Marco Silva notes small Porto advantages but rejects favourites tag | OneFootball

Marco Silva says FC Porto may hold small edges for Sunday’s clássico, yet he will not name a favourite. As reported by O Jogo, the Benfica head coach cited home advantage and their rivals’ full week of preparation.

Benfica won 2-0 at AC Milan on Wednesday in the Europa League league phase, while Porto had the week to prepare. Silva stressed a midweek game does not hand Porto favouritism.

Porto lead with 18 points after six wins, Benfica have 16 and can go first with victory. Benfica’s only slip was on matchday one against Académico de Viseu at the Luz.

Silva said three important points are at stake, but nothing is decisive in round seven. He framed it as a meeting of two of the three or four title contenders.

Asked if a draw would suffice, he replied that Benfica think only about winning and prepare for nothing else. Ideally they would win without conceding, though he avoided projections given Benfica’s best attack, 21 goals, against Porto’s best defence, two conceded.

Pressed on refereeing, after Francesco Farioli’s remarks last week following Porto’s 4-1 win over Casa Pia, Silva referenced the Porto coach’s call today for equality for both teams. He said Benfica expect complete equality and balance in decisions.

The first clássico of 2026/27 kicks off at 20:30 on Sunday at Estádio do Dragão in Porto, with Miguel Nogueira of AF Lisboa to referee.

Source: O Jogo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”