PEPE, THE GREAT UNCOGNITE OF PORTO
Porto could face Barça with a very hard loss in its defense
Published:25/09/2023 - 14:19h
Updated:25/09/2023 - 14:27h
Barça could face Porto knowing that the 'Dragons' would have a significant loss in defense. The Portuguese could not count on Pepe for the match against the Catalans due to an injury still unknown
The Port wine will confront to the FC Barcelona in the second day of the UEFA Champions League, in a crucial party to determine the leader of the Group H. Although lacking more than a week for the start of the meeting, that will carry out in the Stadium Do Dragao the 04/10 to the 21:00 h, the team directed by Sérgio Conceiçãor already is considering the options in front of a possible absence in his tactical alignment.
Pepe, defender of 40 years with a wide experience of 23 parties against the Barça, in which it has obtained 10 victories, four ties and nine defeats, could not being available for the party of the League of Champions because of an injury of unknown origin. Although the club has announced his absence, has not explained the reason behind her.
The injuries have azotado to Pepe recently
The Portuguese, the one who was fundamental in the successes of the Port wine in the previous season, has lost leadership in the eleven headline. In the Primeira League, has been absent in four of the six duels that his team has contested, two by injury and two because of a suspension of two parties that dragged from the past campaign. Although in the debut of the 'Dragons' in the League of Champions in front of the Shakhtar Donetsk himself was of the game, facing the 90' and being captain in the victory 1-3 of the Portuguese.
In the last meeting against Gil Vicente, Pepe was summoned, but afterwards withdrew by an unusual reason. In front of this, Sérgio Conceiçãor declared: "Once again, when preparing the party, did it with some players and, for one reason or another, do not have them... That was the case today with Pepe. It is necessary to ask him to the doctor Nélson Puga and to the medical department what sucedió. Sincerely, not even I understood it really".
What alternative has the Port wine in defence for suplir to Pepe?
Although his absence is not confirmed, since it expects an official communiqué of the club, in case that finally it can not play, his place could be occupied by Iván Marcano or Fábio Cardoso, those who have been the defensive alternatives elected by the Portuguese trainer when Pepe is not available. Besides, the defence reinforces with David Carmo.
