Coates and Pepe are the bosses of the defense of Sporting and FC Porto, and tomorrow in Alvalade (18.00, Sport TV1) they will face each other for the 14th time in classics in a match that will be refereed by Artur Soares Dias. The 32-year-old Uruguayan has played successively at Alvalade since 2016; the Portuguese-Brazilian, 39, is in his eighth season with Dragão, returning in 2019 after 10 seasons with Real Madrid.
Both are fundamental pieces for Rúben Amorim and Sérgio Conceição. Not only because of the quality, but also because of the status and authority they impose on the field – which is why they are both team captains and protagonists in the lions of dragons eleven.
Pedro Bouças, coach and commentator for Canal 11, believes that they are two central defenders with a capital stake in the strategy of the two coaches and that they both stand out for their strong leadership, but not only that.
Coates’ strengths are his aerial play, set pieces and the leadership he exerts on the field with his teammates. In terms of weak points, I emphasize the speed of the rotations and in certain movements, he is a player who indicates that it is more difficult to defend in large spaces,” he analyzed.
Pepe’s strengths show up in almost everything. “Air play, set pieces and moments of transition. When there are large spaces to defend, he knows how to impose himself. Even today he is a player who cannot be beaten in large spaces, very strong in controlling the penalty area, but also at the back in the defense. Another strength is his leadership on the field”, he opined, highlighting as his weakest point, and taking into account a game with the characteristics of a classic, “a certain slowness that can cloud his reasoning at certain moments”.
Controversies and duels
The two central defenders are old acquaintances from the classics and even shone on the field in controversial moments, such as in September 2021, when the Sporting player complained about a punch the white-blue player delivered from a penalty kick – the lions even served a complaint to the Disciplinary Board, but the case was dismissed.
They have already faced each other in 13 classics, in a story that started in January 2019, in the League Cup final which ended in a one-goal draw and the Lions later won on penalties. That same year, strangely enough, they faced each other again in a final, in the Portuguese Cup, and again with the club from Alvalade who won the maximum penalties.
In the 13 against each other in classics, Pepe has a clear advantage, as he won six, drew another six and lost one. The last confrontation was recently, in the League Cup final, on January 28, which ended with a 2-0 win for the white and blue team. Interestingly, neither of them ever scored in the head-to-head confrontations they fought out, not least because the mission of both is more to prevent their teams from conceding goals.
This season, Coates has appeared in 16 of the Lions’ 18 games in the Championship. Honestly.
Pepe, on the other hand, played in 11 championship matches, mainly due to injuries and physical problems. He currently pairs up in defense with fellow veteran Marcano, recently receiving high praise from Sérgio Conceição, who called him a “super-competitive animal” who sets an example for younger players.
Source: DN
