Sporting de Braga and FC Porto take on each other today in Cidade dos Arcebispos (18.00, SportTV1), in a match where the second place of the I Liga is at stake (if the dragons win, they extend the advantage to five points, if they lose , they go to third place with minus one), because it is worth getting direct access to next year’s Champions League and it promises to be an intense fight until the end of the championship. And also the title bills, at a time when Benfica are ahead and with yesterday’s victory 11 points more than the dragons.
Recent history says that the dragons find it quite difficult to travel to the field of the Minho rival. Proof of this is the fact that they have not won at Pedreira in four years, with two defeats and three draws in the last five games (three in the championship and two for the Portuguese Cup) played there.
The last triumph of the dragons in Braga dates back to March 2019, a 3-2 victory, in a championship match where the team, coached by Sérgio Conceição, was twice at a disadvantage, but got around the rival, coached by Abel Ferreira, with goals from Tiquinho Soares (double) and Alex Telles, two of them from the penalty spot. Pepe, Otávio and Manafá are the only survivors of the team at that time.
Before today’s game, Sérgio Conceição has two important casualties who will even miss the game. Pepe and João Mário continue to recover from injuries and are transferred to the clinical department. Much like what happened in Wednesday’s Champions League match against Inter Milan, Fábio Cardoso should partner Marcano in the defensive axis and Pepê to pull back to the right side of defence. Also in relation to the Champions League match, there is the return of Otávio, who sat out a suspension duel against the Italians.
Artur Jorge, coach of Sp. Braga expects a lot of difficulties in today’s game and left a lot of praise for the rival. “It will be one more game, of the ten finals we have before the end of the championship. It is against an opponent who is directly involved with us in what is the battle for first places and I expect a strong FC Porto. I believe that FC Porto is probably the most combative team in this championship, we must have the courage to match that combativeness,” he said.
The Arsenalistas coach also confirmed that he has received invitations from clubs in Saudi Arabia, but assured that his thoughts are with the Minho club. “These are not rumours, it’s true. I was invited, but I know what I’ve been waiting for to get here and I want to see this project through to the end. I’ve made a commitment to him and also to the players. That’s why I turned down a proposal a long time ago. Soon”.
Niakaté and Paulo Oliveira have recovered from their injuries and were therefore part of the selection.
Sérgio Conceição did not give the usual press conference, as is the custom in domestic competitions lately.
Source: DN
