This Friday, the leadership of the I League is played at the Estádio do Dragão. FC Porto hosts Benfica, at a time when the blue and whites are three points behind the benfiquistas.
Eagles and Dragons enter the field at 8:15 pm, in Porto, separated by just three points, with an advantage for Benfica, which continues without defeat in the 18 official matches already played – in the championship it has eight wins and one draw.
The Reds will not only defend first place and their invincibility against one of their greatest rivals, but they will also have the opportunity to cement their leadership, although to do so they need to overcome a rival they have not been able to beat for almost four years, since March 2019, precisely when he left Dragão with a victory for the last time (2-1).
The duel with FC Porto takes place a few days after having suffered to eliminate Caldas, from Liga 3, in the Portuguese Cup, although they had an eleven with less used players.
released
Thanks for your help #Classic construction pic.twitter.com/3QOrXpOZ2a-Portuguese League (@ligaportugal) October 17, 2022
In Dragão, coach Roger Schmidt will have to bet again on the players who give him more guarantees, including Brazilian David Neres, who has recovered from the physical problems that affected him in recent weeks.
Without revealing whether the number seven will start, the German coach limited himself to adding that “it is the first time this season” that the Benfica club has all the players available, without injuries.
“Neres is ready, we are happy about that. Yesterday [quarta-feira] He has already trained and I think he has already shown his quality, we are going to take care of him and we are happy to have all the players available”, he said.
FC Porto, meanwhile, arrives at the ‘clásico’ at the best moment of the season, driven by five consecutive victories, two of which allowed them to stay in the fight for the knockout stages of the Champions League, and another, the last, a win over Anadia (6-0) in the Portuguese Cup.
Sérgio Conceição, praised the Benfica team in the preview of the classic and said to expect “a balanced game, where, for sure, the two best teams will be, even in terms of classification”. Even so, the Porto coach considers that “on the tenth matchday no one is champion”.
Despite having already conceded a defeat in the competition, against Rio Ave, and a draw, with Estoril Praia, both away from home, the ‘dragons’ find their greatest strength in their stronghold, where, in four games played this season , Marítimo, Sporting, Desportivo de Chaves and Sporting de Braga have won.
Porto captain Pepe will be the great absence of Sérgio Conceição’s team, who is still recovering from injury and missed the last three matches for the national champion, so Fábio Cardoso and David Carmo can once again take center stage. the defense .
In doubt until close to the time of the game are the side João Mário and the striker Galeno, as revealed the previous day by the Porto coach.
Taremi is spear directed at the red goal
Mehdi Taremi
⚽ Best Forward of the League of the month of September
⚽ Taremi is the best forward of September #FCPorto pic.twitter.com/9hgHD9cCK5– FC Porto (@FCPorto) October 18, 2022
Striker Mehdi Taremi has conceded five goals in nine games played in the I League, a statistic to which he still adds four assists. Since arriving at FC Porto, in the summer of 2020, the Iranian player has only scored one goal against the Reds, on the first day of the Portuguese championship last season, in a match in which the Dragons won 3- 1.
In September, Taremi collected the awards for the best striker and player in the First League and reached the classic after scoring two goals against Bayer Leverkusen, from the penalty spot.
Schmidt trusts the good form of Gonçalo Ramos
Gonçalo Ramos (3-1)! #SLBRAFC #PortugalLeague #EuAmoOBenfica pic.twitter.com/w03lsElKnB
– SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) October 8, 2022
Gonçalo Ramos reaches matchday 10 of the I League as the leader of the top scorers table, with six goals scored. On the last day, against Rio Ave, the striker signed a double in his personal account.
The 21-year-old is yet to score a goal in the derby, but he started both league games last season, the first in which he was a regular fixture for the Reds.
Source: TSF
