FC Porto vs FC Alverca

FC Porto kicked off their title defense in style, beating Alverca 2-0 at a packed Estádio do Dragão. The champions set the tone early, pressing hard from the opening whistle and never really letting the visitors settle, even if the manner of both goals left plenty to talk about. André Silva broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 9th minute after a VAR review flagged a handball, and Veiga doubled the lead with another spot kick right before the break, a decision that stirred some debate among Alverca's bench. The visitors responded well after the interval, dominating corners and territory, and were denied an equalizer by a brilliant save from Porto's goalkeeper. It's the perfect start for Francesco Farioli's side, who looked sharp and controlled despite the second-half pressure, sending an early statement of intent in the title race. For Custódio Castro's Alverca, there were signs of real quality and resilience, but two soft penalties proved costly on the road in a game they'll feel they could have taken something from.