Rui Borges says Sporting CP’s clash with Porto is important but not decisive, and he expects his side to still be at the top of their game despite having to play extra time in the Taca de Portugal in midweek.
Sporting booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition with a 3-2 win over AVS, but needed a 117th-minute winner from Geny Catamo in order to make it through to the next round.
It was Sporting’s sixth consecutive win in all competitions, putting them in a good place for their Classico clash with Porto in the Primeira Liga.
Sporting have ground to make up on their rivals, sitting four points adrift of the leaders heading into Monday’s game, but Borges expects a high-octane clash at Estadio Do Dragao.
“The players will be more tired, but that won’t be an excuse for our performance in the Classico,” Borges said.
“We will arrive in top form to play a game with a different intensity. I believe it will be an important game, but not a decisive one.
“The pressure and motivation of playing a Classico will outweigh the 30 extra minutes.