Ex-São Paulo man Liziero eyes clash with leaders Porto | OneFootball

The midfielder Igor Liziero, former player of São Paulo, and a starter in all matches for Nacional da Ilha da Madeira in the current edition of the Liga Portugal, shows great anticipation for the clash against the leader Porto this Sunday (15). Currently in the 13th position, the team from Madeira will host the main favorite for the Portuguese title at the Estádio da Madeira, aiming to maintain their home unbeaten record in 2026 and earn crucial points to climb the standings.

Signed in August after leaving São Paulo, the 28-year-old midfielder quickly established himself as a key player for coach Tiago Margarido. His statistics prove Liziero's importance to Nacional da Ilha da Madeira: he has four assists in the Portuguese Championship, is the second in accurate crosses (37), sixth in key passes (37), 12th in big chances created (7), and 12th in tackles (42), according to the platforms Sofascore and Zero Zero.

“I feel very comfortable here, and I am on a very good streak, fulfilling both defensive and offensive midfield duties well. We know that facing Porto is not an easy task, but we will have the fans on our side. We have a well-organized team, very strong at home, and with a strategy to exploit the opponent's mistakes well. These are the big matches that every player loves to play,” said Liziero, who was a São Paulo state champion with São Paulo in 2021 and has played for Inter and Coritiba.

Performance and numbers of the midfielder in Liga Portugal

The versatility of Liziero is one of the pillars of Nacional da Ilha da Madeira. With four assists, he is one of the team's main playmakers. His efficiency in crosses — where he ranks as the second in the competition — and his precision in key passes make him an influential player in offensive construction. Additionally, his ability to recover the ball, evidenced by his 12th place in tackles, provides defensive solidity to the team.

Expectation for the clash against the leader

Nacional da Ilha da Madeira comes into the duel against Porto buoyed by their home unbeaten record in 2026. They have played three home matches in Liga Portugal, with an impressive 4-0 victory over Rio Ave and two draws. Liziero emphasizes the importance of being smart and effective against a strong opponent: “We need to be smart and effective to take advantage of every opportunity, and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” he stated.

The midfielder also highlighted the team's competitive identity in seeking victory in every game and imposing respect on opponents visiting the Estádio da Madeira. “I see that we are on the right path. We have an identity of being a team that seeks victory in every game and knows how to impose respect on the opponents who visit us. Within the Portuguese league, this is not common, and it is a sign of good work being done,” he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.