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FC Porto v Olhanense: A tale of two coaches
It was a big surprise when former Portugal international Sérgio Conceição was named the new Olhanense coach in January.
A successful, exciting but temperamental player for FC Porto and Lazio, among others, Conceição has lost none of his fire. Over-exuberant touchline activity has landed him in trouble with the Portuguese football authorities, and already earned him lengthy suspensions from the dugout. But he has done a good job at transmitting his infectious enthusiasm into the team. The modest Algarve club are currently comfortably placed in seventh in the table, are unbeaten in six games and come into the match on the back of an impressive draw at home to Benfica last week.
“We’re in good form, so with all respect and humility, we will be going to the Estádio do Dragão to earn points,” said Conceição, as he prepared to take his charges to his former club.
Taça da Liga finalists Benfica to put pressure on Porto with win at Olhanense?
Can Benfica beat Olhanense and regain the top spot in the Portuguese League conditionally, putting pressure on FC Porto?
With a busy schedule in the next few weeks, playing 6 matches in only 20 days, Benfica face another challenge travelling to Olhão in the south of Portugal. Algarve is a lucky region for the Eagles who have encountered happy moments there.Last Tuesday, in the Portuguese League Cup semi-final, Benfica had a sweet taste of revenge after a tough 3-2 win over FC Porto saw them reach the final for the fourth time in a row in five editions of this recent Portuguese competition.
Second-placed Benfica will have only 72 hours to rest from the classic match against the Dragons. They will meet seventh-placed Olhanense on Friday trying not to show any sign of fatigue.
SC Olhanense vs FC Porto Report
Porto ended a forgettable week with a goalless draw at Olhanense.
After defeat in Cyprus on Tuesday, Porto were looking to bounce back against Algarve outfit Olhanense.And they were given the opportunity to make the perfect start as Kléber was fouled in the box after just two minutes, but Hulk's penalty kick was saved.
Another poor Porto performance ensued, with few chances created.
Rolando, Hulk and Mangala had the best of them, while Olhanense threatened twice through Portugal U21 striker Wilson Eduardo.
But neither side could find the breakthrough as the game ended 0-0.
SC Olhanense vs FC Porto Preview
Not for the first time this season, FC Porto will attempt to get a traumatic Champions League result out of their system when they return to domestic action, as they take on Olhanense this Saturday night.
Talk of a crisis may seem strange in relation to a team that is joint top of the league and has scored the most goals in their opening nine domestic fixtures since the 1950s. But in Portuguese football the benchmark is always European play, and after sweeping all before them to lift the Europa League last season, Porto’s limp showing thus far in the Champions League has been hard to swallow. A sizeable group of fans made a point of waiting in the early hours of Wednesday morning for the squad to arrive at Porto’s Sá Carneiro airport to voice their disapproval in no uncertain terms after the Dragons has been beaten 2-1 in Cyprus by APOEL Nicosia.
Failure to claim three points in the Algarve against Olhanense tomorrow will make it an uncomfortable international break for coach Vítor Pereira. In the pre-match press conference Pereira followed the motto of “attack is the best form of defense” in defending himself and his team from the critics.
Benfica vs SC Olhanense Report
Two goals from Spain U21 striker, Rodrigo Moreno, the first after just 20 seconds, fired Benfica to a 2-1 win over Olhanense at the Estádio da Luz on Saturday night.
There was an explosive start to the match as Nico Gaitán slipped a clever pass through to Rodrigo who advanced towards goal and hit a rasping shot past Fabiano and into the net as many of the crowd were still looking for their seats. The goal further boosted Benfica's already sky-high confidence, and the home side completely outplayed the hapless visitors in the first half.
Rodrigo got his and Benfica's second on 13 minutes, nodding in Maxi Pereira's cross.
It looked like a thrashing was on the cards, but the pattern of the game changed drastically after the break.
Benfica vs SC Olhanense Preview
High-flying Benfica host Olhanense in Lisbon on Saturday night looking for their 11th win in 13 games and their 6th successive victory.
Things could hardly have gone any better for the Eagles so far this season. Still unbeaten in 2011/12, Benfica negotiated two tricky opponents in Champions League qualifying and have been just as impressive in the competition proper, currently sitting atop Group C with a good chance of winning the section. On the domestic front results have been just as impressive. Six wins and two draws from eight games see Benfica joint top of the standings alongside FC Porto. Just days before their next Champions League engagement, coach Jorge Jesus does not want any drop in his team’s focus.
“Our main objective this season is to win the national championship, so our priority is to look at the game against Olhanense. Only afterwards will we think about the Basel game. Luckily we are leading the table in the two competitions, but our big goal is winning the championship,” said the experienced manager.
Rangers vs Sporting Lisbon: I Don’t Fear Rangers – Sporting’s Pedro Mendes
Despite Sporting Lisbon’s poor result in their last match, midfielder Pedro Mendes has insisted that his side is ready to face Rangers in the UEFA Europa League.
Sporting Lisbon were actually leading 2-0 over lowly side Olhanense at the weekend in the Liga Sagres, but they suddenly allowed their opponents to come back into the game to settle for a draw in the most miserable manner. Rangers however enjoyed a great Saturday thanks to a 6-0 win against Motherwell at home.Perhaps, there is no doubt that the Scottish giants are currently in much better form than the Portuguese strugglers. Yet, despite everything, Pedro Mendes has yet to overestimate his adversaries in the Europa League.
"Every season, there will be a Rangers game which finishes 5-0, 6-0 or 7-0... So I am not worried about that,” the former Porto player said. “It was just the same when I was there.