FC Porto winger Borja Sainz has emerged as the most efficient goalscorer in Portugal's Primeira Liga, averaging a goal every 69 minutes on the pitch.
The 25-year-old Spanish forward boasts a sharper scoring rate than the competition's leading marksmen, Luis Suarez of Sporting CP and Vangelis Pavlidis of Benfica. Suarez averages a goal every 73 minutes for Sporting, while Greek international Pavlidis needs 80 minutes on the pitch for each strike with Benfica.
Both Pavlidis and Suarez sit atop the league scoring charts as their clubs' primary attacking focal points. Sainz, by contrast, has produced his numbers almost entirely from the substitutes' bench.
The Primeira Liga is Portugal's top professional division, traditionally dominated by the Big Three of Porto, Benfica and Sporting CP. While Benfica and Sporting are based in the capital city of Lisbon, Porto represent the northern port city and play their home fixtures at the Estadio do Dragao.
Matchwinner against Gil Vicente
Sainz earned his only league start of the campaign in Porto's recent away match against Gil Vicente in Barcelos. He proved to be the standout performer of the contest, scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 win that secured Porto their ninth league victory of the season.
The Spanish winger was not originally scheduled to start the match in Barcelos. He received a sudden call into the starting lineup only after teammate Pietuszewski suffered an injury during the pre-match warm-up.
Called into action at short notice, Sainz responded immediately. His decisive display mirrored his consistent form since the start of the season, where he has regularly produced whenever summoned from the dugout.
Gil Vicente play their home fixtures in the northern town of Barcelos. Overcoming them away from home handed Porto another three points in their domestic campaign.
Bench efficiency and away record
With nine matchdays completed, Sainz sits as Porto's joint top scorer in the Primeira Liga with four goals. He is tied with Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga, but Veiga has logged 573 minutes of playing time compared to just 274 minutes for Sainz.
That return makes Sainz the most productive substitute in the Portuguese top flight. Three of his four league goals have arrived after entering the game from the bench.
The winger has also done his best work away from the Estadio do Dragao. Three of his four league strikes this season have come in away matches, giving Porto vital cutting edge on their travels.
Preparations for Stuttgart
Sainz and Portuguese teammate Francisco Moura are now stepping up preparations for Porto's upcoming clash against German club VfB Stuttgart in European competition.
Stuttgart compete in Germany's Bundesliga, providing Porto with a demanding continental test outside their domestic league programme.
The squad has also had to navigate personal grief away from football, with an FC Porto player mourning the death of his mother.
