Porto out to repeat history

Exactly one year after lifting the UEFA Cup FC Porto are aiming to recreate a legend. In 1987 the Portuguese club secured a famous 2-1 win over record German champions Bayern Munich in the final of the European Cup in Vienna. Even though 17 years have elapsed since this success, the backheeled goal scored by Algerian striker Rabah Madjer remains etched in the memory. And the fans in the Euro 2004 host country are not the only ones who have been dreaming of a repeat of this triumph since Tuesday.

Thanks to a 1-0 second-leg semi-final win over Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna, Porto are now on the verge of being crowned the champions of European club football just a year after winning the UEFA Cup. But if they really are to become kings of Europe, they will need to win the all-important final in Gelsenkirchen on May 26. After the final whistle in La Coruna Porto Coach Jose Mourinho was delighted to have reached the final of the UEFA Champions League and was already looking forward to a fantastic day in Gelsenkirchen. "Everyone dreams of being in the final and until now we've been used to watching it on television", he said. And he issued a promise to the 53,000 fans in the Arena AufSchalke: "We have beaten teams from many great footballing nations in twelve hard matches and will give everything we've got to win the cup."

This season could be Mourinho's last in Porto, as rumours of a move to Chelsea grow louder. He is also alleged to have said he would take Deco with him if he left. This would mean the Portuguese side would not only be without a coach in the new season, but also an important playmaker. The Brazilian is rated highly by Bayern Munich, amongst others.

Porto largely have their Brazilian striker Derlei Silva to thank for their semi-final success in front of a 34,600 sell-out crowd at the Riazor. Deco, who was absolutely outstanding on the night, won a penalty that Derlei stepped up to convert after being sidelined for four months due to a cruciate ligament injury. Coming after a scoreless draw in the first leg it was the goal that booked Porto's ticket to Gelsenkirchen. After the game Mourinho hailed his Brazilian, saying: "Derlei is a great player. I knew he would bring the quality back to the team that we had been missing since his injury." Derlei scored twice in last season's UEFA Cup final against Celtic, and after the win over La Coruna he could hardly believe his luck. "To celebrate such a return is unbelievable. It's the greatest moment in my career. That was the only way I could thank my team mates for their support while I was out injured." And he may well be in for an even greater moment soon if Porto beat AS Monaco in Schalke on May 26. The newly crowned Portuguese champions also face Benfica in the national cup final on May 16 and would go down in history if they were to win the treble.

Porto's route to the UEFA Champions League Final:

Matchday 1: Partizan Belgrade 1-1 FC Porto
Matchday 2: FC Porto 1-3 Real Madrid
Matchday 3: Olympique Marseille 2-3 FC Porto
Matchday 4: FC Porto 1-0 Olympique Marseille
Matchday 5: FC Porto 2-1 Partizan Belgrade
Matchday 6: Real Madrid 1-1 FC Porto
Last 16 (1st leg): FC Porto 2-1 Manchester United
Last 16 (2nd leg): Manchester United 1-1 FC Porto
Quarter-final (1st leg): FC Porto 2-0 Olympique Lyon
Quarter-final (2nd leg): Olympique Lyon 2-2 FC Porto
Semi-final (1st leg): FC Porto 0-0 Deportivo La Coruna
Semi-final (2nd leg): Deportivo La Coruna 0-1 FC Porto