Dragões v Vitória de Guimarães match preview
By: j |
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Following the international break Porto return’s to Liga action as they make the short trip to face Vitória de Guimarães. With Porto holding a solid point lead over Sporting they will be looking to maintain pressure with a victory over their north-eastern neighbours but without a doubt have an eye towards Tuesday’s Champions League battle against Manchester United.
As always the challenge of the international week is a trying one and in conjunction with Tuesday’s affair Porto manager Jesualdo Ferreira has a number of issues to deal with. Lucho González, Lisandro López and Cristian Rodríguez returned Friday evening from representing their homeland and are far from being match-fit and most likely to be used with caution. Fortuitously Lisandro López is in the sin-bin for the match and it is likely best given the upcoming encounter. Ventura who proudly represented Portugal U21 side in the XIII Torneio Internacional da Madeira, will miss due to injury with Rabiola stepping-in. The match has come too soon in the recovery of Nelson Benítez, Pedro Emanuel, Freddy Guarín and Jorge Fucile as each race towards optimum fitness next week.
Conceding the difficulty of playing at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Jesualdo Ferreira said of his defensive minded opposition:
“The match against Vitória de Guimarães is important for many reasons: is the upcoming match, it comes in a good sequence of matches for us, it’s against a strong opponent and it will be played at a complicated venue. It comes in a bittersweet time of the season. It’s good because we’re on top of the league but is bad because we’ve had a long pause that braked up our rhythm”
Manuel Cajuda’s Guimarães’s side have suffered through a difficult campaign to-date and sit near dead-centre of the middle. However on the strength of the two match winning streak, including the recent 1-0 defeat of Benfica, they are looking for a last gasp run towards a Europa League spot.
Category: Porto Team News
Os Dragões on international duty
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Following the opening leg defeat of Estrela da Amadora in the semi-finals of Taça de Portugal, os Dragões got back to work today looking ahead to their Champions League clash against Manchester United.
Freddy Guarín, Mariano González and Milan Stepanov all were in the training room going through a rehabilitation program for various injuries.
With the international break eight members of Os Dragões are heading for duty to proudly represent their homeland. Bruno Alves, Raul Meireles and Rolando join Carlos Queiroz’ Selecções for their match against Sweden on March 28, whilst Ventura will feature in the U21 Portugal side in the XIII Torneio Internacional da Madeira. Lucho González and Lisandro López joins the Albicelestes for their matches against Venezuela and Bolivia. Cristian Rodríguez is a part of Uruguay’s efforts against Paraguay and Chile. Cristian Săpunaru joins Victor Piţurcă’s Tricolorii as they face Serbia and Austria.
Category: Porto Team NewsOs Dragões defeat Estrela da Amadora Taça de Portugal
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Os Dragões returned to action with a 2-0 defeat of Estrela da Amadora 2-0 in the first leg of Taça de Portugal semi-final at Estádio do Dragão.
Prior to the match Jesualdo Ferreira’s firmly stated Porto’s goal of hoisting the trophy:
“We really want to win this competition. Players, coaches, directors and fans all share the will to conquer the Portuguese Cup and we know that, in order to reach it, we have to overcome Estrela. We haven’t won anything yet, but our will is very strong.”
Executing his plan to perfection, the match was effectively a perfect confidence builder ahead of the great test of Manchester United in the Champions League as Porto clicked with all cylinders working in unison. With a global back-line of Milan Stepanov, Bruno Alves, Aly Cissokho and Romanian international Cristian Săpunaru, Porto maintained perfect shape and quality marking throughout the match. After a patient opening, Porto erupted with two goals in four minutes. First Lucho González connecting from the spot eleven minutes from the break to make it 1-0 and only four minutes later Raul Meireles doubled the margin. Whilst Porto had opportunities to increase the margin the match concluded without further mark.
Photo Credit: Futebol Clube do Porto
Category: Porto Team NewsDragões continue with win over Naval 1º de Maio
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Porto continued its winning ways with an efficient 2-0 victory over Naval 1º de Maio at Estádio do Dragão. The victory provides Jesualdo Ferreira’s side a four point cushion in first place of Liga.
The Dragões took the lead with six minutes left in the half with Mariano González superb left footed shot just inside the box. The margin was doubled on Lucho González effort nine minutes after the hour mark from Mariano González’s provision. With no further incident the match was clear sailing for Porto as they posted a 2-0 victory.
Category: Porto Team NewsDragões advance to quarter finals of Champions League
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Porto booked passage to the quarter finals of the Champions League with a solid scoreless draw against Atlético de Madrid at Estádio do Dragão. After holding Abel Resino’s side to a 2-2 draw at Vicente Calderón, Os Dragões were in the drivers seat with two important “away” goals.
Humble in victory the Porto leader Jesualdo Ferreira said following the match:
“I want to say a big thank you to my players and to our fans; the fans because they stood by our side for the entire match and the players because they did exactly what I asked them to do. We improved a lot after the break but we were better from start to finish. We were always in control and we were the only team really willing to win the match. We were once again unlucky in front of the goal and for me Atlético’s goalkeeper [Leo Franco] was the man of the match, as he was in Madrid.”
With complete commitment to defending Atlético barely got going and rarely threatened Porto ‘keeper Helton. After a modest early, with heavy emphasis on modest, the Spanish side couldn’t advance in the final third of the pitch. Prior to the half hour Simão, formerly of Benfica, went down in the box but his claims for a penalty went in vain. Late efforts by both Hulk and Lisandro López came close to breaking the deadlock but each fell short and the match ended in a scoreless draw. With the result Porto now advances to the next round of the Champions League and awaits the draw.
Category: Porto Team NewsPorto welcome Atlético Madrid to Estádio do Dragão
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Porto welcome Atlético Madrid to Estádio do Dragão Wednesday evening in the second leg of their round of sixteen Champions League match. After holding Abel Resino’s Atlético to a 2-2 draw at Vicente Calderón, os Dragões are in perfect position to advance to the next round in their home grounds.
Since the opening leg, Porto has been in fine form playing to their rivals Sporting to a draw while handily upending Leixões 4-1 on the weekend. However Atlético is a running as a finely tuned engine defeating Barcelona at home while holding Real Madrid to a draw at Santiago Bernabéu
Jesualdo Ferreira has yet to issue a squad list although for this weekends match Cristian Săpunaru, Freddy Guarín, Jorge Fucile and Nelson Benítez were out of the Azuis e brancos squad list due to injury. Should there be any material announcements regarding lineup I will post an update.
Category: Porto Team NewsDragões defeat Leixões
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Os Dragões visit to nearby Matosinhos to face Leixões Saturday evening resulted in an emphatic 4-1 victory. With the triumph, Porto maintains its top of Liga standing and looks ahead to their upcoming Champions League match against Atlético Madrid.
José Mota’s side threatened first at the twelve minute mark with Rúben Ribeiro’s twisting free-kick narrowly drifting over the cross bar. However twenty-three minutes in, after a handball call on Hugo Morais, Lucho González stepped up to the spot and gave the Azuis e brancos a 1-0 lead. Porto should have extended their lead on the half hour as Ernesto Farías was sent in on a perfect through ball but his first touch was off and his hurried shot. Returning from the break Hulk inspired a fast counter-attack that lead to Lucho González being provided the ball from inside the box but his effort drifted wide of the far post. However four minutes after the restart Hulk doubled the lead as he capitalized on a juvenile defending blunder and went in alone on the ‘keeper without mercy and drove the ball into the left corner. Only six minutes later the counter-attack led by Lucho González resulted in a left footed shoot by Hulk curling off wide however it wasn’t long till Os Dragões increased the lead. Six minutes past the hour mark Mariano González and Ernesto Farías linked up to provide Raúl Meireles the ball for a clinical finish. After Mariano González rung the crossbar after another fast-breaking counter attack, Ernesto Farías made it 4-0 with fourteen minutes remaining as he headed in Lucho González corner. With a minute remaining Diogo Valente notched a goal for the hosts as it capitalized on a terrible goalkeeping error as Helton simply lost control of the ball as he fell and the on-loan midfielder from Porto netted the ball quickly.
Category: Porto Team NewsDragões travel to Leixões
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Os Dragões make the short trip to Matosinhos to face Leixões at Estádio do Mar on Saturday evening. Following the scoreless draw to Sporting, Porto maintains its two point lead on Benfica in the Liga standings and will need to careful of José Mota’s side who have their eye on a Champions League spot. Only three points behind third-place Sporting and will pounce on any opportunities that are presented.
With the second leg of the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid, Jesualdo Ferreira is balancing the needs of the match with absences due to injury, Cristian Săpunaru, Freddy Guarín, Jorge Fucile and Nelson Benítez as well as Cristian Rodríguez who is in the sin-bin. Ivo Pinto and Rabiola have been called upon in Azuis e brancos squad list.
Category: Porto Team NewsClássico ends in scoreless draw
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The Clássico between Porto and Sporting at Estádio do Dragão ended in a scoreless draw leaving the defending champions at the top of the Liga table.
Os Dragões best chance to score came ten minutes into the match when Raul Meireles in swinging corner was nodded towards the goal by Cristian Rodríguez but superbly cleared off the lined by Daniel Carriço. However beyond that attempt, Sporting controlled the majority, albeit only a few reasonable scoring chances. With seven minutes left in the half Porto dodged a bullet as a long cross found Derlei at the corner of the six yard box, to which is headed on to Liédson, who subsequently hit the post from a difficult angle. At the restart opportunities were few and far between as both sides were not willing to take a risk and go forward and the match ground down to a nil draw.
Category: Porto Team NewsDragões welcome Sporting
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Following the mid-week draw against Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League, Porto welcome Sporting to Estádio do Dragão in a massive Liga clash.
For Sporting this is not only a chance to pull them within a point of the Azuis e brancos but equally rebound from a dreadful 5-0 drubbing by Bayern München on Wednesday. That result does not go unnoticed and if anything is likely to motivate them even greater to respond with a top-shelf performance. Paulo Bento is without Montenegrin international Simon Vukčević, Hélder Postiga, Rui Patrício and Miguel Veloso.
Jesualdo Ferreira has called upon Andrés Madrid for his first Liga match with both Tricolorii capped Cristian Săpunaru and Jorge Fucile both out with injuries. Prior to the match Hulk noted his respect for Sporting:
“I don’t believe in a fragile Sporting, they’re a good side and I’m sure it will be a great match.
“I don’t think we’re in advantage for this match just because Sporting was defeated in the Champions League. We also are somehow frustrated with the result of the Madrid’s game and, in addition, the classical matches never have favourites. I just hope our fans come to the stadium to support us.”
Category: Porto Team News
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