Team News
Maicon, Fernando and Alex Sandro are still out of the FC Porto roster. The three players are recovering from injuries and will not travel to Madeira. James Rodríguez and Jackson Martínez, who both flew in South America to play with the Colombian national team, have been called up and will probably play in the starting eleven.
In the Nacional team, Moreno is suspended. He will be replaced by Brazil’s Isael. After a great performance at Guimarães, Angolan player Mateus is set to gain a start.
Match Analysis
The Portuguese Cup is a trophy that FC Porto love to win. Playing in Madeira will not be easy for the Dragons, mostly because Manuel Machado's men are now very confident, after winning in a league match in Guimarães.
FC Porto will present some changes in the team. Fabiano will be in post while Miguel Lopes, Christian Atsu and Kléber may also have an opportunity to play more minutes. For Nacional, escaping relegation is very important, but the team lack silverware in their history. A Portuguese Cup will be just fine.
Head to Head – Last five matches
16/03/2012: Nacional 0-2 FC Porto
23/10/2011: FC Porto 5-0 Nacional
26/01/2011: FC Porto 3-0 Nacional
02/01/2011: FC Porto 1-2 Nacional
20/09/2010: Nacional 0-2 FC Porto
Facts
• The last time Nacional beat FC Porto in Madeira was in a League Cup match played in January 2009. Candeias, now at Nacional, was in the Dragons’ starting eleven.
• The first time these two teams had a match up was in 1981, in a Portuguese Cup match, played at the Estádio dos Barreiros, now owned by Marítimo, Madeira’s rival.
• FC Porto won 1-0 in the Portuguese Cup last round, with a goal from Brazilian international Danilo. Nacional outscored Sp. Espinho, 4-0.
Prediction
This will be one of the hardest games of the season for FC Porto due to the long trip and bad weather conditions. Despite these facts, Vítor Pereira will maintain his dream of reaching another Portuguese Cup final.
Result: Nacional 1- 2 FC Porto
