conference league

After a historic start, the most successful in almost 102 years of existence, Vitória SC is facing, this afternoon (5:45 p.m., SPTV), in the Conference League, one of the most challenging biggest in the season: access to the tough heart of the Conference League. This, after a short marathon of qualifying rounds that ends with the replay against Bosnians Zrinjski Mostar, whose first leg will be held at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, in the heart of Guimarães.

Rui Borges, the new passion of the Victorians – after an unusual season, with five different coaches – did not forget to do his homework and, against the euphoria that threatens to invade his ‘castle, fortified by the six successive victories in the former. official data of six games from 2024-25, compared to the pragmatism borrowed from unstable and inescapable data.

“Zrinjski Mostar have won five championships in the last ten years, have gathered more European experience in that time – with 49 official matches compared to 30 for the Victorians – and have, in the last edition of Conference League, draw with England team. of Aston Villa and beat Dutch side AZ Alkmaar!

With this, Rui Borges intended to remind us that the best ever start – not to mention three defensive victories in pre-season (Portimonense, Middlesbrough and Rayo Vallecano, all 2-0) – could come to an abrupt end, if not the “conquerors” underestimate the path of their next season. opponent, “physically very strong, fast and organised”.

So you see, with four victories in the Conference League (eliminate the Maltese from Floriana and Switzerland from FC Zurich) Vitória continues with an unassailable goal and, as a result, at the top of the competition, along with Sporting, FC Porto, Famalicão and Moreirense, the only teams that did not go defeat in the League.

A campaign that can and should be compared to other equally exciting ones from the past. And as far as the start of sweeping, we are ready. The victory against Estoril confirmed the best start in Guimarães’ history, surpassing the 2019-20 mark, which was achieved under the technical guidance of Ivo Vieira, who stopped a victorious march in the sixth match , drawing (1-1) against Boavista , to the second round of League I – the first round, with Rio Ave, was postponed, and Minho’s team played a match for the League Cup, which they won.

This season, just before the pandemic, Vitória SC had a start to the season that was also marked by the European qualifying rounds, then for the Europa League. And also defensive, no goals conceded.

Before that, there were equally successful series, but it was never at the beginning of the competition. The best, in 1989-90, was signed by Paulo Autuori, with six victories in the competition and one in the Portuguese Cup, starting in the 9th round and ending with a draw (1-1) in Antas , against FC Porto by Artur. Jorge, who would be a hero. Strictly speaking, if we go back to 1939-40, the year marked by the start of the Second World War, we can see that Vitória SC had seven victories in a row. But the situation was completely different, with the team fighting in Division II of the Minho Series.

In any case, this record will certainly be history, if the goal that Rui Borges asked for, which is necessary to move the team from his hometown, is a decisive factor against Zrinsjki Mostar. A game that the coach takes out of context, recapturing the old high level game after game. Preferably without any goals, to make the trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina easier.