“This is a final, in theory FC Porto are stronger, but…” | OneFootball

“Torreense will have to be at their very best and everything will need to go as planned. This season, there have been several signings, there are quite a few new players, but they will certainly give everything they have to try to win the Super Cup,” the former midfielder told Lusa.

FC Porto, the national champions, and Torreense, the Portuguese Cup winners, will face each other in the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup on 1 August at 20:15 at the Municipal Stadium of Coimbra. It will be the first time the club from Torres Vedras has taken part in the competition, while the ‘dragons’ will be fighting for the trophy for the 35th time, looking to claim the 25th title in their history.

Born in Torres Vedras, Hélder Batista knows what it means to lift the Super Cup. In 1997, the former midfielder helped Boavista win the competition precisely against FC Porto. Knowing well the importance of a match of this kind, he admits there are “no secrets” and “no favorites.”

“It’s 50/50. This is a final. Theoretically, FC Porto are stronger, without a doubt, and we respect that a lot. They are the national champions. But it’s just one match and anything can happen. Obviously, the difficulty is greater because of all those factors, but at any moment Torreense can also score and things can turn around,” he warned.

The Torres Vedras side secured a place in the Super Cup after beating Sporting 2-1 after extra time on 24 May and winning the Portuguese Cup for the first time. To try to add another unprecedented trophy, Hélder Batista believes it is essential for the team to show the right attitude.

“One thing I have no doubt about is that all the players will give everything. They know it is a great opportunity and perhaps a unique one to win another national trophy for their résumé. In a way, they will give their very best and, without a doubt, make the club they represent proud,” he said.

As for FC Porto, the former player expects to face a strong opponent, with players capable of deciding the match at any moment.

“The coach [Luís Tralhão] has certainly already analyzed the opposing team. He knows they have fantastic players, of great quality, who can be decisive at any moment, in any situation near our goal, because they are players who can decide the game at any time,” he admitted, adding that he will be among the ‘blue-and-grená’ supporters in the stands in Coimbra.

Hélder Batista, now 54, began his football career at Torreense in the 1980s, where he completed his entire youth development before reaching the senior level. It was in that role that he was part of the last team from the Oeste club to compete in the Primeira Liga, in the 1991/92 season. The former midfielder also said he hopes to see the ‘blue-and-grená’ back in that division again in the near future.

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