Nicolás Otamendi travels with Benfica despite ban, fans hail show of commitment | OneFootball

Nicolás Otamendi travelled with the Benfica squad to Porto despite being suspended for the Taça de Portugal tie at the Dragão.

According to Glorioso 1904, the Argentine centre-back chose to join team-mates on the bus while serving a suspension from his red card in the Taça da Liga semi-final against Braga.

The gesture sparked a wave of praise on social media, with supporters viewing his presence as a clear sign of dedication and unity before a pivotal quarter-final.

In his absence, the coaching staff are expected to use a new centre-back pairing, with António Silva, back from injury, expected to partner Tomás Araújo.

This season he has played 31 matches for Benfica, 16 in Liga Portugal Betclic, 10 in the UEFA Champions League, two in the Taça de Portugal, one in the Supertaça and two in the Taça da Liga. Across 2,790 minutes he has scored three goals, and he is valued at 1 million euros.

The clássico is scheduled for Wednesday, 14 January 2026, kick-off 20:45 at Estádio do Dragão. The Taça de Portugal Generali Tranquilidade quarter-final will be broadcast on RTP 1.

Source: Glorioso 1904