Ex-Porto man tips his side as favourites for Benfica clash: "At home..." | OneFootball

Porto enters the classic against Benfica with a slight advantage - which has news about António Silva -, in the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal, said former Porto player Chaínho. In statements to the Lusa agency, the former midfielder considered that a classic like this always goes beyond a normal game, even when it’s part of a knockout round.

"They are two historic teams, with a long history of achievements and many battles along the way. It’s a special day, a match that makes Portugal stop and is always about making history", he emphasized.

Asked about where these encounters are decided, the former footballer refused to separate the mental component from the competitive one: "You win in your head and on the field. You need talent, quality, and to be well physically and mentally. The shirt doesn’t win by itself, it’s the players and what they do in the game that wins".

Regarding the clash scheduled for Wednesday, Chaínho pointed to the collective as the main factor of imbalance, but acknowledged a slight advantage for Porto. "Playing at home, has the fans, and is confident. That gives them some favoritism, although in the Cup these games are always like a final", he warned.

Regarding the absence of Benfica captain Nicolás Otamendi, the former midfielder downplayed the impact, noting that the Argentine "is an important player and will be missed, but Benfica has solutions to adapt".

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