It will be the second meeting in seven days for clubs after ten-man Porto thrashed Benfica 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup.
Third-placed Benfica, who are four points behind Porto and Sporting, will not only look to close the gap with the pace setter in the league but will also look forward to the funeral. memories of last week.
The Lisbon club endured a series of riots a few days later when manager Jesus cleared the pitch against the players after dismissing captain Pizzi from training.
The 67-year-old Portuguese, who once told the Brazilian Globo he could return to Flamengo for the second time in the team, was then given his marching instructions. by Benfica president Rui Costa. Flamengo, however, has hired another Portuguese, former Polish coach Paulo Souza as their new coach.
Interim manager Nelson Verissimo will manage Benfica until the end of the season, the club has announced. He will also have the tough task of snatching Porto’s seven undefeated games against Benfica in all competitions. Porto also won four games without conceding a goal.
Benfica will lose at least six players due to COVID-19 incidents and suspensions, including Darwin Nunez, Nicolas Otamendi and Alejandro Grimaldo.
Porto manager Sergio Conceicao will also be without first-timers Evanilson and Luis Diaz, who were tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The discovery of Pepe and Mehdi Taremi is still in doubt.
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