Sporting fans hit back at Porto in force; clássico is already heating up | OneFootball

Sporting travel to the north of the country this Wednesday to play the second leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-final against Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. The match is scheduled for 8:45 pm, with the Lions holding the advantage after Luis Suárez, from the penalty spot, found the back of Diogo Costa’s net in the 62nd minute at Alvalade in the first leg of the tie (1-0).

This Monday, after the disappointment and defeat in the derby, Sporting announced that tickets for the trip to the Estádio do Dragão had sold out. The tickets available for the clash against the Dragons sold out in around three hours after going on sale.

One month and 19 days after facing each other at Alvalade, Lions and Dragons will do everything to secure a place in the Portuguese Cup final, scheduled for 24 May at the Estádio Nacional. In the competition’s history, Porto have the edge with 17 wins, compared to Sporting’s 14. In a rivalry that has also produced 13 draws, the “Dragons” lead in goals scored as well, with 61 to Sporting’s 56.

This season, after three matches between the two sides, each team has one win and there has been one draw, with three goals scored apiece, meaning the match at the Dragão could break the deadlock or leave everything level, although a draw would send Sporting through. As such, Rui Borges’s men will have to do everything they can to book their place in the final of this competition.

The last time the two clubs met at the Estádio do Dragão was on 9 February, when debutant Seko Fofana put the home side ahead in the 76th minute before Colombian Luis Suárez equalised from the rebound following a penalty in the 90+10th minute, with the final play of the game. It should be noted that Porto currently sit alone at the top of the table with 79 points, followed by Benfica with 72, while Sporting are in third place with a game in hand on 71 points.

With 20 trophies won, including three in the last four seasons, Porto are the second most successful club in the Portuguese Cup, behind Benfica with 26 and just ahead of Sporting, who lifted their 18th trophy last year by beating the Eagles 3-1 in the final after extra time.

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