won 4-1. Pavlidis' hat-trick and Otamendi's goal; Samu scored for Porto.
The Fortaleza of the Dragão
FC Porto makes the Dragão their fortress - it’s hardly a novelty. They have not lost in 20 home games in the main competition, and this resilience and consistency are what champions live by. In the 2025/26 season, they won 14 out of 17 matches, drawing with Benfica (0-0), Sporting (1-1), and Famalicão (2-2). Across all competitions, their only defeat was against Vitória de Guimarães (1-3) and they were eliminated from the Taça da Liga.
