The leaders’ meeting between Sporting and FC Porto, on Monday, the 14th matchday of the I Football League, will have the same relevance as the other moments of the blue and white race for the title, the president of the club stated this Saturday. ‘dragons’.
“We are not yet halfway through the championship and nothing will be decided in this round, but the title is won by scoring points. [encontro face ao] Sport is as important as the other games we have already won. As it is always better to be at the top of the table than not, we will face the duel seriously and convinced that we can win,” Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa told reporters.
The leader inaugurated the classic at the FC Porto Museum, where he witnessed the inauguration of the temporary exhibition about Fernando Pascoal Neves, better known as Pavão, on the day that marks 50 years since the death of the former captain during a match between the ‘ blue and white”.
“Pavão is honored in our memory at all times. On Monday, the victory will be for all those who defended the colors of FC Porto, because history is made up of triumphs and not defeats. It will be in everyone’s memory,” he noted, on the sidelines of an event in which family members and colleagues of the former midfielder also appeared.
On December 16, 1973, in the 13th minute of the duel between FC Porto and Vitória de Setúbal, for the 13th matchday of the I Liga, Pavão fell lifeless on the grass of the now demolished Estádio das Antas and went to the Hospital of São. João, in Porto, where he would die at the age of 26.
“When we win, we dedicate the titles to everyone: to those who unconditionally support our team everywhere and to the athletes, both those who died and those who dignified the jersey and, fortunately, are still among us,” said Pinto da Costa. .
Recalling the victory achieved against the Ukrainians of Shakhtar Donetsk (5-3), on Wednesday, on the sixth and final day of Group H of the Champions League, the president of FC Porto admitted that the club’s 14th qualification for the round of 16 final The competition perhaps serves as a tone to visit Sporting, in a phase in which both are at the top of the I Liga.
“They are different games. Qualifying was fundamental and one of the main objectives of the season. We could have finished first.” [da ‘poule’]if it weren’t for the unfair result against FC Barcelona at the Dragão [derrota por 1-0], but we are in the best clubs in Europe and in the main competition, not only in Europe, but in the world. We are satisfied and hopeful. On Monday we will know which rival we face [nos ‘oitavos’]. “I’m sure whoever we get will not be happy that FC Porto got it,” he stated.
Asked about the recent statements of the ‘leonine’ leader, Frederico Varandas, who promised to receive his rival in Alvalade in an exemplary manner, Pinto da Costa refused to comment.
Sporting and FC Porto, tied at the top of the I Liga, with 31 points, face each other on Monday, starting at 8:15 p.m., at the José Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, in the ‘summit’ of leaders of the 14th round, refereed by Nuno Almeida, from the Algarve association, a day after the national champion Benfica, third, with 30, visited Sporting de Braga, fourth, with 29.
Source: TSF
