Portimonense will begin their 2020/21 Liga NOS campaign at home against Paços de Ferreira next Monday at 7.45pm, live on cable channel Sport TV1.
Manager Paulo Sérgio will have been encouraged by the performance of his team during last Friday’s closing pre-season friendly against fellow top division club Belenenses, which saw the Algarveans run out the comfortable 3-1 winners.
An almost first choice line-up, featuring the recently arrived Maurício and Fabrício, also saw Sérgio give a chance to Anderson in the forward position usually occupied by want-away Tabata. The 22-year-old Brazilian, who had not started a senior match since joining from Londrina last year, repaid the faith placed in him with interest, scoring twice during the opening half. His brace sandwiched a 22nd-minute penalty in favour of the visitors from Lisbon, but, following several changes on both sides after the interval, substitute Beto wrapped things up for Portimonense half an hour before the end.
Following that encounter, the latest signing in the shape of Miguel Gonçalves Silva – better known as ‘Reko’- was presented by club directors. The 21-year-old ex-Aves midfielder is expected to make his debut in the U-23s before moving up and may be joined shortly by 23-year-old Persian left winger Jafar Salmani, who is on his way from the previously Sérgio-managed Iran Pro League side Sanat Naft.
Not expected to be in action on Monday are the recovering from injury and surgery respectively Jadson and Hackman, while Tabata, Willyan and regular keeper Gonda are still awaiting concrete offers from abroad. Força Portimonense!
By SKIP BANDELE
