It seems FC Porto has dug its heels in, refusing to budge on their upcoming trip to Arouca. The Dragons are set to face the “Wolves” on September 28th, but behind the scenes, a quiet battle is brewing over the match date.
Arouca’s club, for their part, would be fine playing just one day later, on September 29th. This game is a key part of the league’s seventh round, but shifting it by a single day appears to be the most they’re willing to consider.
One easy fix might be to find a different stadium. However, as of today, no such plan is in place. Our sources at “Record” tell us that Arouca’s officials aren’t even thinking about hosting FC Porto anywhere but their own home ground.
Here’s where the plot thickens: back in May, the Liga Portugal asked clubs about anything that might mess up the schedule draw. Neither FC Arouca, nor the Arouca City Council, Police, or Civil Protection mentioned any reason for the “Wolves” to play away from home on this particular seventh matchday.
Yet, the Arouca City Council later confirmed to “Record” that the match “will not take place on the scheduled date.” Why the change of heart? The original date clashes directly with the “Feira das Colheitas,” or Harvest Fair. This local event draws thousands of visitors to Arouca, making it impossible to host a major football match safely and efficiently.
The game was first set for September 28th, which also happens to be FC Porto’s anniversary. It’s squeezed between their Europa League clashes against Salzburg on September 25th and Red Star on October 2nd. Adding more pressure, this particular league game comes right before the big derby against Benfica on October 5th. It seems everyone has a good reason for wanting things their way, setting up a real scheduling headache.
