Defence shows its strength again despite conceding a penalty | OneFootball

Although FC Porto left Alvalade at a disadvantage in the semi-final of the Portuguese Cup, the defeat by the narrowest margin keeps hopes alive for the second leg, which will be played at the Dragão. Even with the goal conceded from a penalty, the Dragons' defense once again demonstrated why it is considered the most effective in Portugal and one of the safest in Europe – a consistency that has marked the five classics of this season.

In the three matches against Sporting and the two against Benfica, FC Porto conceded only three goals – all scored by the Lions – and the way these goals happened highlights the team's defensive security. At Alvalade, Luis Suárez converted a penalty; in the league duel at the Dragão, the Colombian failed to beat Diogo Costa from the penalty spot, only scoring on the rebound. In the first round of the Betclic League, the only goal by the Lions was an own goal by Nehuén Pérez, when the score was already 2-0 to FC Porto.

Benfica, who will face the Dragons again on Sunday – the third clash between the teams this season – has yet to break the wall protecting Diogo Costa's goal, leaving goalless both in the League match at the Dragão (0-0) and in the Portuguese Cup encounter, which the blues and whites won 1-0.

Now follows another high-level duel, this time at Luz, where Porto's defense faces another demanding test. It seems that this time Bednarek will not be part of the defensive axis, noting that he was a starter in the five classics already played by FC Porto this season.

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