The Portuguese football champion, Benfica, and the winner of the Portuguese Cup, FC Porto, will compete this Wednesday for the conquest of the Super Cup Cândido de Oliveira, at Estádio Municipal de Aveiro.
After some weaknesses exposed in the pre-season, eagles and dragons have the first major test of the new season, with the spotlight on the ‘new faces’, although the basic structure of the two teams must be maintained.
If the champions were more exuberant in terms of signings, sending home the Argentinian Ángel Di María and strengthening the midfield with the Turkish Orkun Kokçu and the left wing with the Czech David Jurásek, the holder of the ‘queen league’ acquired the Spanish midfielder Nico González and compatriot striker Fran Navarro.
at Benfica, coach Roger Schmidt is expected to launch the three reinforcements, as well as Musa, in place of Portuguese international striker Gonçalo Ramos, who was on his way to Paris Saint-Germain on Monday.
At FC Porto, of Sérgio Conceição, there is doubt about the starting role of goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who is recovering from physical problems, with the big surprise in the attack. With Evanilson out due to injury, it will be Fran Navarro or compatriot Toni Martínez who will keep Iran’s Taremi company.
FC Porto’s dominance in this competition has been overwhelming, with 23 trophies won in 44 editions, against only eight by Benfica – the Eagles appear just behind Sporting in the ranking of winners of this competition, as the Lions won nine times.
Porto’s superiority in this competition is even more impressive if we analyze the direct confrontations with Benfica: the two clubs discussed the trophy between themselves 12 times, with the Dragons winning on 11. The exception to the rule occurred in 1985, when the reds won the competition, after winning 1–0 at home (with a goal from Diamantino Miranda) and a goalless draw at Antas – until 2000 the competition was played over two legs and featured a final in case of a draw.
In 26 matches between Benfica and FC Porto in the Super Cup (including the two-legged matches), there were 14 wins for the blue and white, five for the red and seven draws. It will be the third time that the rivals play the game in Aveiro, and the previous two have been a blue and white celebration: in 2010, under André Villas-Boas, a 2-0 win with goals from Rolando and Falcao. And in 2020 for the same result, with Sérgio Oliveira and Luis Díaz as service scorers. In addition, the Municipal de Aveiro has been a talisman stadium for FC Porto, winning the eight Super Cup finals it played there.
Next Wednesday’s game could well mark a new record for Sérgio Conceição as coach of FC Porto, as in the event of a victory he will reach his fourth Super Cup at the head of the dragons and isolate himself as the most title. At the moment he has the same three cups as Artur Jorge in the league. Conceição, remember, has already won 10 trophies in all competitions, more than any other coach who has worked for the blue and white club: three championships, three Super Cups, one League Cup and three Portuguese Cups.
The 45th edition of the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup starts at 8:45 PM at Estádio Municipal de Aveiro.
Source: DN
