Four days after qualifying for the Portuguese Cup final, FC Porto now seek to return to victories in the I League, this Sunday, against Casa Pia, in Rio Maior, in a match counting towards the 30th round of the championship.

Despite the celebration in the main competition, the Dragons have not known what it is to win in the I League for over a month, since the triumph over Vizela (4-1), having suffered defeats against Estoril (1-0) and Vitória SC (1-2), in addition to the most recent draw against Famalicão (2-2).

Conversely, Gonçalo Santos' team has not lost any of the last three games, and it is necessary to go back to the reception to Benfica (0-1), over a month ago, to remember the last defeat, followed by a triumph over Vizela (0-4) and draws against Estoril (0-0) and Portimonense (2-2).

Thus, Sérgio Conceição, with many absences due to injury, has strong cautions to achieve the return to triumphs in the competition, in search of defending the podium, with 59 points, in a fight that still involves Sporting de Braga (62, with one more game) and Vitória SC (57).

The game is scheduled to start at 6 pm (mainland Portugal time) this Sunday, refereed by Manuel Oliveira, and you can follow the incidents of the match, live, on Desporto ao Minuto.

Coaches in direct speech

Gonçalo Santos:

Opponent's moment: "FC Porto has been a somewhat inconsistent team throughout the season, but the ideas and principles are always there. A dominant team, they keep the defensive line high and the wingers very open, being aggressive in the last third. They can change one or another nuance, but it changes very little. We come from a sequence of three games with direct opponents in which we did not concede any defeat and it is this commitment and focus that we have to take to the next games".

Possibilities against a 'big': "Before the game, the odds are 50% for each team. We believe a lot in daily work. To be part of the FC Porto squad, the quality has to be there. Regardless of who plays, the principles are the same. Everyone knows the demand that 'mister' Sérgio Conceição places on the players, but the Casa Pia 'eleven' will also be prepared for the adversities that may occur".

Objective of maintenance: "We do not fight for greater objectives for several reasons, but we believe in the squad we have. I try to give the players more responsibility in the offensive movements and not to release them so much. We demand that they be better every day. We have created more scoring chances. We haven't scored as many goals as I wanted, but we are the team that is always closest to winning. It is this desire that I put to them daily".

Sérgio Conceição:

Analysis of the opponent: "It is a team that does not score many goals, but also does not concede. It is a team that defends well and is consistent. They have evolved players who start the attack quickly. They create difficulties for the opponents. We have to be intelligent in the game, knowing what we can and should explore. This is our job to get to Rio Maior and win the game".

Negative sequence in the I League: "We do not hold on to statistics to be more or less motivated, we have to look at what Casa Pia has done. We cannot forget that Casa Pia scored four goals against Vizela, two more against Vitória... That's worth what it's worth. The game takes on a life of its own according to what we do and the competence we put into the game, through the defined strategy and the work done. That's what takes us to the game".

Fight for the podium: "It is a reality. We have to look and we have two teams very close, one even with the same points. We can enter the game in fourth place and that is not something we are used to and that we want. That's why we're going to fight for the three points. We are not going to look at the table, the members, fans and supporters are concerned about the games that are missing, starting with this one, which will be a difficult game".
  

Last results

Casa Pia: D-D-W-L-L

FC Porto: W-D-L-W-L

Last eleven

Casa Pia: Ricardo Batista, João Nunes, Duplexe Tchamba, Nermin Zolotic, Gaizka Larrazabal, Ângelo Neto, Telasco Segovia, Leonardo Lelo, Yuki Soma, Felippe Cardoso and Nuno Moreira.

FC Porto: Cláudio Ramos, João Mário, Pepe, Otávio Ataíde , Wendell, Nico González, Alan Varela, Francisco Conceição, Pepê, Wenderson Galeno and Mehdi Taremi.

Absences

Casa Pia: Beni Mukendi (suspended); Rafael Brito and Fernando Andrade (injured)

FC Porto: Diogo Costa, Fábio Cardoso, Iván Marcano and Zaidu (injured); Pepe, Gonçalo Borges and Francisco Conceição (in doubt)

Read Also: "Taremi was always committed and was professional" (Portuguese version)