Champions League: Spartak Moscow-Benfica preview

08/02/2021

A strange quirk of modern football is that major European teams often find themselves playing the most important match of the season in their very first competitive outing, with their squad yet to be fully defined.Such is the case for Benfica, who take on Spartak Moscow in the first leg of the 3rd q

Xeka hits golaço as Lille beat PSG, departure now imminent for Portugal midfielder?

08/02/2021

Ligue 1 champions Lille claimed the Trophée des Champions on Sunday night with a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, and Portuguese midfielder Xeka was the match-winner and star of the show.Xeka scored a sensational first-half winner for Lille in what is the French version of the Super Cup, but th

Sporting come from behind to lift Super Cup

08/01/2021

Sporting 2-1 BragaPortuguese champions Sporting started 2021/22 as they finished the previous campaign: with that winning feeling. Braga began the Supertaça season curtain-raiser strongly and took the lead through Fransérgio, but Jovane Cabral equalised soon afterwards.A magnificent finish by Pedro

“We can do something great” – Bruno Lage: Wolves’ new boss aiming for tactical revolution

07/31/2021

When the universally popular Portuguese Nuno Espírito Santo left Wolverhampton Wanderers after four highly successful years in May, there was little surprise when it became clear that another Luso coach would replace him at Molineux.Bruno Lage was the man chosen, likely by club director Jorge Mendes

“Getting ready for Benfica” – A look at Rui Vitória’s early steps in Russia ahead of CL showdown

07/31/2021

Rui Vitória led Spartak Moscow to their first victory of the Russian Premier League season on Friday evening - the ideal preparation ahead of a meeting with former club Benfica in the Champions League qualifiers next week.Spartak ran out 1-0 winners at Krylya Sovetov in Samara thanks to Alexander So

Who will win Portugal’s 2021/22 Primeira Liga?

07/27/2021

It’s that time of year again. The slate has been wiped clean and football fans all over Europe have convinced themselves (however flimsy the evidence) that something magical has happened at their club in the close season, setting them up for a glorious campaign. After all, whoever their team, they c

“I’m a more complete player” Portugal's Fábio Silva ready to build on first year with Wolves

07/26/2021

Fábio Silva has been speaking to the media as Wolverhampton Wanderers continue their preparations ahead of the new season under Bruno Lage with friendlies in Andalusia, Spain.Wolves beat Real Betis 1-0 at the weekend ahead of Monday night’s match with Las Palmas, as new coach Lage takes his side thr

BRAZIL: “They think it’s like PlayStation” – Portuguese boss António Oliveira dismisses criticism as Athletico PR fight hectic schedule

07/26/2021

Young Portuguese coach António Oliveira has only been in charge of Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense for around three months, yet during that time Athletico have competed in four competitions and played 32 matches in a grueling fixture schedule.Oliveira, who was on the technical staff last year, w

Seleção reborn

07/26/2021

Four requirements for Portugal to build a World Cup winning squad “Champions realise that defeat - and learning from it even more than from winning - is part of the path to mastery.” - Rasheed OgunlaruEuro 2020 was a revelatory tournament. An exposé highlighting essential criteria for building mod

Gonçalo Paciência: Fighting injuries and fan distrust at Frankfurt to reignite his career

07/23/2021

Gonçalo Paciência is back at Eintracht Frankfurt ahead of the upcoming Bundesliga season, and for the ex-Porto striker there is little doubt the new campaign represents a pivotal moment in his career.Paciência spent last season on-loan with fellow German top flight side Schalke, who were relegated f