Reuters
OPORTO, Portugal, April 9 (Reuters) - Having virtually sewn up the Portuguese
league title, Porto face their toughest test yet in their quest for European
honours when they take on Lazio in the UEFA Cup semi-finals.
While Lazio are used to stronger domestic opposition in Italy's Serie A,
Porto coach Jose Mourinho can call on several players from the Portuguese
squad which recently humbled world champions Brazil in a 2-1 friendly win.
Mourinho insists Lazio start as favourites to progress to the final.
'Their squad is full of great players and will indeed be the heftiest
opponents we have yet faced (in the tournament),' Mourinho said ahead of
Thursday's first-leg at the Antas stadium in Oporto.
'Team for team, we also have our ambitions and ways to dispute victory in
this round.
Mourinho's side, 13 points clear in the Portuguese league and needing just
three more wins to seal the championship, had to dig deep in the quarter-
finals to overcome Panathinaikos.
They lost the first leg 1-0 at home but battled to a 2-0 win in Athens to
go through.
Prior to that the 1987 European Cup winners had enjoyed an easy ride in the
fourth-round when they demolished Turkey's Denizlispor 8-3 on aggregate.
One player who won't underestimate the home side is Lazio defender and
Portuguese international Fernando Couto, who began his career at the Antas
and helped Porto win three league titles.
Born just down the coast from Oporto, Portuguese captain Couto joked before
the semi-final draw that he would prefer to stay on the bench if Lazio were
paired with Porto.
'Porto are going very well, having an excellent season and are well led.
They have a fabulous squad, with whom I have kept in touch as many of them
are my friends,' he told O Jogo. 'I watch a lot of matches, and they will
be extremely tough opponents. It will really be difficult.'
Couto will have to face his international team mate Deco Souza, who has
sliced through Portuguese defences all season and bagged Portugal's winner
against Brazil with a typically well taken free kick.
Mourinho will also be able to call on winger Paulo Ferreira, who set up
Portugal's first goal against the world champions. But Porto will be without
international defender Mario Silva, who is suffering from a left thigh injury.
ABSENT STAM
Lazio defender Jaap Stam has been ruled out of the clash after tearing a
thigh muscle during the Netherlands's Euro 2004 qualifier against Moldova,
and is also expected to miss the April 24 return leg in Rome.
Influential Serbia and Montenegro international Dejan Stankovic is also
doubtful after injuring his knee in Lazio's 3-0 Serie A win over Como at the
weekend. Fabio Liverani is ready to take his place in the centre of midfield,
alongside Diego Simeone.
In attack, Simone Inzaghi will start in place of regular first-team striker
Bernardo Corradi, who is ineligible to play in the competition.
Probable teams:
Porto: 99-Vitor Baia; 22-Paulo Ferreira, 2-Jorge Costa, 3-Pedro Emanuel,
8-Nuno Valente; 6-Francisco Costinha, 10-Deco Souza, 18-Maniche Ribeiro,
21-Nuno Capucho; 41-Helder Postiga, 11-Derlei Silva
Lazio: 70-Angelo Peruzzi; 15-Giuseppe Pancaro, 24-Fernando Couto, 11-Sinisa
Mihajlovic, 19-Giuseppe Favalli; 9-Stefano Fiore, 20-Fabio Liverani,
14-Diego Simeone, 3-Cesar; 21-Simone Inzaghi, 7-Claudio Lopez.
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因為愛著你的愛 因為夢著你的夢
所以悲傷著你的悲傷 幸福著你的幸福
因為路過你的路 因為苦過你的苦
所以快樂著你的快樂 追逐著你的追逐
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