SC Braga face FC Porto in a Primeira Liga match at Estádio Municipal de Braga in Braga, Portugal on Sunday February 7, 2021 (2/7/21).
Cable-free fans can watch the game for free via a trial fuboTV.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: Primeira Liga
who: SC Braga v FC Porto
When: Sunday February 7, 2021
Time: 3:45 p.m. ET
Or: Estádio Municipal de Braga
TV: GolTV
Channel search: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Specter / Charter, Optimum / Altice, Coxswain, DIRECTV, Plate, Hulu, fuboTV, Sling.
Direct: fuboTV (free trial)
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When Diogo Dalot signed for Manchester United, excitement mingled with regret at having missed the opportunity to play with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The veteran forward had left for what seemed like a career swan song at the Los Angeles Galaxy just before a teenage Dalot arrived at Old Trafford three years ago.
“It was a little sad moment for me,” recalls Dalot in an interview with The Associated Press. “When you play football you always want to play with the best players and of course Zlatan was a benchmark.”
The opportunity had been missed, at least the Portuguese defender assumed it wrongly.
As the right-back struggled for playing time at Manchester, a loan was needed at the start of this season. Today, Dalot, 21, is at the heart of the defense of an AC Milan side that were propelled to the top of the Italian league by Ibrahimovic, 39.
With 12 goals in eight league games, the Swede’s enduring quality is undisputed – and inspiring for a teammate who is boosting his career in Italy.
“He’s very demanding of ourselves,” Dalot said on a video call from Milan. “He’s always one of the first to step onto the training ground. So that stuff helps us see that maybe we have to be as professional as him because, if you want to earn as much as him, you have to do it for a long time.
“And it’s a really good way to see how you want to be successful in football, how you want to be in 10 years or 15 years. And it was a really good surprise to work with him.
Surprising because Dalot had not considered leaving United – even temporarily – so soon after being hailed as the “best full-back in Europe” in his age bracket when José Mourinho brought him to United from Porto in 2018.
“It was one of the phrases that I keep with me to this day,” said Dalot. “Coming from him was even more special because we all know he’s a fantastic coach, one of the best ever, and it gave me a little more responsibility. “
A change of manager produced a change of circumstances and Dalot fell in the hierarchy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ibrahimovic helps Dalot regain his self-confidence and improve his game.
“He can give you confidence when he thinks you need it,” Dalot said.
Sometimes that means being brutally honest.
“’You are not doing well enough to be at this level,” said Dalot, Ibrahimovic will tell players in practice or at games. “Coming from him, we have to listen.
Especially about what it takes to win titles, something Milan haven’t done in Serie A since Ibrahimovic lifted the trophy in 2011 before finally moving on to PSG, United and the LA Galaxy.
Almost mid-season, a reborn Milan enjoys a three-point lead over city rival Inter and has an unexpected 10-point advantage over Juventus, who have dropped to fifth place after nine consecutive titles.
“It will be more special (winning the title), not just beating Juve or Inter… but to put Milan back on top, winning titles after so many years,” said Dalot. “We like that kind of pressure. We love to have people there pushing us around and paying attention to us to see, “OK, if you lose, we’re here.” So we like this kind of challenge.
Dalot is focused on the Serie A prize. But there will be some uncertainty when a season’s loan expires, whether he returns to United or secures a longer stay with Stefano Pioli’s Milan.
United are also doing very well this season, leading the Premier League and looking to end their own title drought dating back to 2013.
“I’m completely focused on what’s going on here,” said Dalot. “When I come home and can rest I can see the Manchester games, the Porto games and be happy with them because they are winning and they are doing fantastic.”
Dalot is delighted to be back on the pitch regularly, playing 15 times since October and being a key part of a defense that has not conceded in four of the last five games.
“I am a confident person. I know my qualities. I know what I can do, but if you don’t play it’s not enough, ”said Dalot. “To feel the grass, to feel the games again, to win games and to play 90 minutes … that was fantastic.”
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
