Porto looks for more cup glory

Porto seek to add Super Cup to bulging cabinet

European champions Porto will attempt to win their seventh trophy in just over a year when they face UEFA Cup winners Valencia in the European Super Cup on Friday.

Spanish coach Victor Fernandez, in charge of Porto following the departure of Jose Mourinho and the brief reign of Luigi Del Nieri, lifted the Portuguese Super Cup last week thanks to victory over Benfica.

Following a treble of UEFA Cup, Portuguese League and Portuguese Cup in 2003, the Champions League and Portuguese League in 2004 and the Portuguese Super Cup last week, the Porto trophy cabinet has been buckling under the weight of silverware.

Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri, the former Chelsea coach who failed to win a trophy in four years in London, has a second chance in less than a week to claim his first silverware since guiding Valencia to the 1999 Kings Cup during his first spell at the club.

Valencia lost 3-1 at home to Real Zaragoza on Tuesday to lose the Spanish Super Cup 3-2 on aggregate and would dearly love to win the first all-Iberian clash in the European Super Cup's 31-year history.

Ranieri, who last season steered Chelsea to second place in the English Premier League and the Champions League semi-finals, lost his job to former Porto manager Mourinho at the end of the campaign.

While the charming Italian would be the first to admit the Super Cup is not the most prestigious of trophies, victory would boost the confidence of his side for the more demanding Champions League fixtures ahead.

It would also represent a successful facelift since the team's triumphant Spanish League and UEFA Cup double-winning campaign.

With coach Rafa Benitez leaving for Liverpool, Ranieri returned to the club and has recruited four fellow Italians to bolster his squad.

Striker Marco Di Vaio arrived from Juventus, Bernardo Corradi and Stefano Fiore from Lazio, and promising young defender Emiliano Moretti from Parma.

Valencia will, however, be without central defender Roberto Ayala as they bid to win their second European Super Cup and first since 1980. The experienced Argentine is playing for his country at the Olympics.

The good news for Ranieri is that Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar has recovered from a long-term groin injury and may start.

Midfielder Vicente and centre-back Carlos Marchena missed the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup because of minor muscle injuries but should be fit.

Porto travelled optimistically to Monaco, in spite of their summer of upheaval.

As well as the departures of Mourinho, key defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira, and playmaker Deco, the club also lost a manager who never took charge of the team in an official match.

Del Nieri, previously coach of Chievo Verona in Italy, joined Porto in June but was fired this month amid reports that officials had been irritated by his repeated absences from the club.

Fernandez was appointed coach two weeks ago and says he is happy with Porto's new signings, including forward Ricardo Quaresma from Barcelona, full back Georgios Seitaridis, a member of Greece's Euro 2004-wininng side, forward Helder Postiga and Brazilian midfielder Diego.

Brazilian striker Derlei is injured but Quaresma should play fresh from his match-winner against Benfica and midfielder Maniche and captain Jorge Costa return after suspension.

Probable teams:

Porto: 99-Vitor Baia; 22-Georgios Seitaridis, 2-Jorge Costa, 3-Pedro Emanuel, 8-Nuno Valente, 6-Francisco Costinha; 18-Maniche, 4-Hugo Leal, 19-Carlos Alberto; 10-Ricardo Quaresma, 77-Benni McCarthy

Valencia: 1-Santiago Canizares; 23-Curro Torres, 5-Carlos Marchena or 25-David Navarro, 2-Mauricio Pellegrino, 15-Amedeo Carboni; 7-Stefano Fiore, 6-David Albelda, 8-Ruben Baraja, 14-Vicente or 10-Miguel Angel Angulo, 21-Pablo Aimar or 20-Mista, 11-Marco Di Vaio or 9-Bernardo Corradi

Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)