Mário Saldanha Super Cup: Benfica and FC Porto face off in Coimbra | OneFootball

The derby between Benfica and FC Porto promises to fill the Mário Mexia Pavilion in Coimbra this Sunday (3:00 PM) for the celebration of the 40th edition of the Mário Saldanha Super Cup.

The Eagles, four-time national champions and leaders of the Betclic League, come in as favorites, but the Dragons—winners of the last two editions of the Portuguese Cup and current holders of the trophy—have what it takes to put up a strong fight.

Benfica is aiming to win its 16th Super Cup, while the team from Invicta is seeking its 9th, in a match expected to be intense and marked by a fierce rivalry between the clubs.

In statements to the Portuguese Basketball Federation (FPB), Norberto Alves, Benfica’s coach, highlighted the unity of the group: “We are a collective team and we must stay true to that.”

Regarding the opponent, he emphasized the usual balance in the classic: “These games are always different and highly contested. The teams are very evenly matched and FC Porto has strengthened in recent times.”

As for the objective, the Reds’ coach was clear: “This game has the characteristics of a final, a title is at stake and we want to win it.”

Meanwhile, the Dragons’ coach, Fernando Sá, showed full awareness of the importance of the trophy and the demands of the duel: “I expect to see two teams that truly want to fight for this trophy. I have no doubt that it will be an extremely competitive, aggressive, and high-intensity game. I believe it will depend a lot on who can maintain more stable emotional control.”

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