The recent international break saw Fernando Santos begin his tenure as manager of the Polish National Team in the European Championship qualifiers.Poland contest Group E of qualification, in what is considered a routine passage to Euro 2024. However, an opening matchday defeat to Czech Republic foll
As another international break ends, PortuGOAL has a new weekly feature courtesy of Albert and Barney from the Long Ball Futebol podcast - a regular preview of the upcoming weekend action. Today, we look ahead to Jornada 26 of the 2022/23 Primeira Liga as domestic football in Portugal embarks on an
Jorge Jesus has offered further indication that he could leave Fenerbahçe when his contract expires at the end of the season, with a return to Brazilian football suggested as the most likely destination for the veteran Portuguese boss.Jesus took charge of Fenerbahçe last summer and the Istanbul side
In episode 78 of the Seleção Podcast, host Danny Pinto is joined by Matthew Marshall of PortuGOAL.net, who was in attendance for both of Roberto Martínez’s first two matches as Portugal manager.After two routine wins against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg to kick off Portugal’s EURO 2024 qualifying ca
Portugal cruised to a 6-0 victory in Luxembourg to make it two convincing wins in the 2024 European Championship qualifiers.The Seleção were 3-0 up after 18 minutes with all three goals the result of accurate balls into the box. Cristiano Ronaldo converted from close range before João Félix and Bern
Roberto Martínez got off to a winning start as Portugal manager, his new side comfortably beating Liechtenstein 4-0 at Estádio José Alvalade.João Cancelo’s deflected strike put the Seleção ahead in the 8th minute, but they couldn’t add to their advantage in the first half despite enjoying 81% posses
On this week’s Long Ball Futebol Podcast, Albert and Barney discuss an entertaining draw between Porto and Braga, which only seems to benefit Benfica, who go 10 points clear at the top of the table. Surely this puts the nail in the coffin of the title race, but who will finish second in that coveted
Primeira Liga football pauses for the international break after what could prove a pivotal 25th round of action. League leaders Benfica tightened their already vice-like grip on the title race, thrashing Vitória Guimarães to take advantage of championship rivals Braga and Porto sharing the spoils wi
The upcoming Campeonato Brasileiro 2023 is currently scheduled to have an astonishing eight Portuguese managers in place, after Pepa was confirmed as new boss of Cruzeiro.Former Paços Ferreira and Vitória de Guimarães coach Pepa has signed a contract valid for one season in Belo Horizonte, where he
Borussia Dortmund lead Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table heading into the international break, with Portugal international Raphaël Guerreiro currently one of the in-form players as German football looks set for an enthralling title race.Cristiano Ronaldo again stole the headlines in S
Braga and Porto drew 0-0 at the Quarry in a game containing few chances.Mehdi Taremi missed a presentable opportunity in the 12th minute before Braga began to boss the game.Porto were so far off the pace that Sérgio Conceição made two tactical substitutions in the 39th minute.The game came to life i
In Episode 77 of the Seleção Podcast, host Danny Pinto is joined by PortuGOAL.net’s Tom Kundert to review Roberto Martínez’s first call-ups as Portugal’s head coach. Up for discussion is the reaction to Martínez’s hiring, which players may thrive in this new era, and how Martínez will ultimately be
A ninth successive victory in the Primeira Liga saw Benfica take another step towards winning the Portuguese title for the first time in four years.A clinical first-half showing gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead at the break thanks to a goal from Gonçalo Ramos and a João Mário brace.With the game won, Benf
It’s the return of the annual Long Ball Futebol Weekender.Join us once again for a journey through the north of Portugal for a long weekend of Portuguese football.Albert heads to the Estádio do Dragão for Porto vs. Estoril, the Estádio Capital do Móvel in Paços de Ferreira for a relegation crunch ma
José Mourinho’s Roma now know their path to this season’s Europa League final, where they will seek to follow up their UEFA Conference League triumph from last year.Roma will meet Dutch giants Feyenoord in the quarters, after which Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen or Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium would
New Seleção coach Roberto Martínez announced his first squad at the Cidade do Futebol this afternoon for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.Former Porto centre-back Diogo Leite gets his debut call-up in an otherwise practically identical list to Portugal’s World C
Arsenal 1-1 Sporting (agg. 3-3, Sporting win 5-3 on penalties)Sporting tonight wrote a golden page in their history by knocking English Premier League leaders Arsenal out of the Europa League, going through on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time, and 3-3 aggregate score.Sporting started
Porto’s UEFA Champions League campaign is over after a 0-0 draw against Inter Milan in the Round of 16 second leg.Down 1-0 following the first leg in Italy, the Dragons were unable to break though a disciplined and resolute side that were determined to leave Portugal with a clean sheet.Clear cut cha
With only ten rounds of matches of the season remaining there is a feeling the real Liga Bwin run-in is firmly underway. Benfica continued their status as favourites to lift the crown, overcoming Marítimo to stay clear of nearest challengers Porto.At the other end of the division Paços Ferreira gave
Two of Portugal’s best-known full-backs stole the show this weekend in the Portuguese Abroad section, with João Cancelo and Raphaël Guerreiro both scoring and assisting in the German Bundesliga for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively.Elsewhere, Fábio Silva continues his breakout goalsco
There is a growing sense that something special could happen this season, as Benfica marched into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, keen to confront whatever challenges this last eight stage of the competition may bring.They also boast an impressive lead at the Primera Liga summit, in
Famalicão defeated Casa Pia 1-0 in a classic game of two halves at Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho.The hosts deservedly took the lead in the 36th minute when Gustavo Assunção’s peach of a pass presented Iván Jaime with an opportunity that he finished with aplomb.Felipe Martins made two changes at the
Now there’s the million-dollar question. As the 2022/23 edition of the Champions League draws to its closing stages, several Portuguese footballers playing for some of the biggest European clubs still hold out hope of taking the trophy home.Moreover, at the time of writing Portugal still have two Pr
Sporting picked up a fourth consecutive win in league play with a fluid display full of verve and attacking intent to overwhelm Boavista in Lisbon tonight.Goals from Nuno Santos, Salvador Agra (in his own net) and Paulinho gave the Lions a 3-0 win but the margin of victory could and should have been
