«The Pablo started in Jong PSV, which is the reserve team, but it didn’t take long to join the main squad. He was young, but already very versatile. Hardworking, he always kept his head down, didn’t make a fuss. Always training hard and fulfilling what was asked of him,» Boudewijn Zenden recalled to A Bola regarding Pablo Rosario ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League fixture.

FC Porto prepares to host PSV Eindhoven at the Estádio do Dragão on Tuesday at 20:00 for the third round of the league phase, searching for their first points in the competition, as reported by sources. For Rosario, now 29 years old and wearing the number 13 shirt for the Portuguese club, the match carries deep personal resonance against the Dutch side where he established his professional career between 2016 and 2021.

From Quiet Reserve to Midfield Anchor

Zenden, who served as an assistant coach at PSV during Rosario’s entire tenure in Eindhoven, watched the midfielder arrive as a quiet youngster from Almere City before making 138 appearances, scoring five goals, and providing 11 assists. Now operating under Francesco Farioli, Rosario has evolved into a mature leader after an intervening spell at Nice, where Farioli previously managed him.

«His way of playing hasn’t changed much, but he’s more mature and more of a leader. At PSV, he already had a very strong forward pass and I think he still maintains that quality at FC Porto,» Zenden noted to A Bola. After featuring as a central defender against Real Betis, Rosario is expected to return to his customary position for the match.

Fitness Concerns and Squad Preparation

While Porto enters the fixture following a domestic weekend without a league match—granting additional preparation time highlighted by Zenden—the squad manages physical setbacks in training. Vasco Sousa remained on the clinical bulletin under conditional training, while William Gomes underwent treatment during Sunday’s session at the Olival training center.

On the attacking front, Porto retains options in Samu, nearing full fitness, and Santiago Giménez. Giménez brings familiarity with PSV from his two-and-a-half seasons with Feyenoord, having scored three goals across eight prior encounters against the Eindhoven club.

Match Officials and Broadcast Details

UEFA appointed a 100% German officiating crew for the encounter, led by referee Daniel Siebert. The 42-year-old referee previously directed Porto’s 2–0 victory over Olympiacos at the Estádio do Dragão during the 2020/21 group stage and handled the 2025/26 Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in Budapest. Sören Storks will operate the video assistant referee (VAR) booth.

Television coverage for viewers in Portugal will be broadcast live on Sport TV 5, with kickoff scheduled for Tuesday evening at 20:00.