FC Porto and Sporting have six points, but the scenario in the respective groups (see table) of the Champions League is very different. Recovering from a near-elimination on matchday three, the Dragons are now in a position to qualify if they fail to win at Belgium, Club Brugge and João Félix’s Atlético de Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday (5:45pm, 11am).
Sporting, on the other hand, had a brilliant start, but two consecutive defeats to Marseille meant that the Leonine team had to beat Tottenham, in London (20.00, TVI and Eleven), to maintain hope in advancing to the knockout stages. A win or a draw sends all Group D decisions to the final round.
In this 5th round of the Champions League, FC Porto has to settle a score with Club Brugge, after the surprising defeat in the first round (4-0). “It’s up to us to play a different game from Dragão. It wasn’t just the opponent’s credit, it was our credit. We have been warned about this team, which is a very interesting team, with and without the ball.”Sergio Conceição said today, arguing that the proof of it all is that they have conceded no goals in this group stage and are already through.
Porto’s side has a lot of experience and so there will be no “apologies” for the physical or mental wear and tear resulting from the 1-0 defeat to Benfica, even if the center of the defense is the least experienced of all sectors. “If Pepe played, he would play match 113 in the Champions League and Fabio Cardoso made three… David Carmo made four. But it doesn’t matter. If the team is okay, I have no doubt that we will get a result that will be to win or to win so we can qualify.”
And with the certainty that the worst scenario – a defeat – does not take the national champions out of the fight for qualifying, and everything can be decided in the last round, in the reception at Atlético de Madrid, which is, after all, a scenario identical to last season, which at the time was favorable for the Spaniards.
Jackets back? and the holder
Without Pedro Goncalves and Ricardo Esgaio, due to suspension, and with Coates in doubt due to injury, Sporting will play the future in European competitions in London. “Tottenham know that if they win, they go through to the round of 16. And we have to win the game too,” said Rúben Amorim, remembering that the big difference for the Alvalade game is that “this one is more decisive”. Therefore, “Coates will in principle be able to play initially”. And when asked about Paulinho’s possible start, even in light of Pedro Goncalves’ absence, the Leonine coach said that at Sporting “there are no starters” and he will always have to make “rotations”.
Before leaving for London, Sporting’s president responded to a question about the coach’s contract extension: “He has a contract until 2024 and we couldn’t be more pleased and proud.”
At the press conference, Amorim reaffirmed that he does not have “the dream of coaching a particular club” and that he is “happy” in Alvalade: “I’m already with a big club. I’m very young. And I really like this uncertainty, not knowing tomorrow, not thinking about England, Spain or Italy. It can be one of my goals, but I don’t make it a coach being and having a project that I identify with.”
Source: DN
