Dragão Arena crackles for the ‘play-off’ semi-final derby | OneFootball

FC Porto and Sporting face off this Wednesday, from 8:00 pm, at the Dragão Arena, in the opening match of the national roller hockey championship play-off semi-finals.

The Dragons go into this round after knocking out Oliveirense in the quarter-finals, with two wins for a 2-0 aggregate result (7-1 and 4-3). Gonçalo Alves assures that the FC Porto team will “do everything within our reach to win”. The Porto forward stresses that the blue-and-white side go into this match “in a good moment” and that he is “confident we can put in a good performance”, with the aim of “continuing to fight for a third straight title”.

“The teams are very evenly matched, they have great players and a very strong collective. We know that all scenarios are possible, but we want the Dragão Arena to be our fortress. We are focused on ourselves, on our strength and on our desire to win,” said the 32-year-old Portugal international.

Sporting reach the championship semi-finals after overcoming Valongo in the quarter-finals, also with two wins and no defeats (6-4 and 4-1).

Sporting coach Edo Bosch wants a team that reflects what it has already shown it is capable of this season and highlighted the importance of the fine margins in games he expects to be balanced against FC Porto. “They are two teams that know each other very well and I don’t think there will be any big surprises. The fine details will make the big difference and those details will be made by the artists,” said the Spanish coach. “It will have to be a Sporting side like it has been many times this season, with a strong personality in defence and then with the dynamic attack we have shown in many matches and many finals,” added Bosch, 50.

In the other semi-final match, on Thursday, Benfica and OC Barcelos will contest the first game of the tie that will determine the second finalist, scheduled for Thursday (9:00 pm) at the Pavilhão da Luz. The Eagles secured their place at this stage with two wins over Sanjoanense (10-1 and 2-1), while the Roosters also progressed with a pair of victories against HC Braga (7-4 and 4-3).

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