Porto aim to end Sporting final hoodoo

Sporting danger
Porto ended the season 14 points clear of Sporting in the Liga despite a six-point deduction, but they were beaten in three out of four meetings between the pair. Not that Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira has any inferiority complex. "Sporting won the Super Cup and the Portuguese Cup against us last season, but we won the title so the trophies were split between us," he said. "Of the three title candidates [including SL Benfica], Sporting are probably the team that have changed least and have strengthened with players that already knew very well. They are stronger than last term."

Porto changes
Porto have made changes of their own, bringing in defenders Rolando, Nelson Benítez and Cristian Sapunaru, midfielders Tomás Costa, Freddy Guarín and Cristián Rodríguez and forward Givanildo Vieira de Souza 'Hulk', all of them in the Super Cup squad. "We are stronger and we are favourites as we won the last three leagues," said Ferreira. "The new players have quality and integrated quickly but we don't have a solid team yet." That shakiness has been exacerbated by illness to Mariano González, while Ricardo Quaresma, the centre of much transfer speculation, has featured for just 29 minutes in pre-season as Ferreria says the "he is not in the condition that I want."

Bento confident
Sporting have won all six of their Super Cup appearances compared to Porto's 15 victories from 22 attempts, but are missing Simon Vukčević, who is only just back in training after a thigh problem. Liedson is long-term absentee with a knee injury and Vladimir Stojković has been on Olympic duty. The Sporting signings Ferreira referred to were Fábio Rochemback, Marco Caneira, Ricardo Batista and former Porto striker Hélder Postiga. Daniel Carriço has returned after loan spells with AEL Limassol FC and CD Olhanense and Sporting coach Paulo Bento said: "Our team are well prepared and we are more mature and experienced."