The Portugeezer

Could uncertain future undermine Braga's shot at glory?

2011-05-18T11:26:00Z

It was in a small trattoria in Rome, near the walls of the Vatican City, that the Portugeezer watched the second leg of Braga and Benfica’s Europa League semifinal. With Porto already all but booking their flights to Dublin after an emphatic 5-1 first leg win over Villarreal in the other semi, all eyes were on Estádio Axa to find out who would face the Dragons in a historic all-Portuguese final.

Having narrowly lost 2-1 in the first leg in Lisbon, Braga – backed it seemed by an entire city - were in bullish mood to defeat the very same team who had prevented them from claiming what would have been a historical first domestic league the previous season.

As you’ll know by now, The ‘Minho Warriors’ did it. The small, unfancied and relatively unknown Portuguese club with Arsenal-like jerseys once again upset the odds by adding Benfica to the list of high-profile sides they have put to the sword in Europe this season, along with Sevilla, Liverpool and Dinamo Kyiv.

It may not have been a stellar performance, and they may not have left 'football pie’ all over their rivals’ shirts, but they put their heart and soul into grinding out the required result and ultimately deserved to advance to the final.

Benfica’s performance on the night was lukewarm at best, and only in brief periods were they able to ask questions of Braga’s defence. Not for the first time this season, a lack of ideas and some weary legs prevented the Eagles from getting a result.

Requiem for a team?

Despite Braga's amazing run to the final, it has to be said that Porto are probably a level above the other teams they have faced on the road to Dublin.

Morale is understandably at an all-time high in the Porto camp thanks to their incredible season, and the squad boasts both the necessary talent and experience to breeze to victory in such a match.

For Braga - on paper clear underdogs - their preparation and mental state will need to be absolutely perfect.

Therefore, it is rather unfortunate that not only some of the players, but also the manager, have chosen this moment to announce they are about to leave the club. Pretty much everyone in Portugal knows that coach Domingos Paciência is set to take the reins at Sporting this summer; it is perhaps the worst-kept secret in Portuguese football, but going public on his imminent departure will perhaps take some of the focus away from the game.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Artur Moraes - a revelation since January - has already been announced as the replacement for much-maligned Benfica No.1 Roberto Jiménez. When you also hear reports of Alberto Rodriguez joining Sporting, Paulao joining Besiktas and Vandinho heading to Qatar, then you have a level of uncertainly more than capable of unsettling the team.

Porto have the edge

Forget the old adage that playing in a final is a great leveller - Porto are huge favourites, and with good reason.

The way they have systematically crushed their opponents in this year‘s competition – CSKA Moscow (3-1 on aggregate), Spartak Moscow (10-3 on aggregate) and Villarreal (7-4 on aggregate) – should leave them fancying their chances.

Braga’s ability to grind results on the continental stage (they progressed through the last two rounds on away goals having pipped Liverpool by just the one in the round before that) will surely be tested by Porto’s high-octane, high-pressing possession football.

If the two sides’ previous encounters this season are anything to go by, then the Dragons shouldn’t find goals too hard to come by - they scored five in the two league meetings, winning 3-2 at home last September and 2-0 in the quarries in February.

Head-to-head

Radamel Falcao v Alberto Rodriguez-Paulao

Colombian ace Falcao has been among the most prolific strikers in the world this season and his 17 goals in this competition have already seen him break Jurgen Klinsmann’s previous record haul of 16. He is the spearhead of Porto’s attack - nullify Falcao and you‘ve gone a long way towards stopping Andre Villas-Boas‘ side. That’s easier said than done, of course, but constantly closing him down and cutting off his supply-line are the best ways to go. Few teams have been able to do that effectively this season, but Braga’s Peruvian centre back Alberto Rodriguez will look to join the elite group of defenders that have this evening.

Hulk v Silvio

Braga fullback Silvio’s breakthrough season has been so good that, not only has he been called into the Portuguese national team, but he is also now expected to seal a move to Atletico Madrid in the summer. He can play on both sides, but is expected to play on the left where he’ll have the unenviable task of minding Hulk. On a good night the Brazilian forward is untouchable, but he does have the occasional bad day at the office, and that‘s what Silvio will be hoping for in Dublin. Sticking to him tightly to frustrate him and prevent him from setting himself to shoot is the best way to get under Hulk’s skin - if the Porto man can keep a cool head it could be a long night for Silvio and his teammates.

Lima v Porto full-backs

Such has been the pressure on Braga’s other forward player to score goals since Matheus’ departure for Dnipro in January, that Lima hasn’t scored a goal since February. Nevertheless, the former Belenenses player is the one to watch in terms of offence. The Portugeezer is expecting a Braga line-up filled with industrious midfielders such as Salino, Custodio and Vandinho with the offensive duties being handled by the pacy forward. His acceleration combined with his powerful shot and ability to drift to the wings can cause some problems to Porto’s full-backs, perhaps their biggest liability in terms of defence.

Prediction

There's no question both teams will put on a good show for the watching world, but ultimately Porto will prove too strong for Braga, and by emulating the club's successes of 2002/03, Villas-Boas will be a very coveted manager in the summer. Porto 2-0 Braga.

Porto aim to sink the Yellow Submarine and force an all-Portuguese final

2011-04-28T14:15:00Z

Portuguese football is on the brink of making history this Thursday, as Porto, Benfica and Braga all continue the fight for a ticket to Dublin for next month's Europa League final.

History in the making

The fact there are still three Portuguese sides left at the semi-final stage of course means at least one side from Liga Zon Sagres will be in the final, with Benfica and Braga going head-to-head in the first semi.

Clearly this is something to be proud of, but regardless of what happens over the four semi-final matches, it is guaranteed Portugal’s UEFA coefficient ranking will be boosted, with the above-average performances likely to see the country rewarded with an extra Champions League slot for the 2012/13 season.

Even if only temporarily, Portugal is making a real splash in continental club football, which is a huge achievement for such a small league. It is not an overstatement to rate Liga Zon Sagres as currently the best 'second-tier' domestic league in Europe.

Braga celebrate eliminating Liverpool from the Europa League

It may not boast the foreign investment of the English Premier League, the attendances of the Bundesliga or the extravagant TV agreements of the top Serie A or La Liga sides.

It lags in all those area, but it possesses two main characteristics that allow its major clubs to thrive:

• Just like in Brazil and other South American countries, there is a culture of dribbling, showboating and bending the rules. Football has more pizzazz and the teams relish the chance to defy the odds; That’s why Braga beat Celtic, Sevilla, Liverpool and Dynamo Kiev despite have a budget far smaller.

• The fact the league is not as demanding as the Europe’s elite divisions and the fact Portuguese are able to speak the two languages most spoken in South America instantly makes it a perfect gateway for young Argentinean and Brazilian talent looking to make a name for themselves in Europe.

Porto v Villarreal

Many pundits are touting this match as the de facto final of the competition – and you can see why. This is a match between two teams who have regularly competed in the Champions League in recent seasons – with Villarreal reaching the semi-finals in 2006 and Porto lifting the trophy in 2004.

There is perhaps slightly less excitement and glamour surrounding the other tier, with Benfica massively inconsistent this season and Braga ‘unfashionable’ dark horses.

The Spanish media are trying to pass off the Porto/Villarreal match as a battle between equals, which it isn’t. Porto are far more experienced, have that ‘winning mentality' and have players who are used to making the difference at this level. Furthermore, if the ‘form’ is a variable in this equation, then it is the Dragons who have the upper hand as they have been in devastating form both domestically and in Europe throughout the season.

The Spaniards may be drooling over Giuseppe Rossi’s exploits this season, and his 30 goals are certainly an impressive return, but Porto's leading man Falcao has been equally prolific, and he'll have Hulk and Varela backing him up, too.

The industrious midfield trio of Fernando, Moutinho and Guarin – the engine room of the team - will also pose a lot of problems to Villarreal with their pressing and movement on and off the ball.

Porto trio Hulk, Varela and Falcao would pose a threat to any team

If that still doesn’t convince you that Porto should be heavy favourites, then get this...

Since 2009, Porto have played against Spanish opposition three times: Atletico Madrid, twice in the Champions League, and Sevilla, this season in the Europa League.

In each of the four matches against the Rojiblancos, Atletico supremo Quique Sánchez Flores was arrogant enough to label his club as favourites, yet Atletico were not able to win a single match despite possessing the likes of Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan and Simao.

Against Sevilla, the pattern was similar: a team that usually qualifies for the Europa League, that possessed a vast array of attacking options – Kanouté, Fabiano, Negredo, Navas, Peroti - but ultimately lacked steel at the back and organization in the engine room.

It is true they claimed a 0-1 victory at Estádio do Dragão, but they were fortunate to get that result, and they had already lost the first leg 2-1 and promptly were eliminated on away goals.

The one thing going for Villarreal is that they seem to acknowledge their role as underdogs. They have seen Porto dismantle the ever-dangerous CSKA Moscow and destroy their neighbours Spartak. They know how dangerous the Dragons can be and if they want to stand a chance against them, they have to acknowledge the fact they’re not the favourites to go through.

Prediction: FC Porto to sink the Yellow Submarine

Porto will likely win the match. Few teams are able to turn up at Estádio do Dragão and spoil their party, and although Villarreal have good individual players, they are not able to match the Dragons as a unit. The only question remaining is whether the Spaniards can keep the tie open going into the second leg. For now, the Portugeezer is sticking to a 2-0 home result.

Villas-Boas leaves Benfica in his wake but Porto the real 'Special Ones'

2011-04-19T14:27:00Z

For a fair few months before they sealed the title it had been a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ Porto would clinch their 25th league crown, and the Dragons returned to the throne of Portuguese football at the best possible moment - after defeating arch-rivals Benfica on their own patch.

The bitterness and bad blood between the two teams has been escalating ever since last season’s infamous tunnel controversy which ultimately allowed Hulk and Sapunaru an unplanned mid-season break.

That incident triggered the thus far never-ending war of words between club officials and confrontations between the teams’ supporters. Things have actually reached a point way beyond football and both sides should probably now tone down the rhetoric to ensure everybody can simply enjoy the action on the pitch.

The Eagles have generally been no match for their rivals this season and therefore couldn’t avoid the humiliation of having to stand by and watch them celebrate their title win.

But defeat didn’t end Benfica’s continuing attempts to spoil the party. Even after the match, the floodlights ’mysteriously’ went out and the sprinklers were activated - but all that only served to make Benfica look like petty, sore losers.

Dancing in the dark: Porto celebrate their title win at Benfica

One of the main problems with Benfica is that they still try and convince everybody that they are the best team in Portugal. Fewer and fewer people are buying it.

So blind is their faith that they desperately try and find excuses for the inexcusable. To quickly recap; when they lost to Porto in the Portuguese Super Cup, it was a fluke; when they lost 5-0 at Estádio do Dragão it was due to the referee; when they lost 3-0 to Hapoel it was a terrible day at the office that happens once in a lifetime. And yet, they have suffered seven losses in the league and had to rely on Olympique Lyonnais pinching a late equaliser against Hapoel in the final round of Champions League group games in order leapfrog the Israelis and scrape into the Europa League.

The fact is there are real problems that Luis Filipe Vieira, Rui Costa and Jorge Jesus need to address rather than just finding new excuses. As has already been stated on this very blog earlier this season - Benfica had a great core of players last season and only sold Di María and Ramires last summer. But instead of sticking to that proven winning formula by directly replacing the pair, the club splashed the cash on a multitude of players, only two of which - Nico Gaitán and Salvio - have made a discernible and positive impact, and the latter is only on loan and therefore may well not be at the club next season anyway.

Against Porto, the Eagles once again looked like a bunch of players badly stitched together in a desperate attempt to pass themselves off as team. Porto, on the other hand, had every piece of their jigsaw tidily in place.

Freddy Guarín, who last year was regarded as another overrated South American import, has blossomed into a fine player in the Dragons’ engine room. Alongside him, João Moutinho, who for years carried Sporting’s hopes of winning the league, has consistenly shown exactly why Pinto da Costa claimed the pint-sized midfielder was the only player from Sporting he wanted to see in a Porto shirt.

But still, perhaps the biggest revelation has been manager André Villas-Boas. Even with a glowing reference from Jose Mourinho on his résumé, it would be hard to envision such a season of perfection. Who would have guesses that the 33 year-old manager who only kicked-off his managing duties last season at Académica would enjoy an almost flawless season?

Villas-Boas hasn't had too bad a start to his Porto reign

Few managers in the world have the same King Midas-like effect on clubs as José Mourinho. It happened at Porto where he won the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, it happened at Chelsea where he won back-to-back Premier Leagues and it also happened at Inter where he surprisingly claimed another Champions League.

But even Mourinho’s first season with Porto doesn’t match that of Villas-Boas.

In the 2002/2003 season, Mourinho collected 86 points in 34 matches and saw his team beaten twice. Villas-Boas is yet to lose a league match this season and his team have so far only succumbed to two draws - both of which were flattering for the other team. His team currently have a haul of 77 points and hold a 19-point lead over Benfica.

With five games left there is every chance the current crop will surpass the points haul of the 2002/03 vintage, despite playing four fewer matches due to the streamlining of the league from 18 teams to 16 five years ago.

This may lead some of you to wonder who the ‘Special One’ really is. Looking at the past decade, the answer should be rather straightforward.

Forget Mourinho or Villas, the term ‘Special’ should be reserved for FC Porto. Players and managers labelled ‘irreplaceable’ have come and gone - Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Deco, Anderson, Lisandro López, Lucho González and of course Mourinho - but the club has always continued to thrive. Regardless of who is on the field, there is a winning mentality instilled at the club that is only comparable to the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona. That’s why they have managed to remain so competitive, especially in European competition.

With the league title already sealed, another mouth-watering duel against Benfica at Estádio da Luz for the second leg of the Portuguese Cup semifinals will be played on Wednesday. The champions will have their work cut out for them, after Benfica somehow snatched a precious 2-0 in the first leg. But given Porto have just thrashed Spartak Moscow with an aggregate score of 10-3, it would perhaps be premature to rule them out just yet.

Sporting prepare for a new dawn after Lopes exposes flawed system

2011-03-31T15:59:00Z

At six o’clock in the morning and not without some controversy, Sporting unveiled the man they hope can take them back to where they believe they belong after one of the most disputed elections in recent times

This election had just about all the ingredients of a good Mexican soap opera. The cast featured four scheming characters all vying to capture the affection of their audience (there was also Abrantes Mendes, but he was rather bland…).

Bruno de Carvalho, for instance, announced his business associates were some random Russians with deep pockets and unclear motives; Dias Ferreira had, in Paulo Futre, a comedian rather than a director of football; Pedro Baltazar looked more interested in golf and his rashly proposed bid for Ricardo Quaresma looked more desperate than ambitious; while Godinho Lopes opted to cater to the old boys by giving former players and staff positions within his structure.

Bruno de Carvalho was the candidate who best represented change and one thing most people were in agreement about was that the current establishment should not live on.

After a solid showing in the first debate, Carvalho became the frontrunner, with Godinho Lopes leading the chasing pack, a spot he managed to hold until the very end.

In hindsight, going to Russia to introduce his associates was not the best idea and was most likely what cost him this election, with the press conference raising more questions than it answered: Who were those people? What were their motivations behind their financial backing? Were they in it for the long haul?

These are now all things we’ll probably never know, because Bruno de Carvalho ended up losing by a razor-thin margin - potentially leaving Sporting a club divided.

A flawed system

Lisbon sports daily Record jumped the gun by announcing on their website that Carvalho would be the new Sporting president, having assessed the exit polls until 6 pm. It was all very Gore vs. Bush.

As you probably remember, Al Gore won the ‘popular vote’ in the American Presidental Election of 2000, yet lost the electoral, meaning good ol' George W. Bush was (eventually) sworn in as President. Likewise, and even though he lost, 6047 people voted on Carvalho compared to the 4511 that opted for Lopes.

He had 34% more voters than Godinho and would win with a comfortable margin in a straight vote - it just happens that things aren’t that straightforward. Supporters’ votes are weighted more heavily the longer they have been registered members of the club.

For instance, the 19 ‘longest-serving’ supporters are permitted to cast 25 votes each, while the 40,000 newest members are given only a single vote.

Therefore, it is not that difficult to have a president who does NOT gather the majority of the votes - especially if they appeal to the older, more conservative wing of the club’s fan base - which was exactly what Godinho Lopes did.

His agenda focused on a simple premise: ‘move forward by going back to the old ways’. Beto, Vidigal, Manuel Fernandes, Nelson, Luis Duque and Carlos Freitas are all familiar faces and most likely the risk-averse supporters opted to stick with people they knew (and who won a few pieces of silverware along the way) rather than take a risk on something, or more specifically someone, unknown.

What now?

Unlike many of his opponents, Godinho Lopes didn’t name a new manager. He said his man was currently in work at another club and that he would only introduce him at the end of the season, though rumours say it will be Braga coach Domingos Paciência.

If that happens to be the case, then it is a good choice, because the Braga boss has proved to be a more-than-capable manager in his two seasons with the Minho Warriors, while appointing a manager from within Liga Zon Sagres has the obvious advantages of him knowing the league and the language.

Among his list of potential targets, as far as the playing staff goes, are Hugo Almeida, Ezequiel Garay, Alberto Rodriguez and Alex Silva, but he touted the Academy as the way to build the team.

Re-financing the club and clearing the debts are also priorities, though as of yet there are no specific plans in place

The Portugeezer cannot help but feel that despite all the razzmatazz, heated discussions and over-the-top promises, little will change at the club. And, given how poorly the club has performed in the last two seasons in particular, that’s quite bad.

Braga upset the odds as Portugal look to conquer Europe

2011-03-21T11:24:00Z

Portugal capped a memorable European night as all three teams involved in Europa League action progressed to the quarterfinals.

Benfica and Porto went into the second leg of their respective ties with a good chance of going through, but the story of the night developed at Anfield - where Braga pulled off a famous upset.

The Minho Warriors seem bent on ending the season on a high - and there’s hardly a better way to do that than by defeating a top team that last year handed a 4-1 drubbing to Benfica in the same competition.

All in all, we now have three teams in the last eight of the competition and, quite frankly, there’s a good chance we may see at least one in Dublin, especially since the draw brought no immediate all-Portuguese tie.

Benfica

Jorge Jesus replaced his entire team against Portimonense – with the exception of Pablo Aimar - to ensure most of his key men would be available and fit for the clash against the Paris Saint Germain.

Benfica were able to field a full-strength side (if you discount the accumulated fatigue) and enjoyed the rare advantage of virtually playing two home legs, thanks to the vast hoards of Benfica fans at Parc des Princes.

Still - and this is something that should worry them - that was one of their worst performances of late and they needlessly get themselves into a position whereby they had to weather a storm, having won the first leg 2-1.

PSG, especially through Nenê, caused all sorts of problems in the first half, but against the run of play and from their very first short on target, Benfica scored through Gaitán. The French side didn’t throw in the towel and Mathieu Bodmer would level eight minutes later with a well-struck volley.

Things calmed down in the second half as Benfica got a few chances that could have settled the tie, but the Portuguese side had to endure a very nervy finish to as PSG pushed harder for a goal.

Overall, the French outfit will feel aggrieved for not being able to force extra time as Jean-Eudes Maurice squandered a glorious chance in the dying moments of the match.

Benfica will now set their sights on PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch outfit are a good side, but definitely not the most dreaded team in the draw and progression should be well within Benfica’s grasp.

Having said that, a performance such as the one in Paris won’t see them in the semi-finals, so Jesus may need to find a way of tinkering with his side to keep his players in peak condition for European matches.

Porto

The Dragons went into their home leg against CSKA Moscow having won the first in Russia 1-0,leaving them as huge favourites to progress, especially considering their superb home record.

That’s why the Portugeezer wasn’t all too surprised when Hulk put the hosts in front within sixty seconds of the start of the second leg.

Vágner Love still hit the woodwork the following minute, but the match and the tie would ultimately be killed off after an incredible error from Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Defender Sergei Ignashevich headed the ball back to the keeper, but the pass was too heavy and Akinfeev rushed to dive and prevent a corner; Colombian starlet James Rodriguez immediately turned and sent a cross to the box and even though Falcao was unable to head it home the in-form Guarín was there to pounce.

Zoran Tosic would score a consolation goal but that was it from the Russians.

Porto are through and are now many people’s favourites for the competition. Indeed, their pedigree is getting recognition across the continent, with a ‘Who will win the Europa League’ poll on Spanish website ElMundoDeportivo.es putting them ahead of even Villarreal.

Ironically, they will return to the Russian capital to face Spartak in the next round. The Russian side finished in third place of their Champions League group behind Chelsea and Marseille, though their performance in the Europa League has been rather impressive as they knocked out Metalist Kharkiv and Ajax without conceding a single goal.

Still, are we supposed to believe they pose a bigger threat than CSKA? Doubtful. By no means will it be a walk in the park, but generally speaking the Dragons look the better side.

Braga

Braga went to Liverpool with a narrow 1-0 lead, which they were expected to fail to maintain.

The fact that many had written them off perhaps worked in their favour as a polished display full of commitment and willpower appeared to surprise and frustrate Liverpool and kept the five times European champions at arms length for most of the evening.

In truth, the match itself was a bit of a snoozefest, with few clear-cut opportunities for either side, but the Portuguese outfit seemed in control for large periods of the match.

Only in the last 10 minutes the Merseysiders turned up the heat, but their stunning lack of ideas prevented them for getting anything more than a dull 0-0. Also worth noticing was the fact that Andy Carroll didn’t look more impressive than Lima despite costing just about 160 times more.

They will now play against one of the heavyweights remaining in the competition - Dynamo Kiev, having played against other Ukrainian side in the group stages of the Champions League.

They lost both home and away against Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev – who knocked out Manchester City – will be a stern test for them.

Still, they relish their role as underdogs and as they showed this season, “impossible is nothing”.

One last word to counter the over-the-top celebrations regarding the Portuguese teams’ exploits in the Europa League.

Much like what José Mourinho said when he was asked about the performance of Porto, Benfica and Braga, this ‘success’ was only possible at the expense of early exits in the Champions League, which is the elite competition in Europe, and Porto’s rare omission from the competition.

Yes, let’s celebrate and take the opportunity to boost the league’s coefficient ranking and attract the spotlight beams into our league, but let’s try to emulate the feat in the Champions League next year.

Braga finally end Benfica's faint title hopes

2011-03-11T17:16:00Z

After an 18-match winning run, Benfica’s faint title hopes were effectively crushed on March 6, when they were defeated 2-1 at Braga.

It was another ‘final’ for the Eagles who were hoping to heap some pressure on table-toppers Porto and coming off a League Cup win against Lisbon rivals Sporting, momentum was on their side.

It wasn’t to be, though, as Braga dismantled Benfica with a polished performance. Ironically, unlike their previous matches against Sporting and Marítimo, Benfica started the match on the front foot and broke the deadlock in the 25th minute through Saviola. From that moment on, the home side grew and started to take control of the match.

Controversy or lack of arguments?

The dynamic of the match would shift completely just before the break when Spaniard Javi Garcia hit Alan in the chest and the Brazilian midfielder showed-off his acting skills by making the most of the contact. Garcia was given a straight red, but what immediately followed it was even worse. Hugo Viana – who apparently has a knack for scoring against the Eagles – sent a long curved ball that somehow lobbed a hapless Roberto and gave the home side an equalizer.

No matter how many good saves the former Atletico goalkeeper has made, he still hasn’t proven he’s better than Quim. Just more expensive and prone to big-time howlers.

In the second half, Benfica tried to hit Braga on the break, but Braga’s persistence would pay off with 12 minutes remaining when Márcio Mossóro hit a wonder curling 25-yard effort. Game over, streak over and title over.

Tinkering strategy

The Portugeezer has stated on more than one occasion that Benfica have been looking a bit ragged this season. The desperate late home wins against Stuttgart, Maritimo and Sporting hinted that Benfica was a team running on perspiration, rather than inspiration. In those matches, they gave away possession far too often, miss-hit many passes and overall looked a bit sluggish, only for second-half pressure to give them an adrenaline rush to complete a comeback.

Jesus opted to name a full-strength team against Maritimo and Sporting, but against Braga – arguably the toughest league match with the exception of the Porto game – the Benfica coach opted to name Felipe Menezes and Franco Jara in the starting XI.

Menezes had only played 32 minutes in the league while Jara had been mostly involved as a sub. Maybe it was too much to expect both players to perform against a tough side when they haven’t even regularly featured against weaker opposition.

Not all gloom and doom

Much of the alleged title race was fuelled by the mainstream media. After all, Benfica were trailing Porto by eight points and needed to win every single match till the end of the season - while hoping the Dragons dropped points in two or three matches - to have any hope of finishing in top spot. Porto have been both consistently amazing and amazingly consistent this season and have only drawn twice, which should tell you the odds of such meltdown happening.

But now that Benfica were brought down to Earth again, they can and should focus on the remaining competitions. They have a good shot at the domestic cups and if they win against PSG and get reasonable draw they can be contenders in the Europa League.

Even though Jesus doesn’t like to tinker the squad, the Portuguese League can now be a place to test players such as Roderick Miranda, Carole and Alan Kardec who are regarded as prospects but haven’t seen much playing time.

The other side of the story

Most pundits were quick to talk about the significance of Benfica’s loss, apparently dismissing the importance of Braga’s victory. After playing to such a high level at the beginning of the season, the Minho Warriors soon ran out of steam; a major overhaul during the January transfer window didn’t help the cause and their sluggish series of results put them in seventh place prior the match against Benfica, which squeeze them out of contention for a European berth.

With such a morale-boosting win, they climbed one position and have closed in on both Guimarães and Paços de Ferreira. Domingos Paciência – who is rumoured to be replaced at the end of the season for former Beira-Mar manager Leonardo Jardim – stood tall once more and showed he can still end the season on a high. Whether he signs a new contract or not, one thing is clear: there will be no shortage of options for Domingos shall he leave Braga.

A perfect night in Portugal’s European odyssey

2011-03-11T12:44:00Z

It was a flawless Thursday for the Portuguese trio still in the Europa League. Porto, Braga and Benfica won their matches to not only get ahead in their last 16 ties, but also contribute more points to the league’s coefficient ranking.

Let’s see how each team fared:

Porto

Despite their incredible form this season and their immense experience in European competitions – having won the UEFA Cup and the Champions League in 2003 and 2004 respectively – there were still a lot of people touting CSKA Moscow as favourites. Porto are a household name in the Champions League knockout stages and usually go toe-to-toe with Europe’s finest. Were they really underdogs?

History was also on the Dragons’ side as they had claimed two draws and two (away) successes against the Russians. Even more impressively, in those four matches Porto didn’t concede a single goal.

Forced to cope with the cold and the artificial turf, Porto had a few problems in the first half, particularly in the first 25 minutes when the Russian outfit was clearly on the front foot. During that period, striking duo Vagner Love and Seydou Doumbia had a few opportunities but goalkeeper Helton proved up to the task. Gradually, Porto pushed the Russians back and started enjoying meaningful spells of possession themselves.

The second half was completely different, though Vagner Love still had the time to squander CSKA’s best opportunity after great work and an assist from Doumbia. And yet in the 70th minute, the Dragons would melt the Russian ice when Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin – very lively throughout the match – combined with Silvestre Varela and unleashed a powerful drive just outside the box that gave ‘the next Lev Yashin’ Igor Akinfeev no chance.

CSKA tried to push forward, but with both teams tiring, the scoreline remained unchanged.

A 1-0 win in Moscow is a very good result for Porto, and while it does not guarantee them passage to the quarter-finals, it vastly improves their odds. Few teams have been able to top them or even stop them at Estadio do Dragao, and The Portugeezer doesn’t think the Moscow side will add to the number.

Braga

What did I tell you? In a previous post, The Portugeezer had Braga narrowly beating Liverpool at home and they did just that.

Was it a great performance? No. Was it a declaration of superiority? No. But it was an impressive result against a team that had just beaten Manchester United.

Braga have been lacking consistency this season and are currently fighting for a place in next year’s Europa League, but the win against Benfica in the week gave them a massive boost.

The Minho Warriors led the Reds when Sotirios Kyrgiakos gave away a silly penalty and Alan converted for the goal that would ultimately seal the result. Unable to use the cup-tied Luis Suárez, who played so well against Manchester United, Liverpool played with just Dirk Kuyt up front and weren’t too keen to push forward, fearing a hit on the break.

It was Braga who could have doubled their lead when full-back Silvio’s wonder strike hit the woodwork, much to the dismay of the home side.

The second half was little more than a snoozefest, with very few noticeable highlights, but that was enough for Braga to secure an historic win against an historic side.

Let’s not get carried away, because in front of the Kop at Anfield the odds will be heavily stacked against Braga. It is hard to imagine another 6-0 thrashing such as the one they suffered at the hands of Arsenal, but Liverpool can still easily score three or four goals – even without Suarez.

Benfica

The Eagles’ momentum was halted when they were defeated at Braga. That match, among other things, exposed one problem they’re now facing: fatigue.

Jorge Jesus’ insistence (or stubbornness) on using the same players, coupled with his trademark high-octane football, is finally taking its toll and the players look more tired and less focused.

Whether or not Jesus will opt to tinker now that the faint hopes of claiming back-to-back championships have been dashed, playing the best against Paris Saint-Germain in front of the home supporters was a must.

Nico Gaitan and Salvio returned to the starting XI, but Benfica started the match very nervously, giving away possession easily and lacking both width and ideas. The French outfit, which had left some of their starters in Paris, found plenty of room to operate and their compact midfield outmuscled the Eagles for much of the first half.

It was hardly a surprise when they broke the deadlock through Peguy Luyindula. Minutes later, jeers were heard in the crowd as PSG forward Nene hit the post.

Everything Benfica did seemed out of perspiration rather than inspiration – until an amazing move in the 41st minute woke up the entire stadium. Uruguayan full-back Maxi Pereira combined with Carlos Martins, controlled the return pass with his chest and volleyed home for an amazing equaliser.

Benfica upped the tempo in the second half, albeit with occasional lapses in the defence, and would claim their second goal nine minutes from time through sub Franco Jara. The former Arsenal Sarandi player came on for Salvio and his fresher legs were pivotal in the comeback.

2-1 is not the best of results at home, but on a normal day Benfica are better than PSG hands down. There will be a strong fan support in Paris, too, from the large number of Portuguese emigrants that will flood the stadium. Still, resting players in preparation for that match is not only the safe bet, but also the smartest option.

After the first leg, it was three wins out of three – a true hat-trick. Can the performance be repeated next week? Stay tuned...

End of the line for Sporting

2011-03-07T12:43:00Z

Matches between Benfica and Sporting rarely mean nothing, but both teams went into the League Cup semi-final clash at Estádio da Luz with plenty riding on the result.

For Benfica, it was a chance to maintain momentum before two very important matches in the League and Europa League. For Sporting, it was one of those ‘do-or-die’ moments.

Out of the title race, embarrassed by Setúbal in the Portuguese Cup and cruelly knocked out by Rangers, Sporting knew their only hope of silverware was the League Cup – the ugly duckling of Portuguese competitions.

The Lions started the match with the upper hand and broke the deadlock in the 21st minute. Roberto Jiménez reminded club supporters why he should always stay between the posts as he went for a cross that had nothing to do with him and was anticipated by Helder Postiga who gave Sporting a surprising lead.

Benfica gradually increased their tempo and 12 minutes later were awarded a somewhat dubious penalty. But in accordance with the Portugeses saying “God wrote straight on crooked lines”, Cardozo missed the spot-kick. Nonetheless, in their next move, Benfica won a corner and the Paraguayan hitman rose above Evaldo to redeem himself with a powerful header.

From that moment on, the Eagles started piling on the pressure. They would hit the bar in the second half and as Sporting tried to survive the onslaught it happened again: Benfica would be rewarded with a goal in the dying moments of the match and Sporting punished at the eleventh hour. This time, the hero was Spaniard Javi Garcia who was quick to reach a stray ball in the Sporting box after sub Franco Jara tried to send a cross to Cardozo.

With that, Benfica avoided the penalties – where the Cardozo factor would likely play against them – and will now play in the final against this season's surprise package Paços de Ferreira, who went to Madeira to beat Nacional in a seven-goal thriller.

Most pundits would agree that Sporting weren't half bad, that they countered Benfica in the first half, and that they created a handful opportunities on their own. In a way that's true, but that’s what you would expect from a smaller team traveling to Estádio da Luz in a knockout game: defend, try to hit them on the break and defend again.

A team of Sporting’s dimension shouldn’t be happy to resort to ‘kick and rush’ tactics. It seemed odd to watch them hit long balls toward front duo Yannick Djaló and Helder Postiga. And with all due respect to Postiga – who worked his socks off and posed some problems to Benfica’s backline – when he’s your best player, you just know you’re not a serious title contender. He has a lot of experience and international pedigree, but he’s not one to carry your team.

Benfica coach Jesus may also have a problem on his hands. He opted to field a full-strength side against Sporting, apparently forgetting the crucial matches against Braga and PSG. Whether it was a coincidence or not, a tired Benfica ended up losing 2-1 at the Minho Warriors this Sunday. Selecting Felipe Meneses and Franco Jara in the starting XI was a huge risk that didn’t pay off due to their limited minutes amassed throughout the season.

Last year against Liverpool, Benfica paid the price of not rotating their starting XI and were hammered 4-1 at Liverpool. This year, however, they've already reached two cup finals and now don’t have to worry about what was only really seen as a title race by the media – they're now 11 points behind champions-elect Porto and 15 clear of third-placed Sporting. As a result they can focus on the Europa League and use the remaining league games to assess back-up or younger players.

Elections at Alvalade
The Europa League loss to Rangers was devastating to Sporting. They lost a match they didn’t deserve to, in the last minute, and Paulo Sérgio left the club due to the insurmountable pressure. Now José Couceiro, the last of the Costinha-Sérgio-Couceiro triumvirate, is the one in charge of the team – but with the arrival of a new man he too is on his way out.

The Portugeezer wasn't expecting Sporting’s elections to resemble the US Presidential selection process – not only because of the debate held last Sunday, but because of the large number (six) of serious candidates jostling to put the club back where it belongs.

At the moment, two candidates look like front-runners: businessman Godinho Lopes and lawyer Dias Ferreira. Lopes promises €100M to clear long-term debts and invest in the team, while bringing back former football director Carlos Freitas and vice-president Luis Duque. Dias Ferreira, on the other hand, has already lined up former Porto and Atletico Madrid ace Paulo Futre as vice-president and sporting director – and Frank Rijkaard as manager.

Who will win? We’ll know on March 26. In the meantime, coach Couceiro continues at the helm of a team with nothing to play for but pride.

What next for Portugal's Europa League trio?

2011-03-02T16:07:00Z

One minute: that’s all it can take to ruin a perfect night. Four Portuguese teams played in the last 32 of the Europa League, but only three managed to go through to the next round. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out that the sole 'losers' were Sporting.

It was a great shame for Portuguese football, especially as the Lions were winning 2-1 and gave away a silly goal with just a minute to play in the match. Rangers were not the better side, but as in 2008 when the sides met in the UEFA Cup, they did enough to beat them.

With Sporting making an early exit, Paulo Sergio finally succumbed to the insurmountable pressure and left the club. It is debatable whether this will actually do any good, with elections still to be held and an all-important match against Benfica for the League Cup, their last chance to claim a piece of silverware, to be played this Wednesday. But that’s another blog post...

Had Sporting not conceded that late goal, Portugal would have been the only nation with four teams in the Europa League last 16. Having three is still good, but there’s a feeling more could have been achieved.

Nonetheless, the Portuguese league collected more coefficient points and now lie comfortably in sixth position, up three places up from 2010. Sixth guarantees two spots in the Champions League group stages, with another team entered into the qualifying rounds.

That’s three teams - more than the likes of Russia, Holland and Ukraine. And considering Portuguese football revolves around the ‘Big Three’, that should be the domestic league’s realistic target.

Predictions

Braga

The draw for the last 16 had already been settled, so even as they finished off Lech Poznan Braga knew they would most likely face Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool in a David v Goliath tie.

The Portuguese side have two things going against them. Firstly, the disadvantage of playing the first leg at home means the second and probably decisive match will be played in the amazing Anfield atmosphere, where the Kop may be too much for a smaller team to handle. Secondly, Braga’s form has been suspect this season, and they have to be at their best if they want to emulate their Celtic and Sevilla heroics.

Still, Liverpool are by no means invincible. They have just been defeated 3-1 by West Ham United and have struggled all season. A focused Braga can pile more misery on Liverpool, but to stand a chance of pulling another upset, they’d better up their performance.

Prediction: Braga claim a narrow win at home, but eventually bow out.

Benfica

At last the Eagles ended their German hoodoo after a classy, polished display in Stuttgart that boosted their Europa League credentials. They’ll now play against PSG, and should be regarded as odds-on favourites.

The Parisian side are fourth in the French league, trailing table-toppers Lille by just two points, but only managed to see off BATE Borisov of Belarus on away goals.

Enjoying their good run of form, Benfica clinched their 17th consecutive victory and should they win their next matches against Sporting and Braga – two of their toughest tests – the entire stadium will be fired up to root for the Eagles.

Another interesting factor in this match-up is the large number of emigrants in Paris that might just flood Parc des Princes to watch Benfica play. Last time the two teams met in 2007 that played a part in Benfica’s victory, and it might just tilt the scales once again.

Prediction: Benfica win big at home, draw away and go through.

Porto

Porto had a tricky draw that paired them firstly with Sevilla and now with CSKA Moscow. The Russians are one of the toughest teams in the competition with players such as stalwart goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, Manchester United outcast Zoran Tosic, creative yet versatile Keisuke Honda and prolific striker Tomas Necid.

The weather will also pose another problem for Porto as it will be quite chilly in Russia, but the Dragons have every reason to believe they’ll be in the quarter-finals of the competition.

They faced CSKA in the 2004-05 and 2006 Champions League competitions, and in both cases recorded 0-0 home draws followed by victories in Moscow. More intriguingly, the Russian outfit failed to score a single goal in those four matches played.

Prediction: Porto are held by the weather in Russia but win comfortably at home to advance to the quarter-finals.

One final thought, amigos. Looking at the teams still in the competition, the Portugeezer cannot help but wonder whether there is a team that can beat Porto. The Dragons have the players, the winning mentality and the pedigree to win the competition and, on paper, only Liverpool, Manchester City, Benfica and the winner of Bayer Leverkusen and Villarreal may be able to stop them.

Could Dublin witness a massive influx of Portuguese folk around mid-May? We shall see.

Benfica keep faint title hopes alive as Beavers maintain Euro push

2011-02-23T12:26:00Z

Sporting and Benfica locked horns for another intense derby, as table-toppers Porto were cooly awaiting the outcome of the match having already snuck in their own Round 20 match back on January 26.

For Sporting, with the league season effectively all but over, it was a question of pride. Beating their fierce rivals, who were on a nine-match winning streak in the league, would give the club and the fans a much-needed boost. For Benfica, it was a match they could ill afford to lose if they wanted to keep their faint title hopes alive.

The Eagles started the match on the front foot with a Nico Gaitán-led midfield dictating play and dominating the early exchanges.

Without Evaldo and Carriço, there were fears the weakened Sporting backline wouldn’t be able to handle Benfica’s attack, and such concerns were justified when in-form Salvio was quicker than Leandro Grimi to react from a Gaitán’s cross to score the first goal of the match.

The Eagles cruised throughout the first half until Sidnei picked up his second yellow card in the 44th minute, instantly guaranteeing an altogether different tone to the second half.

Jesus replaced Saviola with former Olhanense defender Jardel and, just like the Portuguese Cup match against FC Porto in which Benfica were also forced to finish the match with 10 men, they were able to completely shut out the Lions.

And as Sporting grew frustrated, the Eagles punished them once more. After Carlos Martins’ free-kick fell to Maxi Pereira on the right, the Uruguayan crossed to the far post where the on-rushing Gaitán connected with a volley that would deflect into the net off of Sporting’s Anderson Polga. Not the prettiest of goals, but Jesus certainly didn’t mind.

Paulo Sérgio still threw Carlos Saleiro and Diogo Salomão into the fray ina desperate attempt to claw a way back into the match, but Benfica throttled them and prevented them from creating any serious goalscoring opportunities, eventually running out deserved winners.

Talking points

The major talking point after Benfica’s away success is whether or not they can still be crowned champions this season. The math is simple: if they can win their remaining 10 matches, they will need Porto to drop points in two or three matches.

However, considering the Dragons have only drawn twice this season and Benfica still have some tough matches ahead of them, the odds of that happening are rather small. Fábio Coentrão summed up their situation when he admitted that if there was a match he expected Porto to drop points that would be against the Minho Warriors. The leaders, however, won the match and, their grip on the title is getting tighter and tighter.

We all know that managers and players put a little spin when they talk to the media, whether it’s because they want to curb their enthusiasm or because they want to sugar-coat a slump in form.

However, to hear Sporting assistant coach Alberto Cabral claim that his side enjoyed periods of superiority, that his players worked very hard and that Benfica only got lucky is an insult to Sporting and their supporters.

A club that will always be one of the so-called ‘Big Three’ cannot accept a situation such as the one they’re in, trailing the leader by 23 points and having a big chance of extending their trophy-less run. Fortunately for them, the upcoming elections will be a perfect opportunity to make a small ‘revolution’ and extinguish the current losing mentality that has affected the team, especially over these past two seasons.

On a high

Benfica for all the obvious reasons. Beating their rivals away from home and reminding Porto that “it ain’t over till it’s over” will give them a huge morale boost ahead of the upcoming league matches and their trip to Stuttgart for the second leg of their Champions League tie in two weeks time.

Meanwhile, Paços de Ferreira claimed yet another famous victory, this time at Braga, and are now lying in an amazing fifth place - a position that would give them the chance to take on all of Europe next season, should they maintain it. The Beavers haven’t lost yet this year and the team is playing an attractive brand of football under manager Rui Vitória.

On a downer

Braga continued their poor form at the moment and have now a serious fight in hands for a European berth. Against Paços de Ferreira, Braga were outclassed and ended up slumping to a second consecutive home loss. After watching them conquer Sevilla earlier, who could have imagined they’d be struggling so much? They are currently in seventh place and will host Benfica in two weeks time.

Round 20 Results Thu Feb 18 União Leiria 0-1 Vitória Guimarães Fri Feb 19 Portimoinense 1-1 Olhanense Sat Feb 20 Braga 1-2 Paços Ferreira, Marítimo 1-0 Beira-Mar, Académica 0-1 Rio Ave, Vitória Setúbal 1-1 Naval Mon Feb 21 Sporting 0-2 Benfica.

Portuguese minnows looking to emulate Wigan Athletic

2011-02-22T11:34:00Z

It’s quite amazing to think that as recently as the 2006/07 season, FC Arouca were playing regional football – a level similar to England’s Conference – but five years and four promotions later they’re vying for a top-flight berth.

Their story is similar to that of English Premier League side Wigan Athletic. Both clubs hail from small towns in the shadow of big cities housing traditional footballing powerhouses. Wigan, a town in Greater Manchester with a population of just 81,200, and Arouca, a tiny village of just 23,700 inhabitants in the outskirts of Oporto.

Both clubs have also started to steadily climb the leagues thanks to the investment of a local businessman. While Wigan have battled their way from the old Third Division to the Premier League under Dave Whelan, Arouca have thrived thanks to the investment of Carlos Pinho, a wealthy businessman in the construction field who has ploughed money into revitalising the region and the club.

At the beginning of this season Pinho stated that the club wanted to solidify their place in the Portuguese second tier, but the impressive results achieved early on prompted him to consider yet another promotion.

Arouca currently lie in third place with 28 points, just three points shy of second-placed Oliveirense, and to boost their promotion push the club made a very shrewd signing in the January transfer window in former Paços de Ferreira forward Edson Nobre.

Arouca (in yellow) in action against Belenenses on Sunday

Even if they end up achieving ‘only’ a top-half finish, they’ve already assembled a squad with Liga Zon Sagres and Liga Orangina experience that can be the base for success over the next few years.

It will be interesting to see whether or not they can sustain this amazing growth, which considering their challenges seem a rather Herculean task.
Rarely has a club from a village been able to flourish in the top flight.

Campomaiorense, the club where Jimmy Hasselbaink first flourished, spent five seasons in the Liga between 1995 and 2001, but were only able to survive thanks to investment from their main sponsor, Delta Cafés. Ultimately, professional football in such a town was deemed unfeasible from an economic point of view and the club withdrew from the professional game following relegation in 2001.

As if possessing both a limited local talent pool and fanbase was not enough of a hindrance, Arouca will find it difficult to successfully cast either net further, with more established Liga Orangina rivals Oliveirense and Feirense on their doorstep.

Furthermore, even with all the razzmatazz surrounding the club at this stage, they have failed to get more punters through the door. Only 608 people attended last weekend’s match against Belenenses - a figure that even Wigan would be disappointed with. While some clubs in the Portuguese top flight register similarly small attendances, most come from bigger cities and therefore receive more money from local authorities or have a better financial backing.

It is difficult to predict whether Arouca will sticking around in the upper-echelons for the long-term. After all, with Portuguese football being choked by the ‘Big Three’ (in terms of gate receipts, TV deals and sponsorship revenues), most clubs here seem more like non-profit organizations.

Still, if they are really serious about playing in the top tier, Arouca should look to their youth system as an opportunity to build a brighter future.

Not only would this save the club money and provide possible saleable assets, having more local youngsters in the team would create a stronger ‘community feel’ at the club, which would provide another incentive for people to go to the matches.

But for the time being, Arouca probably shouldn’t concern themselves with all these details. They should just be congratulated on their success and encouraged to enjoy the run.

Portuguese quartet still in Europa contention after a mixed night

2011-02-18T12:53:00Z

For Portugal to have four teams in the Last 32 of the Europa League is quite some accomplishment - even if two of them were demoted from the Champions League. And looking at recent history, one cannot help but feel that the chances of a Portuguese team going on to feature in the semis or even the final of the competition are rather favourable.

FC Porto won what was then known as the UEFA Cup back in 2003, before Sporting fell short by 45 minutes two years later, when they surrendered a one-goal half time to CSKA Moscow on their home turf. Benfica have been enjoying a rich vein of form as of late, while Braga were handed perhaps the easiest job on paper against Polish side and conquerors of Juventus, Lech Poznan.

After the first legs of the first knockout round this week, the four Liga Sagres teams have all been left with a realistic chance of going through, even if Benfica and Braga may have some restless moments ahead.

Stuttgart’s perilous position in the Bundesliga, which belies their genuine quality, perhaps lulled Benfica into an false sense of security early on. The fact is Stuttgart were the better side in the first half, hitting the woodwork once before scoring in the 20th minute when the Austrian forward Harnik stunned Estádio da Luz with a cheeky lob over Roberto Jimenez.

Benfica handed Bruno Labbadia’s side a 45 minute advantage, but after the break the game would completely change. Desperate to keep their hot streak intact, the Eagles came on for the second half with a more positive approach and pinned Stuttgart back in their own half. The pressure eventually paid off as Cardozo levelled the game in the 69th minute.

Knowing that a score draw wouldn’t be an adequate result, the Eagles went gung-ho at that stage. Without Saviola, it was Franco Jara who partnered the towering Cardozo, but the former Arsenal Sarandi forward had struggled to pose the same level of threat. That is until the 81st minute…

Jara, most likely running out of options, decided to strike from distance and the ball took a deflection; goalkeeper Sven Ulreich - who had kept his team in the match with a string of awesome saves was still able to block the shot, but the ball hit the bar and dropped just over the line. Nonetheless, the onrushing Cardozo was there to emphatically ensure the net bulged.

Even then, Benfica pushed hard for a third, but they had to settle for a narrow 2-1 victory which leaves the tie very much hanging in the balance going into the second leg – in a country where Benfica have NEVER won - but at least this time round a draw will suffice.

Braga went to Poland and had the unfortunate task of facing not only the surprise package of the competition, Lech Poznan, but also some rather adverse playing conditions. How adverse? Let’s just say it has been a while since the Portugeezer saw a snow-covered field and an orange football.

The Minho Warriors controlled the first half and could have scored, but allowed the home side to grow after the break half and were cruelly hit on the counter when star player Rudnevs intercepted a poor pass from Hugo Viana and easily beat Artur Moraes.

It is a pity Braga are not the same side that defeated Sevilla, but even this toned-down version should be capable of vanquishing the stubborn Poles and overcoming the 1-0 deficit at home.

In what was the best match involving a Portuguese team, FC Porto went to Sevilla hoping to continue their good record in Spain - which they did, even if it wasn’t the way they were expecting.

The Dragons started the match as you’d expect from a respected team accustomed to play against the best every season with fairly good results: dictating the team away from home to settle the round in the first leg.

With star striker Radamel Falcao still not fully match fit, manager André Villas-Boas went with the offensive triangle of James Rodríguez, Hulk and Varela, and it was the young Colombian Rodriguez who came closest to snatching the lead in the first half.

The home team would improve drastically in the second, with Navas, Fabiano and Kanouté creating all sorts of problems for the Dragons defence, but against the run of play Rodriguez hit a free-kick that Rolando connected with to give the Dragons the lead in the 58th minute.

Kanouté levelled eight minutes later and the Spaniards turned up the heat, only to suffer a lapse in concentration with just five minutes to go, allowing Fredy Guarín took to restore Porto’s lead and put the Portuguese table-toppers in a strong position to qualify for the Last 16.

In truth, Sporting's match at Ibrox was an uneventful one with relatively few opportunities for each side.

Paulo Sérgio made quite a puzzling decision when he handed January signing Cristiano a place in the starting XI, relegating the ever-reliable André Santos and the fierier Simon Vukcevic to the bench. As a by-product, Sporting’s offensive production dropped a few notches.

Still, if Rangers had a striker better than Kyle Lafferty, maybe the SPL outfit would have gotten a better result, as the Ulsterman wasted some good opportunities afforded him by the shaky Sporting defence.

Steven Whittaker scored from a corner to give the hosts the lead, but Chilean playmaker Matiás Fernández would score a precious goal just two minutes from time, meaning all eyes will be on Lisbon next week for the second leg.

The Minister tells all and leaves Sporting seeking a new strategy

2011-02-14T13:58:00Z

Costinha last week rocked Portuguese football - and in particular, Sporting - when he gave a candid, tell-all interview to Sport TV. The now former Director of Football was anything but coy as the interviewer asked question after question about the current state of the club.

Topics ranged from the Liédson sale to the arrival of José Couceiro, and in his very own straightforward ‘take-no-prisoners’ style, Costinha told just about everything.

Speaking of the deal which saw Liedson move to Corinthians, Costinha revealed he did not know who had taken the decision to ratify the deal and dubbed the piece of business ‘shameful’ and ‘ruinous’ as the club didn’t find a replacement.

He also claimed the club failed to bring in veteran forward David Trezeguet in the summer for a sum of €100k, apparently forgetting the former Juventus striker’s wife is exactly from Alicante, the city where his current club – Hércules – is based.

Costinha was somewhat more diplomatic about José Couceiro, the general manager also brought by Bettencourt, but he admitted his power naturally decreased with Couceiro’s arrival, while stating the former Porto and Lithuania manager would solve exactly the same as he did – nothing.

Such strong - some would even say brutal – words would make club officials uncomfortable enough to sack “The Minister” the following day and create yet another problem within the club.

A well-documented yet unspoken problem

Perhaps Sporting’s major problem with the interview is that most of its content is true: even if the Liédson deal was a good one in business terms – Sporting failed to sign a replacement and now have to cope with just Helder Postiga and Carlos Saleiro.

Their ability to attract new players should also be questioned after Atlético Mineiro’s president laughed off Sporting’s ‘ridiculous’ bid for Kléber and Marítimo winger Djalma shunned the opportunity to join the Lions, opting instead to move Porto even though he’d probably have a better chance of first team football at Estádio José Alvalade.

Most of all, any Sporting supporter would agree that looking at the league table at the present is a painful experience. They trail Benfica by 12 points and FC Porto by 23 and have just drawn 2-2 at Olhanense this weekend.

But what is perhaps more troubling is that there’s no bright light at the end of the tunnel. Bettencourt proved to be a very poor president, but is it certain the next person in charge be the any better? Some candidates already promised millions to acquire new players, but more than pipe dreams and fairy tales, Sporting need an actual strategy to get back on track.

For a club that now seems poorer than ever, the decision to shut down the footballing production line that churned out the likes of Quaresma, Ronaldo, Nani and Moutinho seems even stranger and it is one policy the next Sporting supremo should review.

Using an expression that has been used quite often in this tough economic environment, Sporting are ‘too big to fail’ in the context of Portuguese football, but like Benfica in the 90s, they .

For the good of the club and the league as a whole – as a strong Sporting bring out the best in Benfica and Porto – let’s hope they’re able to climb out of the hole they have dug for themselves.

Will “The Minister” return?

Just like Sporting’s 20010/2011 campaign, Costinha’s debut as football director will be hardly remembered. He was hailed as the right man to work closely with the coach, the players and the president but his legacy at the club is little more than a couple of mediocre signings.

While Costinha may have enjoyed good relationship with the players and Paulo Sérgio, he was unable to deliver the results set in February 2010 upon his arrival. Was he given the tools to succeed? We may never know that, but somehow the Portugeezer doesn’t think it will be the last time we see “The Minister” around. His suits have ‘I’ll be back’ written all over...

Is the tide turning on Porto after cup defeat to Benfica?

2011-02-07T17:24:00Z

Back in August when Benfica and Porto locked horns for the Portuguese Super Cup, most pundits tipped the Eagles to win the match.

After all, they had been crowned champions and pre-season had given Jorge Jesus false hope the team would play the same high-octane football showed the previous season. That didn’t happen and Porto comfortably beat their old nemesis.

When they met again in the Portuguese League, things got even worse for Benfica, as Porto subjected them to a 5-0 thrashing and removed any lingering doubts their streak was a mere ‘flash in the pan’.

Therefore, when both teams met for the third time in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals, Porto went into the match as clear favourites.

Important changes

Both sides made a few changes to their starting line-ups. Porto were without their injured star striker Falcao, so Villas-Boas opted to play Hulk upfront and named James Rodríguez in his starting XI.

At the back, and after the horrific leg break sustained by Emídio Rafael in the previous match against Gil Vicente, Porto were forced into changes, and resorted Sereno as makeshift left-back, a somewhat surprising change considering that Fucile has played in that position several times.

Meanwhile, Jesus made one very significant change by giving midfielder César Peixoto a starting role against his former club, while Sidnei partnered Luisão at the back, with David Luiz having jumped ship for Chelsea.

There are a fair few reasons to complain about Peixoto’s inclusion. First of all, he’s neither a defender nor a winger. He can't defend if his life depends on it and his knee problems have stripped him of the pace and flair of his early years. And secondly, if Benfica’s plan was to keep things tight at the back, Airton would prove a stronger, more industrious option.

Action and (lack of) reaction

Unlike those earlier meetings, Benfica pounced on a Porto’s mistake and grabbed an early lead through Fábio Coentrão in the fifth minute.

The Dragons reacted and almost got an equalizer when James Rodríguez failed to connect with Varela’s cross, but Benfica would eventually double their lead through a Javi Garcia’s mid-range shot in the 26th minute.

After the second goal, Porto looked unsteady, probably because they had only been that situation one time this season.

At the break, Porto were trailing Benfica by two goals but, knowing how they usually react to adversity in home matches, the Portugeezer was expecting a second-half onslaught.

Porto only possess two out-and-out strikers: Falcao and Walter. Having prior knowledge of Falcao’s condition, most coaches would forget the fact Walter has been living up to his moniker ‘The Anvil’ – oh yes, he’s that heavy – because Porto simply don’t have anyone else!

With Hulk left alone upfront, Porto lose two players: an actual striker who can work in the box and a winger who can open up defences and create dozens of opportunities.

So, André Villas-Boas was left with a slightly tougher decision and decided to take James Rodriguez off to introduce the more experienced Cristían, hoping the Uruguayan could bring an extra spark in the second half.

But that’s not where he failed: he made a questionable decision of introducing Guarín for Belluschi after Coentrão received his marching orders and failed to break down Benfica’s fortress.

Had Sereno been replaced with another winger – Mariano González, perhaps – maybe the Dragons would have split Benfica’s water-tight defence.

So, even against a 10-men opposition, Porto failed to create a single chance and could have seen Cardozo scoring what would have been an embarrassing third goal.

What does the loss mean?

Porto’s previous match was against Gil Vicente for the League Cup. With few chances to go through – having lost at home to Nacional – and with the match against Benfica on his mind, André Villas-Boas understandably opted to tinker the team.

Still, after the 2-2 draw against the Liga Orangina side, some people pointed out Porto’s ‘evident’ slump in form.

The loss against Benfica, however, is slightly different. They were outsmarted and considering they’re not used to losing this season, it will be interesting to see how Porto react now that the season is reaching that interesting February checkpoint, when European competitions resume and title races are shaped.

Also, it is a bit curious that Porto’s only two losses to date may just result in two lost cups. Granted, they still have a chance at beating Benfica, but they certainly don’t have the upper hand.

This weekend they claimed a dull 1-0 success against Rio Ave at home, but next week will provide a slightly sterner test in the form of a trip to Braga.

Will they dash Benfica’s faint hopes for a title or will things eventually get more interesting? Stay tuned…

Portugal bids farewell to the crazy-haired defender and 'the Slender One'

2011-02-01T12:25:00Z

Amigos, the first word that comes to my mind is ‘wow’. It’s a well-documented fact that the January transfer window can spice things up but there were so many unexpected moves around Europe that one cannot help but feel a little bit flustered.

Anyway, though Portugal didn’t witness any Torres-esque manoeuvres in the dark, there was some activity worthy of discussion.

Should I stay or should I go?

The David Luiz saga has come to an end after Chelsea and Benfica finally reached an agreement that suited both sides. Two days ago it seemed the deal was off after Benfica signalled to the stock exchange that they had pulled the plug on the protracted deal. However, conversations were resumed yesterday and the highly-rated, crazy-haired Brazilian defender will be joining Fernando Torres to give the Blues a major boost for their title challenge.

According to most media outlets, Chelsea will pay €20 million plus €5 million in future incentives and 22 year-old Nemanja Matic - who will join the squad in the summer – as part of the deal. I've already shared my thoughts on the Luiz transfer, but now that everything is set in stone let me tell you how I feel about the one part of the deal we didn't see coming.

Every now and then I like to keep tabs on Amazon for books, video games and all sorts of random paraphernalia - and I usually have to pay postage and shipping. To Chelsea, that’s what Matic is: little more than cheap postage and shipping to sweeten the deal. For some reason, Benfica took the offer, though one is left wondering whether there is any real strategy behind that capture.

Benfica's replacement for Luiz, Olhanense centre half Jardel, made his debut against Liga Orangina side Aves for the League Cup and didn’t look half-bad. He’s still some way off causing the supporters to forget Luiz, but he’ll have time to hone his skills during the remainder of the season.

Farewell ‘Slender One’

Liédson says goodbye to Sporting after the club agreed to sell him to Brazilian side Corinthians, the team he played before joining the Lions.

It will be strange to watch Sporting without their mercurial striker, one of the most prolific to have appeared in the Portuguese league in recent times, amassing a total of 171 goals over a seven year and a half span. He was (and will continue to be) idolised by the Sporting faithful, feared and respected by the opponents and his departure is, understandably, a loss to the club.

Still, once the emotions are shrugged off, it is easy to see this was the best time to part ways. At 33, his output isn’t quite what it used to be, and with Corinthians willing to cough up €2.1 million for a player on wages of around €110K a week, it’s obvious that financially speaking this was a good bit of business for Sporting.

The problem is they didn’t take any major steps to cover the loss to the playing staff. Continuing their lacklustre trend of the past few years, they signed former PAOK attacking midfielder Cristiano on a free. Cristiano played for Paços de Ferreira between 2006 and 2009 before seeking greener pastures and he now returns to the Portuguese top flight to play for his former manager.

Sporting also tried to secure the services of Kléber – the much sought-after striker that will more likely fade into oblivion than land on Porto or Sporting’s doorstep, and Marítimo’s Djalma. But both moves failed. Quite frankly, that may prove a blessing in disguise as a new board will likely opt to change that direction the club is taking next season.

A late blow?

It is not a surprise that FC Porto didn’t delve into the transfer market. With just one official loss – though it ended up knocking them out of the League Cup – the Dragons have been on a rampage this season and only a fool would consider changing a side winning so regularly.

However, they were dealt a minor blow this past Saturday as left-back Emídio Rafael sustained a leg break. With first-choice Alvaro Pereira still sidelined, the Dragons happened to be a bit short on options on the wings. All of a sudden, playing Benfica next Wednesday for the Portuguese Cup will be a slightly sterner test…

Any other business...

Vitoria Guimarães signed Cluj right-back Tony. Smart signing here as the 30 year-old is an experienced, hard-working defender who will add steel to Manuel Machado’s defence.

Braga found in former Académica defender Káká the replacement for Moisés. The Brazilian arrives from Hertha on loan and will hope to emulate his countryman’s feats.

Basement boys Naval signed former Porto striker Bruno Moraes. With Moraes, Marinho and Fábio Junior upfront Mozer’s pupils can at least boast some firepower. Will it be enough to get them the points they need to avoid the drop?

Jury out on Benfica's David Luiz deal, but Porto look like window winners

2011-01-26T10:57:00Z

The Portugeezer is in agreement with Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger when it comes to the January transfer window. Prices are inflated and most good players are cup-tied for European competition, which is why one should only use it in two situations: 1) To sign a replacement for a player with a long-term injury or 2) To bring in a player who can give a boost to the second half of an ailing season.

That, of course, doesn’t deter teams from preparing audacious bids for players they deem necessary. In recent years Portugal has been one of the finest exporters of talent to Europe’s other leagues, and January will likely see Benfica centre-back David Luiz move to Stamford Bridge in what will be one of the biggest deals in Europe this winter.

According to the latest reports, Chelsea will pay €25 million plus deadweight, err…a player they couldn’t care any less about. Portuguese media speculated it could be Fulham-bound Gael Kakuta, but 22-year old Nemanja Matic will be the most likely option. Of course, not all details are set in stone so we’ll have to wait and see if the Eagles can milk some extra money out of Roman’s deep pockets.

Is it a good deal? Yes and no. Currently, the Portugeezer wouldn’t advise paying €25 million for Luiz. He’s has shown signs of sloppiness this term and has been far from last season’s scintillating form. His mind seems to be away from the club and therefore now is a good time to part ways as Benfica hold a comfortable advantage over third-placed Sporting.

Nevertheless, if the rumoured €37M bid from Manchester City had just a pinch of truth in it, then having to surrender to this lower bid would be something of a kick in the teeth.

The culling

Pedro Caixinha and Leonardo Jardim would agree that performing above the expectations can sometimes lead to unwanted attention. Sixth placed União de Leiria lost instrumental duo Silas and Carlão to AEL Limassol and Kashima Antlers, respectively, while Beira-Mar saw centre-back Kanu move to Standard Liége.

Fortunately for both clubs, it’s not all doom and gloom as they’ve taken this opportunity to balance the books without having to worry too much about their already comfortable position in the league table.

Braga also suffered for the attention a good Champions League run can bring, as star performers Moisés and Matheus left the club for relative peanuts. Having already decided to trim the fat and plan for the next season, will the culling have an adverse affect on performances on the field?

So who will get a January boost and who will find the going even tougher?

Winners

Leapfrogging a team that has only lost one time this season is a difficult task for anyone. However, if you sell one of your best players that job will instantly become even harder. And in that regard, Porto have gained another edge over Benfica as their proven-reliable team will essentially remain the same.

The Dragons are one of the toughest negotiators worldwide which will scare away some of the potential suitors and the players seem more than happy to stick around and see how many pieces of silverware they can win this season.

Marítimo did a very shrewd piece of business by bringing back to Portugal Tunisian international Selim Benachour. He enjoyed a wonderful season at Guimarães and can only help the Islanders have a stronger remainder of the season.

Losers

Yes, Benfica had already signed a replacement for David Luiz in Jardel Vieira, the former Olhanense centre-back, but he’s not ready for ‘primetime‘. He’ll be one for next season and for now Benfica have no choice but to hand Luisão and Sidnei extra responsibility. Can they still claim to be genuine contenders? It is getting harder to see them overhauling Porto with each day…

With their squad overhaul, one cannot expect Braga to perform at the same level displayed over the past 18 months. Left-back Marco Ramos and winger Ukra have joined the club - the latter on loan, but it seems there’s still missing pieces in their jigsaw.

At the moment, they are in a tight race with Sporting, Guimarães, Nacional, Leiria and eventually Beira-Mar for the four coveted Europa League spots, and missing out on a European berth is not an option for them.

What to expect till the next week when the window closes? Braga to beef up their squad with one or two more players, Porto may get an agreement for Sílvio and Guimarães sign yet another random Brazilian.

What exactly is wrong with stuttering SC Braga?

2011-01-21T15:33:00Z

Hey, what’s wrong with you? You’re looking kinda’ down to me. Do these words sound familiar? Yup, that’s Phats & Small’s smash hit Turn Around from 1999, back when the Portugeezer was still in high school. It's a question that could be asked of Braga: what is wrong with them?

It feels like their achievements last season – when they pushed Benfica all the way to the wire and clinched their very first Champions League place – are distant, bittersweet memories as they currently lie in seventh place with 23 points, and have just lost 2-3 at home against Paços de Ferreira in the League Cup.

A promising start

An above average season could have meant a mass exodus in the summer, but the club made the right moves in the market and improved their squad. Despite the losses of Eduardo, Evaldo and André Leone, Braga retained their core and added depth to the squad by bringing in the likes of Silvio, Leandro Salino, Quim (and later Felipe), Hélder Barbosa and Lima.

The Portugeezer said before the start of the season that Braga had, on paper, the ability to have a similar season and avoid the ‘one-hit wonder’ moniker. And they passed their first real test back in August when an aggregate 4-2 win over Celtic in the Champions League third qualifying round pre-emptively silenced their critics and booked the passage to the play-off round, the last remaining hurdle separating them from the European elite.

The draw was once again merciless: the Minho Warriors would have to face tricky Sevilla. The tie was delicately poised after Braga claimed a 1-0 home win, but the return leg was an epic battle that players and supporters won’t ever forget. Braga's sheer grit and heart overcame the more talented Spaniards, stunned half of Europe and rewarded the club with an incredible presence in the group stages of the Champions League.

Stuttering

Yet it seems the pressure to perform at this level consistently has taken its toll and Braga are now suffering from burn-out.

A dip in form brought a slip down the league table and the club felt it necessary to make some adjustments in the January transfer window. Felipe, Andrés Madrid, Luis Aguiar and Elton all packed their bags to trim the wage bill, but the club has to be disappointed to sell mercurial duo Moisés and Matheus to Qatari outfit Al-Rayyan and Ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk respectively.

With all due respect to these clubs, both players could have moved to a bigger stage had they waited until the end of the season. After all, Braga are still in the Europa League and, whether or not you rate the Portuguese League, at the end of the day it’s still more competitive than the Qatari or the Ukrainian leagues. Unfortunately, both players’ contracts were going to expire in the summer and with little chance to keep them, Braga were forced to sell them.

It is difficult to make the transition from being a top-six side to being a Champions League certainty. Tottenham Hotspur, even with all the resources at their disposal, have found it extremely hard to cross that chasm because they don’t yet possess the staying power to keep up with the usual suspects.

For Braga in particular it might be even harder due to the lack of financial clout when compared to foreign clubs. For that fact alone, Braga is an extremely attractive pond from which an Eastern Europe club can fish talent.

Where to go now?

This year they should focus on clinching a European berth. There are four Europa League spots this term and while Sporting are the only side with a guaranteed place, it's well within Braga's reach.

Moreover, they should ignore the boo-boys who jeered Domingos Paciência at the last match and retain the services of their gaffer, because he has proved he can take the club forward.

And since next year Portugal will gain an extra spot in the Champions League (two direct and one in the last qualifying round), they can plan next season early on and spend a modest chunk of the €11.7 Champions League prize money to adjust their squad and launch an effective raid in the 2011/2012 season.

So, Braga supporters, don’t worry: there’s no reason to think you're going to revert back to the old not-so-ambitious club. Though they’re going through a bumpy patch right now, with António Salvador and Domingos Paciência at the helm of the club, they can only move in the right direction

Bettencourt falls on his Sporting sword as front two maintain momentum

2011-01-18T15:24:00Z

ROUND 16 RESULTS Fri 14 Jan Portimonense 0-3 Braga Sat 15 Jan Sporting 2-3 Paços Ferreira, Vitória Guimarães 1-0 Olhanense Sun 16 Jan Académica 0-1 Benfica, FC Porto 3-1 Naval, União Leiria 0-3 Beira-Mar, Vitória Setúbal 2-4 Marítimo, Nacional 1-0 Rio Ave

My friends, is there a better way to start the second half of the season than with an Earth-shattering event? OK, hyperbole perhaps, but here’s the highlight of the weekend: shortly after his team lost at home against Paços de Ferreira, Sporting supremo José Eduardo Bettencourt announced he was stepping down from his post.

Ironically, that comes after manager Paulo Sérgio declared he wanted to win 46 points out of a possible 45. If that was a measure of his ambition and optimism, the good news is that according to that logic, it's still possible to get 46 points out of 42…

Clearly, at this stage, supporters will be glad to see the back of Bettencourt but there's less pleasure about the timing of the decision. Was it a carefully deliberated move or simply a knee-jerk reaction that will do more damage to the club?

It's up for grabs now: supremo-free Sporting

Meanwhile, front-runners Porto and Benfica did their job by winning against Naval and Académica, respectively, though the Eagles can count themselves lucky: the only goal of the game was both offside and handball. (Do double negatives cancel each other out?).

Moreover, they played against 10 men for 55 minutes, but failed to kill off the match and almost allowed Académica to score. Still, they retained their winning streak and kept their faint title hopes alive.

On the up
Naturally, we have to mention Paços de Ferreira because of the way they played against the Lions. It wasn’t the ‘hit them on the counter’ textbook win against one of the Big Three; Paços played well, created opportunities and even with the blatant dive that shouldn’t have gifted them a penalty, they were deserving winners.

Of course, one has to wonder: if Paços had played like that every weekend, wouldn’t they be higher up the table? Bear in mind that they've won six of their 19 points (31.5%) against Sporting!

Then there's Leonardo Jardim's outfit Beira-Mar, again impressive and looking a genuine top-half side. In a match between the two surprise packages of the competition, Beira-Mar went to Leiria and got the three points in style with a resounding 3-0 win.

Marítimo also grabbed a morale-boosting 4-2 win at Setúbal that will certainly restore some of their confidence. Having been treading water around the relegation zone for most of the first half of the season, they might be setting sail towards their usual mid-table position. They now have 19 points from 16 games and will next host Sporting in what will be a very interesting match.

Maritimo: Getting ship-shape

Going down
If the Portugeezer liked a good bet, he'd put all his money on Portimonense getting relegated. They hosted Braga on Friday and showed that they're quite frankly not top-flight material.

Sometimes, a bad position in the league can be attributed to poor team chemistry, bad management and off-the field distractions. Other times, it’s just a lack of quality, and their squad is not good enough. Even Naval, who have been basement boys for a while now, stand a better chance of staying up. The two teams will face each other next weekend: which one will get a lifeline?

Talking points
Sporting, Sporting, Sporting... They say that “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” and for José Eduardo Bettencourt the insurmountable pressure from the supporters surpassed his threshold after the shocking 2-3 home loss.

It’s difficult to rate Bettencourt’s job at Sporting as passable. Questionable decisions like selling Paulo Sérgio and selling João Moutinho weakened his position and the low standards of football played by the team ensured his departure would be more when than if.

But whether or not he’s the main responsible of what is happening at Sporting, there is one thing even the most ardent JEB backer will have trouble answering: why the heck did he bring José Couceiro to the club if his position was even more insecure than we thought? Costinha, Paulo Sérgio and Couceiro – all of them hand-picked by Bettencourt – are now scratching their heads over what to do next as the club tries to recover from this blow.

It’s a pity, because Sporting don’t deserve this. They should focus on the Academy formula once again, as two of the few bright spots this season have been two youngsters André Santos and Diogo Salomão. Hopefully, for the good of the club and the league, the future will be slightly greener….

Brilliant Guarín double helps put Porto back on track

2011-01-12T13:10:00Z

Anyone who follows the wonderful world of Portuguese football knows Porto ended 2010 undefeated. For the mainstream media though, that aura of invincibility cracked when the Dragons were stunned by a 2-1 home defeat to Nacional in the League Cup.

It didn’t matter that André Villas-Boas tinkered with his squad, that reserve goalkeeper Kieszek made an incredible howler or even that Porto can still advance to the next stage of the competition with a win in the second leg. What mattered was the “fact” that Porto were now panicking. Enter round 15.

The plot thickens, the gap widens

Determined to silence their critics and prove the loss against Nacional was merely a freakish blip, Porto went to the match against Maritimo in bullish mood. It took them 38 minutes to score, but when Freddy Guarín hit a jaw-dropping screamer from around 40 yards, it seemed inevitable that the floodgates were going to open. In the second half, the Dragons were in complete control and ended up enjoying a 4-1 success.

In the most anticipated duel of the round, Sporting entertained Braga, and the match witnessed a typically scintillating start. Sporting’s Diogo Salomão scored in the 11th minute and Jaime Valdés doubled the lead just two minutes later after a poor back pass from Hugo Viana was intercepted by Simon Vukcevic.

Paulo César quickly pulled one back for Braga in the 18th minute, but the game failed to continue to live up to the hype and eventually descended into somewhat of a damp squib. Sporting were definitely happy with the result as they increased the lead over their chasing pack – Uniao de Leiria, Guimaraes, Nacional and Braga.

Speaking of which, Leiria were expected to hand Benfica a stern test, but the Eagles were in no mood to be complacent. Jorge Jesus’s pupils enjoyed their best moment of the season and with a professional display that possessed glimpses of their 2009/10 vintage, comprehensively schooling this term’s surprising package 3-0.

Goals of the round

Goals are definitely like a bottle of ketchup; sometimes you can be banging away for ages with no joy, then suddenly they start to flow almost uncontrollably as if by magic. Therefore, it would be unfair to only laud the obvious wonder goal scored by Guarín, because there are others worth sharing.

Guarín’s first is a contender for goal of the year. With the deadlock yet to be broken, the Colombian midfielder pulled a thunderbolt from out of nowhere (with ‘out of nowhere’ being around 40 yards) into the top corner. It was one of strikes that come off very rarely and his celebration seems to acknowledge that fact.

But if that is Goal of the Week for the Portugeezer, here are four more-than-honourable mentions…

Freddy Guarín (Porto) v Marítmo

If his first goal can be attributed to a slice of good fortune, the second one just oozes class. Having been given room outside the box, the Colombian evaded a defender and with his left foot curled a beautiful shot into the back of the net.

Diogo Salomão’s (Sporting) v Braga

Young Salomão started the match on the bench, but he would soon come off from the bench after Postiga limped out in the eighth minute. This is what happened three minutes later…

João Alves (Vitória Guimarães) v Naval

Midfielder Alves received a pass that was perhaps just a touch over-hit, but he decided to try his luck from an unorthodox position. The result? Yet another eye-popping goal...

Javier Saviola (Benfica) v Leiria

Benfica were pressing at that stage but it took an inspired pint-sized Argentinean to give them the lead. Nico Gaitán worked on the left and crossed to the second post where Salvio’s header met an unmarked Saviola who hammered the ball from around 12 yards.

Talking points

Eyebrows were raised when Naval brought in an unlikely man to take on the Herculean task of guiding the club to safety: Carlos Mozer, former Benfica defender and Brazilian international, Mourinho’s former right-hand man and occasional pundit.

He’s their third manager of the season (and, he’ll be hoping, the last) and at the very least is an out-of-the-box option that may lift the club. His reputation as a player was huge, and that can sometimes rub off on the players, and he certainly knows Portuguese football.

The former Benfica defender led his new side to only their second victory of the season away to high-flyers Guimarães. Considering their only previous win dates back to August against Portimonense, this was a particularly encouraging sign.

Braga didn’t play badly against Sporting. Actually, on another night they could easily have left the field with a point which would always be a good result. However, unlike last year, luck is not on their side and they’re not playing well enough to overcome that fact.

The loss of mercurial forward Matheus to cash-rich, yet obscure Ukrainian side Dnipro was a bad omen for the club and with the changes they’re making to the squad, it will be hard to see them pushing for something more than the third place. They may even find themselves having to fight tooth and nail for an Europa League berth come the ‘business end‘ of the season…

ROUND 15 RESULTS Fri Jan 6 Portimonense 3-4 Vitória Setúbal Sat Jan 7 Sporting 2-1 Braga, FC Porto 4-1 Marítimo Sun Jan 8 União Leiria 0-3 Benfica, Vitória Guimarães 1-2 Naval, Académica 0-0 Paços Ferreira, Nacional 0-0 Beira-Mar, Rio Ave 0-1 Olhanense.

The Portugeezer's review of 2010

2011-01-05T11:34:00Z

As we welcome 2011 and hope things on the pitch remain at least as exciting as last year, this is perhaps as good a time as any to have one last look at the best and worst of 2010.

TEAM – FC Porto

Yes, Benfica won the League last season, but they ran out of steam in the final third of the competition while Porto ended the year on an amazing 36-match unbeaten streak. They reclaimed the No.1 spot in Portugal and currently hold a comfortable eight-point lead in the League.

The question now is not whether they are going to be crowned champions, because even at this early stage that looks all but a certainty, but when they are going to order the medals. That is of course, if the ghost of Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle doesn’t haunt them...

MANAGER – André Villas-Boas

In 2009, Jorge Jesus vowed to Benfica supporters that the team would play two times better than they were at the time, and he delivered on that promise over the course of the 2009/10 season.
Benfica’s footballing steamroller impressed everyone and it may be strange not to give the 2010 award to a man who put the Eagles on top once again.

But it just so happens that Jesus also promised his team would be a contender in the Champions League this term, a declaration made a mockery of by an embarrassing 3-0 loss at the hands of Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

Some rather poor business in the transfer market and signs of questionable tactical judgement have raised questions about his long-term future at the club and his stock has naturally fallen.
On the other hand, André Villas-Boas could not have asked for a better year. After steering Academica to a safe mid-table position, he’s becoming the next big thing in Europe as the young manager ended the year undefeated at FC Porto with a chance to win a few pieces of silverware.

Can he cope with the increases pressure in 2011? That’s what we’re going to find out....

Honourable mention goes to Leonardo Jardim, who led Beira-Mar to promotion last season and is currently performing well above expectations with a comfortable eighth place.

PLAYER – João Moutinho

People will cite Hulk’s frightening form, particularly in the second half of the year. And the truth is the Portugeezer can’t deny that the Brazilian has had a brilliant year since returning to the first team fray and – much like strike partner Falcao - has been quite prolific this season. But João Moutinho has been the dynamo that gave the Dragons the much-needed balance they were previously missing in midfield.

The pint-sized playmaker made the transition from Sporting to FC Porto with surprising ease and is now probably the first name on Villas-Boas’ teamsheet.

Powered by Duracell batteries that help him keep going at full pelt for 90 minutes plus, he’s made quite a difference at both ends of the pitch. Moutinho has always been known for his consistency, but with such drastic move he took his game to another level that has also propelled him to the national team. Kudos to him!

MATCH – FC Porto v SL Benfica

People from both clubs will remember this match for quite some time. If there were any lingering doubts about the current gap between the two sides, FC Porto dissipated them in November’s match at Estadio do Dragao. After racing into a 3-0 lead within the first 30 minutes, Porto barely needed to break sweat to keep Benfica at arms length.

Such was the demonstration of power that in the end, after Porto defeated their arch rivals 5-0, many wondered whether there were two leagues being played within Liga Zon Sagres...

Sevilla v Braga was another terrific match with seven goals and vastly contrasting emotions throughout the 90 minutes. Braga had overcome Celtic and beat the Spaniards at home with a 1-0 narrow win, but to go to Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán and score four goals was one hell of an achievement and made it a proud night for Portuguese football.

DISAPPOINTMENT – David Luiz

Boy, what a difference one season can make! Last term the Brazilian looked like being well on the way to becoming the best centre-back in the world. Fast, strong, comfortable with the ball on the feet, he only had to wait one more season for his dreams of a big-money move to one of European football’s giants to come true.

Whether such a dip in form is due to sulking or not, David Luiz is not playing anywhere near his best. Everybody loses because the player may not move to the club he dreams of and Benfica may not be able to demand the transfer fee they had previously hoped for.

REVELATION – Sílvio

An intriguing player. He was already tipped to have a bright future at Rio Ave, but has blossomed into a solid full-back capable of operating on either flank and quite adept at defending and attacking. It’s just a matter of time till his name appears recurrently on Paulo Bento’s lists.

TO WATCH IN 2011 – José Couceiro

The arrival of the former FC Porto manager at Sporting as the club’s new sporting director raises more questions than it answers.

Can the trio of chairman José Eduardo Bettencourt, coach Paulo Sergio and Couceiro co-exist as their duties will most likely overlap?

The long-term feasibility of his signing might be a problem but there is a more pressing matter: will he actually bring something to the club? Get ready for power play and muscle flexing at Alvalade...

Leiria climb to fourth as Porto end year undefeated

2010-12-22T15:32:00Z

RESULTS Fri Dec 17 Braga 5-0 Academica Sat Dec 18 Beira-Mar 3-2 Vitoria Guimaraes, Benfica 5-2 Rio Ave Sun Dec 19 Pacos Ferreira 0-3 FC Porto, Olhanense 0-0 Nacional, Naval 0-3 Uniao de Leiria, Maritimo 1-1 Portimonense Mon Dec 20 Vitoria Setubal 0-3 Sporting

Whether it was the result of a surprise farewell party for our old friend 2010 or just a good day at the office for the league’s forwards, the truth is that Round 14 of the Portuguese League produced goals galore to end the year in Premier League-esque fashion. Twenty eight goals were scored (an average of 3.5 per match) even if not much has changed in terms of league table.

Three wise men

Three men in particular – apart from those three you thought of straight away (Morecambe, Wise and Noddy Holder? - ed) – deserve a mention this week.
First of all, there’s Leiria boss Pedro Caixinha, who steered his team to another victory. Leiria visited basement boys Naval and came away with a convincing 3-0 victory that saw them climb to fourth place with 24 points, one behind Sporting and two ahead of fifth-placed Guimaraes.

For someone in his debut season as first-team coach and for a team with modest ambitions, that is quite an achievement. Naturally, it will be hard for them to maintain that momentum, but once they secure top-flight status – which should be relatively straight-forward bar any major disaster - they can start to dream of a crack at the Europa League - but there’s still a lot of work to be done.

Beira-Mar are another team to have earned the plaudits this term through solid performances. They are a very organized, focused side and can be a real pain-in-the-backside for even the most established of opponents. Just ask Braga and Sporting. Their latest victims were Guimaraes, who were humbled 3-2.

Their success is mostly down to a relatively unknown manager called Leonardo Jardim, who masterminded last season’s promotion last season and continues to strike all the right chords on a shoestring budget. With 19 points, they look a genuine Liga Zon Sagres team and can realistically aim for a mid-table position.

Last but not least, a player who we may still hear a lot about. When Salvio arrived at Benfica, it seemed club supremo Luis Filipe VIeiria and football director Rui Costa were pressing the panic button. After all, the Argentinean came late in August in a loan arrangement with Atletico Madrid when questions about the team started arising.

His position raised more questions as he seemed to be similar to Gaitan, a supporting striker who can play on the wings or as a trequartista. At the beginning, he didn’t have many chances to show his potential – he was mostly used as an impact player – but the match against Rio Ave showed the Eagles may have in him a very good player.

Salvio scored two goals, made a terrific assist to his fellow countryman Saviola and hit the woodwork once with a delicious dainty chip over the keeper. His pace and dribbling gave Benfica a meaner edge their supporters haven’t seen since Di Maria left the club.

For 30 minutes, they played like last season - but they still need to improve. The defence still leaks goals like Mr. Assange’s website leaks classified documents, so they’ll need to work on that between the turkey and the eggnog.

Of course, if Salvio proves to be a hit another question will arise: will Benfica be able to sign him or will he simply return to Los Colchoneros? With all due respect to Atletico, Benfica are not a stepping stone for them so Vieira and Costa must act quickly if they want a deal that suits both sides.

Talking points

In a move that sent shockwaves throughout Portuguese football, Jorge Costa announced his resignation from Academica. Furthermore, not only did he announce his departure from the Students, he also said he would end his managerial career for ‘personal reasons‘.

It seems awkward to say goodbye to the former Porto centre-back - someone who has been around the Portuguese top-flight block for quite a while - but only time will tell if this is will be definitive.

Another bombshell dropped on Tuesday was Jose Couceiro’s unveiling as the new Sporting general-director.

Couceiro’s career is quite unique as he has been appointed in a range of varying roles including president of the players’ union, member of the board at Alverca and manager at FC Porto and Lithuania. There are three reasons not to be enthusiastic about this move if you’re a Sporting supporter...

- Porto supporters still remember his spell at the helm of the Dragons as one of the of worst in recent history.

- There appear to be questions marks over whether the roles of Paulo Sérgio, Costinha and Couceiro are clearly defined or whether their jobs overlap. At what time will one of them get tired of the triumvirate structure?

- He had a forgettable spell at the club previously and his track record as manager is questionable at best.

On paper, this is a bad move. Whether it will work – and the Portugeezer is willing to bet it won’t – is a whole different matter…

The refreshing taste of Liga Orangina

Here’s a news flash for you all: forget about La Liga, the Premiership, Die Bundesliga or even Serie A. The most competitive league in Europe is Liga Orangina, the Portuguese second division and that is a undisputable fact!

Where else can you see the table-toppers (Feirense) and the side second-bottom (Moreirense) separated by only six points?

With that thought in mind, have a Merry Christmas and see you all next week!

Porto continue historic run while Sporting crash out of the cup

2010-12-15T15:38:00Z

Last weekend saw five matches of the Last 16 of the Portuguese Cup, while Benfica and Braga, who had seen their Last 32 match postponed, played for the right to face Olhanense in the next stage.

RESULTS Last 32 Benfica 2-0 Braga Last 16 FC Porto 4-0 Juventude Evora, Vitoria Setubal 2-1 Sporting, Rio Ave 4-1 Atlético, Vitoria Guimaraes 2-0 Torreense, Leixoes 1-1 Pinhalnovense (4-5 pens)

Hits

James Rodriguez

Porto hosted minnows Juventude de Evora and claimed a comfortable 4-0 win to advance to the quarterfinals of the competition. Manager André Villas-Boas decided it was a good time to give the Colombian ‘whizkid’ a chance to shine, and the former Banfield starlet was lively throughout the match.

The superb curling cross for his fellow countryman Radamel Falcao in the first goal may just well be the first sign that ‘El Bandido’ (or ‘The Bandit’ as he’s known) is about to steal the Porto faithful’s hearts; Rodriguez’s display pleased his manager who already declared the winger would be starting against CSKA Sofia for the Europa League.

André Villas-Boas

The Porto manager had warned against complacency prior the match, and the team responded with a professional display against the third-tier side. Retaining six of the usual suspects in the starting XI, Villas-Boas extended his impressive unbeaten streak to 24 matches, helping the club break a record previously set by none other than Jose Mourinho (The Real Madrid manager had a run of 33 matches without loss during hi spell in charge of the Dragons, but Jesualdo Ferreira’s 10 at the end of last season and Villas-Boas’s 24 this term have now topped that).

Julio Cesar

Many Portuguese newspapers hailed Saviola’s performance against Braga, but the Argentinean was anonymous for large periods of the match. On the other hand, Julio Cesar, Benfica’s Europa League goalkeeper last season, proved he’s more than a mere back-up for number one Roberto Jimenez.

The 24-year old Brazilian custodian, whose hair appears to have travelled forward through time from the 1990s, didn’t have the busiest of nights, but was up to the task every time he was required.

His amazing save minutes before the end of the crucial match summed up what manager Jorge Jesus wanted earlier this season: a goalkeeper who could win a match. But will his performance give Jesus food for thought?

Braga full-backs

Portugal coach Paulo Bento was closely monitoring the match between Braga and Benfica from the stands, and he’ll be very pleased with the development of Braga full-back Sílvio, who is maturing into a well-rounded defender.

The former Rio Ave player dealt with Gaitan and Coentrao and was not afraid to venture himself into offensive manoeuvres as well.

The Portugeezer’s tip of the hat though goes to Guilherme, the young Brazilian left-back who looks the mirror image of Rafael da Silva (or is it Fabio?). Not long ago, he was playing for Braga’s feeder club Vizela, but due to his ability to fill a variety of roles he was called back.

While Guilherme adopted a generally conservative approach – his natural position is left midfielder after all – his effort at the back and overall performance hint at a very bright future.

Manuel Fernandes

Here’s a man who has professed his love for Sporting so many times, he would marry surely them if such a thing was legal in Portugal…
Unfortunately for the Lions, he was able to keep his feelings in check and steer current club Setúbal to a famous 2-1 win against a largely full-strength Sporting side.

Ney Santos opened the scoring in the 29th minute, before Zeca doubled the lead five minutes later to mute the Lions’s roars. After the break, Setubal focused on defence and an organized performance kept Sporting at bay with the exception of Liedson’s flabbergasting goal (below). Kudos to Fernandes and Setubal, who are just two matches away from Jamor!

Pinhalnovense

For the second year in a row, this little club from the third division has managed to reach the quarterfinals of the competition, which is a huge achievement in itself. They beat Leixoes on penalties and will hope their happy-go-lucky approach helps to extend their dream just a little bit longer. The competition would welcome that for sure…

Misses

Sporting

Living up to their ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ pattern, Sporting produced a very bland performance and were outsmarted by a resilient Setubal side.

Manager Paulo Sérgio fielded his preferred starting XI in order to guarantee a win, but the loss means no end of season cup glory, and heaps more pressure on the coach.

Two questions should be answered as soon as possible: Are Postiga and Liedson good enough to start? And is a good showing in the Europa League a goal ambitious enough for the club?

Braga

Playing at Estadio da Luz is never an easy task, but Benfica have been sloppy this season and have already suffered home defeats to sides weaker than Braga. The Eagles eventually claimed a 2-0 success but it felt the success was down more to Braga’s lethargic display rather than Benfica’s free-flowing football.

One has to wonder whether Braga would have been more capable of pulling off a win at the beginning of the season…

Broken promises and 'the curious case of Quim' among Benfica's problems

2010-12-13T10:23:00Z

Before the Portuguese Cup last 16 match against Braga, Benfica manager Jorge Jesus ran the rule over the club’s dismal season. The Eagles currently trail FC Porto by eight points and had to count on Olympique Lyon coming back to hold Hapoel Tel-Aviv last Wednesday evening to ensure the completion of their shaky path to the Europa League. But even if everyone at the club says that the two cups are pretty much in there to be won, internally they should already be planning for next season.

After heavy defeats at the hands of Porto and Hapoel, it seems clear the team is already light years behind their 2009/10 vintage, and serious improvements are required in order for Benfica to reach those performance levels again.

With that in mind, here are the five biggest mistakes they have made since the back-end of last season, all of which they cannot afford to repeat:

1. Keeping unhappy players

David Luiz is not even half the player he was last season. Whether this is because he feels he has already achieved everything he possibly can at the club or because he is still sulking having not been allowed a transfer over the summer we just don‘t know. But the truth is the curly-haired Brazilian defender has been at fault many times this season and has regularly seen criticism land on his doorstep.

Given he was previously such a defensive lynchpin, such a spectacular dip in form clearly doesn’t bode well for Benfica. The only silver lining could be that Brazilian manager Mano Menezes has kept the faith in him, which may act to convince Manchester City that the defender is still worth splashing out a reported €30 million on. At the moment, that would be one helluva’ deal…

David Luiz's form this season has stunk...

2. Selling the most consistent stars

When it comes to departures from Estádio de Luz, Angel Di Maria and Ramires naturally hog the spotlight, but there was also the rather curious case of goalkeeping stalwart Quim.

The veteran had been at the club for some years and was an important figure in the locker room. Like him or loathe him, he was a part of a very reliable backline that conceded just 20 goals in the league last season and the only thing Benfica had to do was to renew his contract. Yet, they allowed it to expire and signed Roberto for €8.5 million. And we all know how well the Spaniard started the season…

3. Making promises they couldn’t keep

After all the euphoria of last season‘s successes, Benfica set their sights on even greater things this term. That included becoming back-to-back championships and producing a strong showing in the Champions League – Jesus would even say at one point that the club was a contender for the competition.

The ice started to crack though when rivals Porto – then underdogs – dominated them at Aveiro in the Super Cup. Unlike the Dragons, Benfica don’t have that knack of winning competitions for several years in a succession, and that early season loss quite possibly represented a psychological blow from which they would fail to recover.

Subsiquently, the Eagles have suffered nine losses in 22 official matches, too many for a club with such high expectations. In hindsight, promising a competitive team in the Champions League was perhaps a tad amateurish.

"I promise we won't lose 3-0 to Hapoel Tel-Aviv...honest"

4. Looking to find a scapegoat

Jesus acknowledged some mistakes while pleading for fans’ support, but he also pointed out that if the refereeing criteria was the same, the difference between the Eagles and the leaders would be smaller.

Earlier this season, the club had also requested supporters not to attend away matches due to the poor refereeing standards.

The problem with burying their heads in the sand in this way is that underlying problems won’t just go away - and when you’re exposed against an average Hapoel Tel Aviv side, you really are in no position to complain of outside factors.

5. Failing to make contingency plans

Everyone at the club was already expecting Di Maria’s departure. What they were hoping for was that industrious midfielder Ramires would stay for one more season, which ultimately proved not to be the case.

While Di Maria’s replacement, Nico Gaitán, has been a disappointment, especially considering his €8.4 million price tag, at least a replacement was recruited - Benfica did nothing to fill the void left by the departing Brazilian. In the end, due to the perceived lack of width, the club switched to a 4-4-2 diamond formation with Carlos Martins and Pablo Aimar often playing together. That itself poses another problem because the duo, while talented, are often plagued by injuries and fluctuations in form.

Now, the Eagles are left with two choices: Getting a Ramires-type player in the inflated January transfer window or risk waiting until the summer and hope there will be more money available.

Sporting hold Porto in a fiery, controversial Clasico of two halves

2010-11-30T12:24:00Z

The hype over the past week has mostly surrounded ‘El Superclasico’ between Barcelona and Real Madrid, but in Portugal there was another massive grudge-match in prospect as Sporting hosted FC Porto.

LATEST RESULTS Fri Nov 26 Vitória Setúbal 0-1 Academica Sat Nov 27 Sporting 1-1 FC Porto, Marítimo 2-0 Vitoria Guimaraes, Paços Ferreira 1-0 Olhanense Sun Nov 28 Braga 2-0 Nacional, Beira-Mar 1-3 Braga, Naval 0-1 Rio Ave, Portimonense 1-2 Uniao Leiria

Several ingredients made the build-up to Sporting's clash with Porto a rather intriguing one: for the Lions, it was an opportunity to start to rebuild their image and make amends with their supporters for their poor start to the season by beating the current leaders. For the Dragons, it was an excuse to flex their muscles and underline exactly why they’ve appeared all but invincible so far. And naturally, the match also featured the return of Joao Moutinho, who was greeted with jeers (and apples, by the way!) from the start by the self same people who had worshipped him as the club's hero and poster boy barely seven months previously.

It's a game of two halves...

Trailing the leaders by 13 points, Sporting had nothing to lose and approached the match with a positive mindset from the very beginning.

Paulo Sérgio opted for a 4-3-1-2 formation with three deep-lying midfielders – Maniche, André Santos and Pedro Mendes – giving Chilean midfielder Jaime Valdes more freedom to roam around the pitch and support striking duo Helder Postiga and Liedson.

That structure helped Sporting produce a very solid first half during which they exposed Porto’s backline and managed to quell the attacking threat of Hulk and Varela. By closing down their opponents inside their own half, the home side didn’t allow Porto time to think, and thus restricted their free-flowing football.

At that stage of the match, Fernando, Moutinho and Belluschi were being choked by Sporting’s more dynamic midfield and hence the Lions were in complete control of the match.

Still, each team had a good chance to break the deadlock. Radamel Falcao in the tenth minute missed a great opportunity with just Rui Patricio to beat, while Pedro Mendes hit a ferocious long-range effort against the woodwork 15 minutes later.

It wasn't until the 38th minute that Sporting would get in front. In a direct – if unorthodox – fashion, Rui Patricio kicked the ball from his area and as Maicon fails to deal with it, Jaime Valdes is quick to pounce and send the home fans into raptures.

The second half however would be a different affair. Porto returned from the locker room determined to fight back and Sporting’s midfield quartet quickly ran out of steam. Therefore, it wasn’t too much of a surprise when Porto leveled in the 58th minute courtesy of Falcao.

If the tide was about to turn we will never know, as Maicon was then sent-off 10 minutes later, promopting Porto to sit back and hold out for the draw, while Sporting’s impact subs couldn't live up to their name, failing to bring the desired impact to the field.

Controversies

Bottom-line, 1-1 is a fair result that pretty much reflects the balance of play, regardless of the many voices whining about the “referee’s pivotal role on the outcome of match”.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a “Classico” without a light smattering of controversy and therefore let’s just analyze the major points of contention:

Sporting’s goal: Jaime Valdes is off-side the moment Rui Patricio kicks the ball, though he doesn’t handle it after. Of course the linesman could have called offside, but why did Maicon - and the rest of the team for that matter - stop? It was a tough call and you can’t really put the blame on the man in black this time…

Maicon’s dismissal: The Brazilian defender took a lot of time to pass the ball and allowed Liedson to joust for it. Living up to his ‘The Slender One’ moniker, he made the most of the contact to get his team 21 minutes with a man advantage. However, this one should have never been a red card and it may have cost Porto the chance to fight for the three points.

Maniche’s violent behavior: It's not the first time the player has acted like a thug and either the club or the league should take matters into their own hands to prevent these kind of instances from re-occuring.

Had these three calls been ruled in favour of Porto, would the outcome of the match have been different? Perhaps, but given Sporting controlled the first half of the match and also saw a few niggly fouls against them go unpunished, neither side can really complain too strongly.

Meanwhile...

Benfica got their act together after their shocking defeat in Israel [link] and beat Beira-Mar away with two goals from the returning Oscar Cardozo. The second was a beautiful shot curled from the right, just inside the box, that gave the keeper no chance.

The Eagles managed to pull away from Guimaraes who lost to Maritimo. Manuel Machado’s men went to Madeira hoping to extend their rich vein of form, but their run was halt by the ever-tricky Islanders.

Naval woes show no sign of stopping as the Figueira da Foz outfit lost at home to Rio Ave. With only five points gathered in 12 matches, can they realistically climb their way to safety?

And last but not least, the Portugeezer has to tip his hat in the direction of Jorge Costa and his Academica side, who are enjoying a very comfortable league campaign. They claimed a win at Setubal and currently sit in fifth position, one point shy of Sporting and well above their own expectactions.

Braga keep the dream alive, while Benfica are stuck in a nightmare

2010-11-26T10:00:00Z

Benfica and Braga entered the penultimate matchday of the Champions League group stages with everything to play for. But while the Minho Warriors have managed to keep their faint hopes of advancing to the Last 16 alive, the Eagles were left ruing a gruelling night in Tel Aviv that they won’t forget anytime soon.

Braga v Arsenal

This blog has stated it before, but Braga really did overachieve last season, and in a rather cruel way are now paying the price of the fickleness of the average Portuguese football fan. That’s the main reason why the stadium was only half filled on Tuesday evening for the match against English giants Arsenal.

The odds were heavily stacked against Braga: they had only six points, trailing both Shakhtar and the Gunners by three and with the additional disadvantage of a far inferior goal difference.

Yet, the home side approached the match positively, as if they still had a good chance of going through, even though their opposition was naturally stronger. Arsenal’s line-up differed slightly from their weekend defeat to Tottenham, with Denilson replacing Alex Song, Nicklas Bendtner replacing Marouane Chamakh, while Emmanuel Eboué, Johan Djourou and Kieran Gibbs all earned recalls at the back.

Though Arsenal held the initiative for large periods, the bulk of the match was pretty uneventful with both sides struggling to craft a clearcut opportunity.
Braga coach Domingos Paciência, however, decide to gamble on forward Elton in the 81st minute and within seconds the Brazilian played in talismanic forward and compatriot Matheus, who raced towards Fabianski and applied a simple curled finish. The lethargy felt on the terraces was suddenly broken and the locals quickly found their voices.

Arsenal, perhaps a bit shocked by conceding a goal against a team who they had scored six against without reply back in September, pushed heavily for an equalizer, and were caught on the break with the last – and definitely the most beautiful - play of the match. After an Arsenal free-kick was cleared, the ball eventually fell to Matheus near the halfway line. Braga's No.99 raced towards Fabianski as fast as he could, bamboozled three Arsenal defenders and curled a left-footed shot in off the crossbar for the second goal!

Braga now possess the same points as Arsenal but need to either beat Shakhtar by four goals or hope that Arsenal somehow drop points against winless Partizan in order to qualify. Yes, it is a small miracle, but they fought for it and will travel to Donetsk in high spirits.

Hapoel v Benfica

Hero-almost turned-zero Jorge Jesus was spot-on when he said – in a deceivingly condescending fashion – that Hapoel could play a part in determining which team would advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

What he didn’t foresee was that it would be Benfica that would succumb to the Israelis. The manager and players had all the pre-match talk prepared: “This is going to be our final”, “This will be the turning point of our season” and the objective lens of maths said their qualifying hopes remained entirely in their own hands: firstly, beat an arguably weaker Hapoel side and then thwart Schalke’s hopes at home in front of 60,000 partisan supporters. Straightforward stuff.

But, like so many times before in this kind of situation, the Eagles disappointed and left the so-called Promised Land with an embarrassing 3-0 mauling, the wounds from which will take some time to heal.

Benfica started the match on the front foot knowing a faster tempo and high pressure would give them an edge. However, their plans were quickly undone as Zahavi gave Hapoel the lead in the 24th minute when he headed home from a free-kick.

Hapoel weathered a storm early in the second half, where only sheer lack of inspiration and a disjointed team prevented Benfica from scoring more than once. They say lightning never strikes twice, but that proved to be false, perhaps unsurprisingly, as the home side – happy to sit back for most of the match - gained a rare corner kick, resulting in their second goal 15 minutes from time. How telling is it that a team that failed to make anything of 21 corners ended up conceding from a corner to a team that only had two?

With their hopes of a win dashed – bar a miracle – Benfica players lowered their guard and concentration levels, and Hapoel took advantage to pile more misery on Jesus’s team.

The unthinkable happened and Benfica left Israel wondering how on Earth they lost a match in which they had showed more quality, created more opportunities and enjoyed more possession. The Eagles are still favourites to land the Europa League spot, but they shouldn’t be careless against Schalke 04….just in case.

Jesus has already had to ride out the turbulance that followed the 5-0 hammering at the hands of mortal enemies Porto; can he somehow rebound from this humiliating result? What with the season of good will upon us, perhaps he will be granted one last reprieve...

Thumping win over neighbours overshadows Portugal's joint World Cup bid

2010-11-19T11:39:00Z

It was supposed to be a friendly match to promote the joint bid to the 2018-2022 World Cup, but after the referee signalled the end of the match, all that mattered was how Portugal outclassed their neighbours.

With a superb team display, Portugal registered an unlikely 4-0 win over Spain. And even if it was just a friendly, it showed the Portuguese team is back among the elite.

National manager Paulo Bento had warned he wanted to beat the star-studded European and World Champions, but few probably believed Portugal would take this match so seriously.

Bento said he was trying to build a platform for the future and therefore opted to stick with more or less the same players selected in the previous squad. The return of Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa from a long injury lay-off was the most significant news but both Silvestre Varela and Fábio Coentrão were ruled out due to injury.

The match

It is amazing how much the Selecção has changed since last summer. At the time, the Portugeezer was one of the national team’s harshest critics, as the players seemed to lack passion and any real game plan.

The special chemistry that so often bonds the supporters to the national side – somehow superseding the fanatical club bias – had been broken, and it was feared we could once again fade into the second tier of international football.

Just two matches into the Euro 2012 qualification, the knee-jerking pessimists declared our chances of making it to Poland and Ukraine were all but dead, and President of the Portuguese FA Gilberto Madail made a desperate trip to Madrid to convince God himself (aka José Mourinho) to save the team. In the end, Paulo Bento was brought in and in his quiet, hard-working style he turned around the team’s fortunes as if by magic.

Bento, as a former holding midfielder who once captained Spanish side Oviedo, knew exactly where changes needed to be made, and promptly set about revamping the midfield. He moved Pepe back to the heart of the defence –allowing us to benefit from his developing partnership at club level with Ricardo Carvalho – and brought João Moutinho back in to the starting XI.

Moutinho’s box-to-box style and energy allowed Raul Meireles to play a little deeper and the more advance duties were delegated to sharpshooter Carlos Martins.

The attack was also superb, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani bamboozling the Spanish defenders; as for Helder Postiga, at least for one night he was back to his best. The Sporting forward scored two goals, including a back heel which displayed pure predatory instinct after a slightly mistimed pass from Moutinho.

It is also interesting to read ‘underneath the underneath’. Ever since Queiroz was sacked, someone hints that something was wrong and holding the team back.

Several players have said that under Paulo Bento, they’re happier and enjoying their football, with the improved results a byproduct of this improved mindset.

Regardless of how good Bento is – and he’s showing that he certainly is – it is impossible to make a full assessment of his work with a sample of just three matches, which makes you wonder what the players really thought about the previous manager.

The actual World Cup bid

As stated in the introductory paragraph, this was a match intended to promote the Iberian bid to the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. According to the latest reports, England, Russia and Portugal-Spain are the front runners to host what is perhaps the biggest sporting event on Earth, which immediately prompt two questions:

Would hosting the World Cup be actually good for Portugal?

Portugal hosted Euro 2004 to great success. All bias aside, the atmosphere created around the tournament was special and proved this tiny country could organize some rather big events. The biggest point of contention was what to do with the stadiums after the tournament as most clubs would never be able to profit from the expanded facilities.

This time, however, things would be different. Portugal would only “lend” three stadiums – naturally, from Benfica, Porto and Sporting - which are relatively new and only requiring minor upgrades.

Therefore, it would be a chance to co-host the World Cup with minimal risk and major potential gains. Some may argue Spain will be the focus of the tournament, but in all fairness Spain is bigger and La Liga teams can actually cope with the bigger stadiums. Furthermore, Badajoz, Vigo, Sevilla and Coruna are all located near Portugal which would boost the local tourist industry.

And for those wondering, there would be no problem in hosting with Spain. Despite the rivalry on the field, we get along quite well with nuestros hermanos.

Can we actually win it?

From an organisational point of view, the Iberian bid seems quite prepared to handle whatever is required. From a geographical point of view, it is also well located. The weather is great and most host cities have a lively nightlife.

However, in the past FIFA recommended that the load of a joint bid should be more or less equally divided between the two hopeful nations. Looking at it, it is obviously unbalance, with Portugal only 3 stadiums and Spain with 18.

But hey, let’s wait for December 2 and see how this three-way tango goes! What do you think? Fish n’ chips, sunny beaches or matrioskas?

Hits & Misses: Heroic Hulk, bobbins Benfica and middling Maniche

2010-11-17T10:43:00Z

We’re already into the 11th round of the Portuguese League, and it seems a good time to stop for a moment and acknowledge the highs and lows of the league so far. Who has been a revelation? Who is still stuttering? Who has been an utter disappointment? Read on... (Please!)

HITS

Andre Villas-Boas
The 33-year-old manager arrived at Porto under a multitude of question marks. After all, his stint at Academica wasn’t enough to show he had the potential to take on the mantle from his former mentor – one Jose Mourinho.

Yet Villas-Boas is still undefeated this season and the free-flowing football practised by his team has earned him rave reviews. Where can he go? At the moment, everything seems possible. Europa League, Portuguese League and Portuguese Cup – what a breakthrough season would that be.

Hulk
Porto's explosive Brazilian forward was unable to further hone his skills last season due to the infamous suspension that left him out in the cold for a large chunk of the campaign. Perhaps fuelled by the chance to claim poetic justice, Hulk – just like his Marvel namesake – turned incredible and his performances have dazzled everyone (mostly opponents).

Last season, the Portugeezer predicted Hulk could become big if he toned down his showboating instincts and improved his work rate. Well, he’s doing just that, and Europe’s big guns are alert to his impressive 11-goal haul in the league. One thing is certain: if he leaves, he’s going to cost a lot of money.

Guimaraes
Portugal’s fourth club in terms of following and attendances, Vitoria de Guimaraes have seen neighbours Braga take the spotlight in recent years. This season under Manuel Machado, however, Guimaraes are performing well above expectations, currently sitting in second alongside Benfica.

They also managed to seal what was arguably one of the deals of the summer, selling Bebe to Manchester United for a princely sum just weeks after paying a pauper’s wage to sign him from Estrela da Amadora.
Joao Ribeiro and Tiago Targino are two players worth following.

Beira-Mar
One of the two promoted sides, the historical club from Aveiro have been playing well and currently lie in the top half of the table, seven points away from the dreaded relegation zone.

They already claimed a famous win at Braga and young manager Leonardo Jardim has been raising an eyebrow among his peers with the good results. Think of them as you’d think of Blackpool in the English Premier League: a happy-go-lucky team that overcomes a lack of talent and financial clout with a never-say-die attitude.

MISSES

Benfica
Reigning champions Benfica have failed to cope with increasing expectations and the departures of Ramires and Angel di Maria. Jorge Jesus, whose judgement was once unquestionable, is now starting to cut a fragile figure unable to steer his team forward.

The early warning signs at the Supercup would be later confirmed, as the team has struggled to get a result away from home and got a nasty reality check last week when they were handed an old-fashioned 5-0 spanking by Porto. Lagging 10 points behind the leaders, the Eagles had better focus now on the Champions League and the Portuguese cups if they want to look back at this season in a positive fashion.

Sporting
The Lions were looking to bounce back from a dismal season that saw them finish 28 points behind Benfica. Manager Costinha and chairman Jose Eduardo Bettencourt promoted a small revolution in the squad – which included the shocking sale of captain Joao Moutinho – in the hope it would lead to better results, but the truth is they look a second-rate side, years away from past glorious Sporting sides.

Next round Sporting will host Porto, and it will be interesting to see how they’ll cope with the Dragons. Their defence is anything but watertight and they lack firepower upfront. Will they ever learn from their mistakes?

Low attendances
This edition of the Portuguese League has seen the worst average attendance of the last four seasons, with a mere 10,545 people per match. Last year’s average attendance at this stage was 12,200. If the league wants to move forward, it needs to address this nagging problem that has been holding back Portuguese football. Seriously, you don’t need John Legend’s Wake Up Everybody to know it’s time. Am I right? [Yes? – Ed]

QUESTION MARKS

Not everyone can be labelled as a top or a flop at this point. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for some, the jury is still out...

Maniche
The former Benfica and Porto player arrived at Sporting to replace Joao Moutinho and, on paper, he seemed a shrewd piece of business. Cheap, much-travelled and with bags of Champions League experience, the prospect of watching him marshalling the midfield alongside Pedro Mendes was interesting.

The only flaw in that masterplan was that Maniche peaked five years ago. His all-round game has waned. Not only that, but he is still prone to silly mistakes, such as the dismissal against Guimaraes that ultimately caused his team’s collapse. He is still capable of exerting his influence on the team, but he needs to step up and show he can lead the team.

Nico Gaitan
For a guy who arrived at Benfica with a hefty €8.4m price tag, Nico Gaitan is a flop. People expected him to replace crowd favourite Di Maria overnight, apparently forgetting it took two years before the now Real Madrid player started showing what he was capable of.

The other problem for Gaitan is that he’s more of a trequartista than a winger; playing on the wing has undermined his development. Still, he scored two goals in the last match against Naval and showed glimpses of talent.

Will he be given time, and a proper role in the starting XI, to flourish? Only time will tell, but Benfica supporters will have to wait if they want to see something from him...

Braga
It may be a bit unfair to label Braga’s current campaign as a question mark. After all, they already boast the Herculean feat of reaching the group stages of the Champions League after knocking out Celtic and Sevilla. They managed to improve the squad with smart moves in the market, too: Lima, Luis Aguiar and Felipe to name but three.

But Braga already trail rivals Benfica and Guimaraes by seven points, something that last season would be unthinkable. Are we expecting too much for a team not used to dealing with continental and domestic duties? Maybe, but that’s only because they’ve shown us many times that they can upset the odds.

The Gods Must Be Crazy: A wacky week in Portugal

2010-11-11T11:21:00Z

Round 10 Results: Fri Nov 5 Vitória Setúbal 3-3 Rio Ave Sat 6 Nov Portimonense 2-2 Académica, Paços Ferreira 0-1 Nacional Sun 7 Nov FC Porto 5-0 Benfica, Braga 2-3 Beira-Mar, Naval 1-1 Olhanense, Marítimo 1-1 Leiria Mon 8 Nov Sporting 2-3 Vitória Guimarães

There's so much to talk about this goal-ridden round that a single post is hardly enough to describe the earthquake that shook the foundations of Portuguese football.

Understandably, all eyes were on the Porto v Benfica match that could have serious repercussions in the title race – and the Clássico lived up to its billing. With a mesmerising performance that probably alerted half Europe, Porto hammered the Eagles 5-0 and cleared any lingering doubt about which team is currently the best in the country. Such is the gulf between the Dragons and the chasing pack, that it seems we have two leagues within Liga Zon Sagres.

In hindsight, nobody would have predicted this at the beginning of the season. After all, Benfica kept their manager and invested - 'wasted' may be a more accurate verb - buckets of money to improve the team while Porto hired an unknown guy named André Villas-Boas in an apparent knee-jerk reaction. How come things have changed so much in such a short span of time?

Bad choices, bad omen
Now, about the match. If there was a moment Jorge Jesus’s ability was questioned, it was this past Sunday as the Benfica manager made two tactical changes that are quite hard to accept.

Firstly, he opted to selected Salvio instead of Saviola in the starting XI. The Atletico Madrid loanee has barely lit up the League while ‘El Conejo’ has been an ever-present figure for the Eagles since he arrived from Real Madrid last year. Why change, and why now?

More stunning though was the decision to play David Luiz as makeshift left-back instead of the impressive and already proven Fábio Coentrão. By doing that, he brought back Sidnei – who only played 259 minutes in the league last season and is far from match fitness - to the heart of the defence and moved Coentrão to a more advanced role.

The result? Sidnei looked sluggish, Coentrão was ineffective and David Luiz was consistently tormented by Hulk. It was reckless to make such drastic changes in a vital match and the decision backfired badly as every single goal from the right side - Benfica’s left.

Even if Coentrão was back at his best position in the second half, the damage was already done and Hulk was on fire. The Brazilian forward scored two goals and made one assist, carrying on his rich vein of form that is bound to attract the big guns sooner rather than later.

As predicted in the previous post, Benfica struggled to feed front duo Alan Kardec and Salvio and only managed three shots on target – pathetic for a team that not long ago wanted to be a serious player in the Champions League.

“You know, just do your thing…”
There were other surprising results this round as Braga were shocked by Beira-Mar at home and Sporting showed once again why the Portugeezer continues to dismiss them as genuine contenders.

The Lions entertained Vitória Guimarães at home and they seemed set for a comfortable 2-0 win until the 70th minute when Maniche was sent off for kicking an opponent. Supersub Tiago Targino came from the bench to lift the away team and scored two goals in two minutes before Bruno Teles completed an incredible comeback in the 90th minute.

Talking points
Porto are at the top of the world. They are unbeatable, enjoying their football and it will be really interesting to see which team will be able to defeat them. They can afford to tinker: they hold a 10-point lead in the league and are already through to the Round of 32 in the Europa League.

André Villas-Boas and Hulk, in particular, are now the target of foreign media eager to know more about this unstoppable duo. The way his team outclassed Benfica, Villas-Boas looks more and more a very capable manager, even if drawing any comparison to Mourinho at this stage is premature. Hulk once again overwhelmed his opposition with his raw power and trickery. The Brazilian has toned down his lapses and selfishness this season and has become a more consistent player. Great for Porto!

Even a revered figure like Sir Alex Ferguson would be a target if he was destroyed by, say, Arsenal the way Benfica were by Porto. Jesus’s cockiness certainly came back to haunt him; suddenly, reports emerge that the atmosphere in the locker room was far from ideal and that people within the board are not exactly in awe with Jesus anymore. Considering the psychological toll of this heavy loss, can Jesus last till Christmas?

Is there a silver lining for Paulo Sérgio? Yes, it can be argued that the outcome would have been different if Maniche thought before he acted the way he did, but Sporting only have themselves to blame. They have a second-tier mentality and lack spark.

The Sporting speech remains the same: President Bettencourt says the manager is untouchable (though we all remember the catchy ‘Paulo Bento forever’ expression and what happened afterwards...) and that they will keep on fighting. Sometimes though, one has to wonder if they have any ambitions: do they want to win silverware right now or are they planning long-term? Do they still want to nurture young talent from the Academy or are they looking to get more experienced players? Regardless of that, 14 points in 10 match is just not good enough…

Can Guimarães become this season’s Braga? Manuel Machado has assembled a solid group of players and they have been playing good football. Interestingly, they beat both Benfica and Sporting and held Porto to a draw. They are now in second place with 18 points and will play against the Minho Warriors next round in what is expected to be a fierce derby.

Porto and Benfica prepare for November title decider

2010-11-05T12:46:00Z

The omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent former coach of Porto Jose Mourinho called the match ‘title decider’. Current manager Andre Villas-Boas nixed the idea. Pundits argue both ways, as pundits invariably do. So, let’s clarify one thing: can the match between FC Porto and Benfica at Estadio do Dragao on Sunday decide the title? Yes. Definitely.

The Dragons have enjoyed an almost flawless campaign and sit top of the table with a comfortable seven-point lead over the Eagles. Braga, despite their good season, are finding it hard to cope with their domestic and continental duties, while Sporting are being their usual ‘We’ll fight until maths defeats us’ selves. The only team with a real shot – however faint – at preventing Porto from winning the title this season is Benfica.

Away success would cut the gap to just four points and reopen the title race. A home victory would see 10 points separating the two sides. It would be foolish to think a seasoned team like Porto would throw that away, right?

Odds don’t favour the Eagles. First of all, they usually endure a tough time when visiting their arch-rivals.

Secondly, back in August when Benfica’s hype machine was firing on all cylinders, the Portugeezer witnessed a team being completely torn apart in the Portuguese Superleague; Porto not only gave them a free football lesson but also gained a psychological edge early in the season.

Additionally, Benfica have experienced troubles beating even small teams away. People may talk about how Benfica almost battered Lyon, but they forget that in France, they actually didn’t fire a single shot on target. Truth is, if Benfica’s key men are put on a leash, strikers Alan Kardec and Javier Saviola will be busy trying to find a way out of the deep pockets of Porto defenders Rolando and Maicon (not that one).

There are three potential battles worth following that may prove crucial in tilting the scales one way or another...

Hulk v Fábio Coentrao

The Brazilian forward has been, well, incredible (pun very much intended) this season and already claimed the Player of the Month award in September and October. He’s bagged eight goals in the league and looks menacing every time he touches the ball.

But if there is an opponent in Portugal capable of stopping Hulk it is the mercurial Coentrao, who has been Benfica’s main man so far. Coach Jorge Jesus may play Coentrao as either a full-back or a midfielder, but no doubt he’ll be on Hulk’s toes throughout the match.

Varela v Maxi Pereira

If Hulk was the only source of headaches for Jesus’ pupils, Benfica could come up with a plan to frustrate him via double teaming or rougher physical play. Things get worse, though, when both Porto wingers can be equally lethal.

After missing out on the World Cup through injury, Varela has regained the form that catapulted him into the national team in the first place, and at Aveiro he tormented Benfica’s defence. Maxi, while not a top-notch defender, has tremendous work rate and heart, and cannot afford to let his guard down for a second if he wants to keep the Eagles in the game.

Moutinho-Fernando v Garcia-Martins

Joao Moutinho, as expected, has been a revelation this year. The pint-sized midfielder works his socks off like a tireless, unselfish little ant and his understanding with Fernando is very good. The Dragons’ midfield has been working well and that is because it is able to function as both a first line of defence and a catalyst to their firepower.

Javi Garcia and Carlos Martins will play an important role in dictating play and countering Porto. The Spaniard, if nothing else, has the build to overpower Moutinho, and Martins, who recorded a full house of all four assists against Lyon, will hope he can link up with the attack in a similar fashion here.

After all, with no wingers at their disposal, Benfica will need their playmakers (presumably Martins and Aimar) to be at their creative best.

One to watch: Alan Kardec

Paraguayan hitman Oscar Cardozo has been sidelined with a knee injury and despite a large number of forwards in the team, Kardec is the only one who looks to have genuine quality to actually score. The young forward was on target against Lyon and he’ll be his team’s main reference upfront, but it may still be too early to expect a ‘Man of the Match’ performance from him.

The Portugeezer’s prediction: Porto 2-0 Benfica

Few would bet against Porto at this point. They have been playing so well and with so much confidence that it is hard to see anyone beating them.

If Benfica want to get something away from this match, they’ll need to be at their best and that means better than they were at Lyon. Roberto cannot flop like he did and the backline has to remain watertight and the midfield aggressive – otherwise they could be in for a very long night.

Expect Benfica to struggle to feed Saviola and Kardec before eventually succumbing to Porto’s offensive weapons.

Likely line-ups:

PORTO Hélton; Sapunaru, Maicon, Rolando, Álvaro Pereira; Fernando, Moutinho, Belluschi; Varela, Hulk, Falcão

BENFICA Roberto; Maxi Pereira, Luisao, David Luiz, Coentrão; Javi Garcia, Aimar, Carlos Martins, César Peixoto; Saviola, Kardec.

Aimar turns back the clock as Liverpool eye another bad move

2010-11-02T10:18:00Z

The past two weeks have been especially unusual in the strange world of Portuguese football, and four stories in particular have caught the Portugeezer’s attention.

1. An infamous hot-head is one step closer to management

Former Portuguese international Ricardo Sá Pinto seems hell bent on prolonging his career in football, despite his disastrous spell as Sporting’s sporting director. Known for his short temper, it will be interesting to see how long he’ll able to withstand playing second fiddle to the relative unknown Pedro Caixinha, for whom he'll be acting as assistant manager at União Leiria.

For those less familiar with Pinto’s public displays of err…affection, let’s just say he’s famous for his assault on then-Portugal manager Artur Jorge and more recently for his physical confrontation with Liédson that ultimately signalled his departure from the Lions.

Sá Pinto is given his third yellow card of the evening...

Here’s a not-so-bold prediction: Caixinha, already struggling to deliver, will sooner or later get the dreaded axe, at which point Ricardo the Lion Heart will most likely step into the void - and that’s when things could get really interesting…

2. Liverpool could be ripped off by a Portuguese club again

Seriously, it’s not like the Portugeezer has a beef with Liverpool. But after overpaying for Raul Meireles, they’re now apparently ready to break the bank for the Paraguayan forward Cardozo.

If these rumours contain a single iota of truth - and that is a big ‘if‘, granted - then it is official: Liverpool are the most ill-managed club in the world. No doubt Cardozo was pivotal in Benfica’s successful bid to the title last season, but the formation employed and the supporting cast helped him a lot. €25 million would be a lot to pay for a player still yet to convince his current club’s fans of his own ability.

"Up yours, Portugeezer - surely I'm better than N'gog..."

At 27, he would struggle with the language, the pace and physical nature of the English game (heck, he’s even dead slow for the Portuguese league) and the insurmountable pressure of having to share the goalscoring burden with some guy named Fernando Torres. Not that Benfica wouldn’t mind ripping Liverpool off, but even snake-oil salesmen would be amazed at such improbable deal.

3. The grass is greener on the other side for Sporting

For Sporting chairman José Eduardo Bettencourt the grass is definitely greener on the other side, because according to the 50-year-old, the pitch at Estádio Alvalade XXI is holding back the team.

Dazed and confused? Well, in an unorthodox move - at least for a team in Southern Europe - Bettencourt said that next year the club would replace the current playing surface with an artificial one, simply because the club has found it difficult to create perfect playing conditions, having had to replace the pitch six(!) times.

Could Sporting be about to go plastic fantastic?

That’s fair assessment and it would actually be very interesting to see the economic impact of such decision, because it is well-known that artificial pitches have lower maintenance costs and allow the owner to use them for just about every day of the year if he intends to. And while strange, it’s not like Sporting would be the first club at top level to play in an artificial pitch, with Young Boys and Spartak Moscow being two prime examples of clubs whose stadiums possess a FIFA-approved state-of-the-art artificial turf.

But that can’t cover the fact that Bettencourt is only touting the notion as an excuse to justify sub-par results. If Sporting were to go ahead with the scheme, it would come as no surprise to hear the very same man complain that away pitches were too different to the one his players are used to, following a defeat on the road for the Lisbon side.

4. Aimar turns back the clock, while Varela defies logic

Unlike the English or the Spanish League, it’s not every weekend fans in Portugal witness jaw-dropping goals that make the admission fees seem worthwhile. But it just so happens that this past weekend witnessed two of those moments.

As Benfica entertained Paços de Ferreira at home, Pablo Aimar decided it was probably about time to remind people why he was once regarded as one of the most gifted playmakers in the world.

The Argentinean – whose undoubted technical finesse still manages to hide his visible physical limitations – made a run from inside his team’s own half, dribbled past two opponents before unleashing a powerful, well-placed shot that lifted the entire stadium. An absolutely gorgeous goal that paved way for the 2:0 victory.

Benfica 1-0 Paços de Ferreira

Simão | Myspace Video

The other amazing moment occurred in the match between Académica and Porto. The soaked pitch and the intense rain throughout the match made it difficult for both teams to play football, and only an individual effort would realistically break the deadlock.

That was exactly what happened in the 43rd minute when Silvestre Varela turned around and hit a right-footed volley with aplomb from an seemingly harmless ball

Academica 0-1 FC Porto

Simão | Myspace Video

A great effort that ultimately decided the match.

How Porto stung Liverpool

2010-10-29T09:36:00Z

It’s a well-known fact that football is a fast-paced environment and that things can change overnight. For instance, nobody expected someone as professional as Wayne Rooney to pull a ‘Judas’ and drop a bombshell about leaving – even if that ended up being nothing more than a cheap move to get leverage for an improved contract.

Likewise, if we compare the current and the past editions of the Portuguese League, we see two different dynamics. Last year, Jorge Jesus arrived at Benfica and turned around the club's fortunes in style; it was a joy to watch the Eagles' gung-ho style overwhelm opponents. Stadiums – both home and away - were filled, the starting XI looked like Champions League veterans and a new ‘golden era’ seemed to be on the horizon.

After years in oblivion, Benfica finally found a winning formula and they should have kept it. But like a teenager who wants new shoes just for the sake of it, Benfica went on a summer shopping spree when all they had to do was make a handful of key acquisitions to increase depth, balance the books and keep the momentum of last season.

All the glitter and razzmatazz about the impressive Benfica 2009-10 faded away and the Eagles today are a rather bland side. They win at home and struggle away, and that’s not what you want from a true contender.

Porto, on the other hand, suffered a few bumps along the way that disrupted their 2009-10 campaign. They lost Hulk to suspension and would also lose a few important players to injuries while then-manager Jesualdo Ferreira’s influence on the team was already waning.

For a side used to winning, last season was subpar and something needed to change. The Dragons surprised many by gambling on a young manager – the untested André Villas-Boas – but kept the faith with their squad, signing only players that could actually make a difference (with perhaps the exception of Sereno…). Are they much different than last year? No, they're almost the same side, just with much more hunger plus João Moutinho and increased depth.

Every bit of the João Moutinho-Raul Meireles deals was a stroke of genius. Meireles had enjoyed a lacklustre campaign and at 27 he was about to reach his potential. Sensing a good deal, the Dragons signed Moutinho – three years younger and more versatile – for €11m just before dispatching Meireles to Merseyside for €14m.

Moutinho & Meireles: "Look at the size of that comedy cheque!"

Yes, Liverpool supporters may want to think of Meireles as the second coming of Xabi Alonso, but the truth is nobody at Porto cares about him anymore – because Moutinho is simply better. And the cherry on top was the fact that it weakened rivals Sporting and signalled a clear gulf in ambition between both clubs.

The front trio – Silvestre Varela, Hulk and Falcao – have been unplayable and are as lethal as a golf club in the back of the head. They've provided 16 of Porto's 19 league goals and last weekend they all scored as the team cruised 5-1 past Leiria. Hulk’s first goal is a work of art definitely worth appreciating.

One question hovers in the air: Is there a team capable of beating this Porto side? It may be too early to tell, with only eight of the 30 matches played, but domestically the Portugeezer says ‘highly unlikely’. (Out of interest, they're also top of their Europa League group, with three wins from three.)

With minor adjustments, Porto have drastically improved and both Benfica and Braga are definitely not as strong as last season. As for Sporting, well, they started rather slow and lack firepower now that talismanic striker Liédson is in the twilight of his career.

The only match that could prove a decider is the one between Porto and Benfica in two weeks. If Benfica somehow vanquish the Dragons – and you don’t want to bet on that – that could stun the leaders. Should the Dragons shoot down the Eagles, then please tell somebody to order the 2010/2011 Championship medals.

The current Dragons have many shades of the Porto side that won the UEFA Cup back in 2003. Then, a certain special young manager rejuvenated Porto by winning a championship with relative ease and by claiming silverware in Europe.

The main difference between those teams seems to lie on the backline. Porto’s current defence is yet to be truly tested, and only when that happens we will see whether the sky is really the limit for them.

For now, let’s just say Porto have yet to be defeated this season and that André Villas-Boas has claimed 14 wins in 15 official matches (the other match being the 1-1 draw at Guimarães). Not bad, right?

To be reviewed in two weeks…

Braga achieve first victory ever among the elite

2010-10-22T15:27:00Z

It was the third day of the group stages and, apart from Benfica’s slump at Lyon, it was a positive one for Portuguese football. Braga kept their dream of alive by claiming their first victory in the Champions League, while Sporting and Porto continued their relentless march towards the second phase of the Europa League with empathic wins that give them plenty of reasons to smile.

Champions League

Braga played on Tuesday against FK Partizan knowing that anything less than a victory would leave them in a bad position to extend their European journey. Manager Domingos Paciência was serious about turning the tide after two heavy losses against Shakhtar and Arsenal and he named four attacking-minded players - Alan, Paulo César, Matheus and Lima - in the starting XI.

The first 30 minutes were played at the pace of a turtle without a single chance for either side; whether it was inexperience at this level, fear of getting dumped or a little bit of both, the fact was anybody watching the match could label the experience about as entertaining as watching paint dry. That is until the 34th minute, when Lima decided to curl an amazing free-kick around the 30-metre mark

Sp. Braga 1-0 Partizan

Simão | Myspace Video

A goal that will go down in history as Braga's first ever in the top European competition and a goal that managed to galvanise the then-lethargic crowd at Estádio AXA.

Partizan then tried to move forward and dictate play but were unable to do so and barely created actual goalscoring chances. The match remained uneventful in the second half but Braga would score another goal just before the final whistle, when a quick counter-attack saw Alan set up Luis Aguiar who, in a good position, assisted Matheus for the easy tap-in.

Despite a lacklustre performance, Braga secured a 2-0 victory to keep their dream of qualifying for the second round alive. Even if working that out requires some complex math operations!

Benfica manager Jorge Jesus learnt a lesson this past Wednesday: if you’re going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk. Before the match against Lyon, Jesus attempted to play some unorthodox mind games by declaring few teams in the world played like Benfica. Well, after the referee signalled the end of the match, he must have felt lucky to get out of Stade de Gerland with just a 2-0 loss. The Eagles showed no heart, no commitment and no creativity whatsoever as Lyon were in full control for the 90 minutes, and their victory was completely deserved.

It could be argued that Nico Gaitán’s pathetic sending-off was a key moment in the match, but Benfica were already finding it difficult to pose real problems for the French backline. Again, and the Portugeezer will repeat this time and time again, the Eagles possesses no width and their forwards are paying the price. The only positive note for them was Roberto’s performance; the Spanish custodian seems to be more confident and made a string of good saves to prevent a worse result.

Still, with only 3 points, the harsh reality is Benfica need to get a win against Schalke – likely to be their direct contenders – and at least a draw against Lyon. The way they’ve been playing this season, can you actually count on that?

Europa League

Porto travelled to Instanbul to play against Besiktas, arguably their toughest opposition in the group despite missing star duo Ricardo Quaresma and Guti. Bernd Schuster was candid before the match, admitting Porto were a very powerful team, and the Dragons showed why they are a much-respected team in Europe.

Colombian striker Radamel Falcao broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when he towered above a defender to score a header from a corner. The Dragons were in complete control of the match and even had a goal strangely disallowed 10 minutes later. But when Maicon was sent off before the break, it looked like the second half could be a long one for André Villas-Boas’ men. It was a situation akin to the one Benfica faced at Lyon, but the way Porto handled it showed why they are a different team. After sustaining 15 minutes of pressure, the Dragons hit the Turks on the break when Álvaro Pereira found Hulk with a long pass and the in-form forward - with just two touches - put the ball past the hapless goalkeeper.

In the 77th minute, Porto would get their third goal in another display of ruthlessness. After a pass from Belluschi, Hulk outrun his markers, dribbled the last man and put the ball in the top right corner. Beautiful and yet simple.

Besiktas 0-3 FC Porto - Hulk

Humberto | Myspace Video.

Besiktas would still grab a late goal, but in the end Porto showed they truly belong to the first division of continental football.

Sporting hosted Belgian side KAA Gent and, after having a tough time beating Estoril in the Portuguese Cup, the Lions turned to their European alter ego that so far has ensured eye-catching performances. Paulo Sérgio’s men were in complete control of the match and on another day, they could have added more gloss to an already impressive scoreline that will lift their spirit for domestic affairs. 5-1 was the final result with goals from Diogo Salomão, Liédson (2), Maniche and Postiga.

Both Sporting and Porto now possess nine points and getting through the next round is looking like a mere formality.

Portugal’s campaign back on track

2010-10-15T09:00:00Z

There’s hardly a better way to describe football than that chosen by former Vitória Guimarães president Pimenta Machado; “What today is deemed as truth, tomorrow will be hold as a lie”.

Having claimed just a single point in their first two Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Cyprus and Norway, Portugal’s mainstream media despaired and went as far as dismissing the national team’s chances of qualifying altogether.

Kneejerk reactions also extended to federation supremo Gilberto Madaíl, who went to Madrid for the ‘Hail Mary pass’. Mourinho was not available though, and it was Paulo Bento who emerged as the knight in shining armour that would lift the spirits of a pessimistic footballing nation.

And after defeating Denmark and Iceland with back-to-back 3-1 successes, Portugal currently sit in second place with seven points in their group - a good position to push on for an automatic qualifying spot.

The main question that should be posed here is ‘What changed?’. Well, it was certainly more than just the manager.

The national team seemed a different side with more heart and team spirit than before. They took the game by the scruff of the neck in a way not seen of a Portugal side in a good few years, and were able to reap the benefits of this approach.

Contrary to the pre-match predictions, Bento named Joao Moutinho in the starting XI against Denmark, and he must be proud of that decision. The pint-sized midfielder, who has been a revelation at FC Porto, never stopped running and marshalled the midfield like an experienced campaigner.

Paulo Bento also moved Pepe back into the defence, something Queiroz for some reason had refused to do. Not only is the Real Madrid player more comfortable at centre-back, but the team will also benefit from his newly-forged partnership with Ricardo Carvalho at club level.

Raul Meireles played deeper as a holding midfielder and he was one of the more impressive performers in both matches, scoring a goal against Iceland and combining well with Moutinho.

The other element in the revamped engine room, Carlos Martins, didn’t quite play at the level he has been playing to with Benfica of late, but the fact he started both matches will boost his confidence and further improve his relationship with Bento.

Against Denmark, the Selecção started anxiously, presumably at least partly because of the immense pressure. That is why the ever-unfazed Danes were gladly countering Portugal’s offensive soirees.

The match really came to life in the 29th minute, when Nani scored after a low cross from Cristiano Ronaldo. The home crowd at Estádio do Dragão barely had time to celebrate as one minute later the Manchester United winger intercepted a pass and unleashed a powerful strike that Thomas Sorensen was unable to stop.

With a 2-0 lead, the Selecção was able to break from the strap jacket and started creating goalscoring opportunities for fun. Squandering many clear-cut chances, Denmark would get a lifeline 10 minutes from time when Ricardo Carvalho put the ball into his own net from a corner.

The Scandinavians sent a chill down Portuguese spines as Poulsen’s goal was ruled out – correctly it must be said - for offside, but man-of-the-match Nani would superbly assist Ronaldo in the 85th minute for the team’s third goal to seal the win after a solid team performance.

Buoyed by the home success against Denmark, Portugal went to Reykjavik confident on a good result and they could hardly have wished for a better start. Just three minutes into the match, Carlos Martins was fouled and from the subsequent free-kick Ronaldo hit his trademark Tomahawk to give the Portuguese an early lead. The Icelanders however make up for their lack of technical brilliance with sheer resilience, and levelled when Eduardo botched a save from Heidar Helguson’s tame header.

Raul Meireles hit a must-see screamer from 30 yards in the 27th minute and from that moment on it never seemed that victory would slip away from Portugal’s hands. Hélder Postiga would put an end to any lingering doubt regarding the result when he pounced after a goalkeeping error, but in all honesty, this match was a snoozefest for large periods.

In the end, Portugal got maximum points from two vital matches, but this isn‘t time to get carried away - this wouldn’t be the first time a new manager has taken over, overseen a temporary upsurge in fortunes before seeing his team gradually hit the skids again.

But while there are still questions that need to be answered, especially regarding the long-term sustainability of the squad, Bento seems to be on the right track. Only time will tell if he’ll be a successful manager but for now there are two things the Portugeezer particularly likes in him: he’s not afraid to bring young players and he seems to have the respect of his players.

Will that be enough?

Portugal in bullish mood to take on Vikings

2010-10-08T14:30:00Z

The time has come - the Paulo Bento era starts tonight as Portugal host Denmark in a match where the three points are utterly essential to the hosts' chances of booking a ticket to Eastern Europe in the summer of 2012.

It must be said that the feeling here is one of optimism and the lacklustre performance at South Africa is today nothing but a bittersweet memory.

The whole country seems to be rallying round Bento, and the conditions are perfect to get the only result that matters. Preferably, with the cherry of ‘free-flowing football’ on top.

The call-up

In his first squad, Paulo Bento didn’t make too many changes. Yet there are still a few highlights.

After years of possessing top right-backs, it is ironically the left side that currently boasts the most quality. Therefore, the inclusion of João Pereira isn’t much of a surprise. The former Braga full-back still has to prove he can cut it at top level, but there’s hardly a better option at present.

More interesting is the return of Carlos Martins to the Selecção. The Benfica playmaker is enjoying the best period of his career and seems to be finally fulfilling the potential many had seen in him during the earlier stages of his career.

Yet, while he more than deserves his call-up, Martins’ name stands out due to the well-publicized feud between he and Bento during their time together at Sporting.

Toulouse midfielder Paulo Machado will be delighted to get his first call-up and, while unexpected, he’s certainly earned his spurs at club level.

After fading into oblivion at FC Porto, Machado moved to St-Etienne on loan before his eye-catching performance sealed a permanent move to Toulouse. At 24, he’s a proven player in Le Championnat and definitely one for the future.

The match

Preparations suffered a minor setback when both Liédson and Miguel Veloso were forced to drop out through injury, with Ruben Micael and Manuel Fernandes replacing them.

According to the latest reports – and that is more than just a bit of speculation - Carlos Martins and Tiago will play together in the midfield, while there’s still no place for Varela in the starting XI.

If that proves true, it will be a bit disappointing for João Moutinho who has been an instant hit at Porto. Unlike Tiago, Moutinho is a regular starter and his versatility would perhaps better complement Martins.

A bolder move would also see Ronaldo being deployed upfront with Varela playing on the wing. The way the former Sporting trainee has been playing, he would add more firepower than Almeida.

But hey, let’s hope the Werder Bremen striker can prove me wrong and find his scoring boots.

Two years ago Denmark beat Portugal 3-2 in Lisbon to dent our prospects of qualify to the World Cup, but tonight will be a different match.

The Selecção will be out to prove something and will attack and press from the moment the referee blows the whistle.

With all due respect to the Danish side, the Portugeezer expects them to be the typical Scandinavian team: a tactically sound and well organized team with a tremendous workrate. However, given they will be without mercurial striker Nicklas Bendtner and are facing a bullish Portuguese side, it is hard to see anything but a home win.
Likely starting line-ups

PORTUGAL: Eduardo; Sílvio, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Fábio Coentrão; Raul Meireles, Tiago, Carlos Martins; Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Hugo Almeida
Denmark: Thomas Sorensen; Lars Jacobsen, Per Kroldrup , Simon Kjaer, Leon Jessen; Christian Poulsen , William Kvist, Daniel Jensen; Dennis Rommendhal, Nicklas Pedersen, Martin Vingaard

The Portugeezer’s prediction: Portugal 3-0 Denmark

Benfica build momentum as Dragons slip

2010-10-06T10:00:00Z

October 4th, 11pm plus the five minutes of injury time given by the referee. That moment marked a milestone: not just the the first points Porto have dropped this season, but the end of their impressive run of 21 (!) consecutive league victories.

Guimarães' Estádio Afonso Henriques stadium (it's named after the first king of Portugal, a local lad) witnessed an intense match which Porto controlled for large periods. In-form forward Hulk dazzled his opponents before firing a low shot past the hapless Nilson on the half-hour.

Ten minutes later, João Moutinho missed a glorious chance to give his team a comfortable two-goal lead when he sent the ball just wide of the far post. The former Sporting poster-boy would rue that golden opportunity as substitute Faouzi leveled in the 64th minute. Porto pushed for a second goal – despite being down to 10 men after Fucile's second yellow – but were held for the first time in months.

Sporting were also held to a 1-1 away draw, surprisingly, at Beira-Mar. In all honesty, they were the better side and created plenty of goalscoring opportunities, but let's not lay the blame on bad luck. You need to have the players to be lucky on the field.

Postiga hit the post, Rui Patricio made a mess from Renan’s free-kick and Rui Rego – Beira Mar goalkeeper – enjoyed a particularly inspired evening, but that’s not an excuse if you want to be taken seriously in the league. Another two points dropped and things look pretty grim at this stage of the competition….
Goal of the round

Carlos Martins had received good news when national manager and former nemesis Paulo Bento announced his Euro 2012 squad for the crucial encounters against Denmark and Iceland. It has been more than two years since the gifted yet inconsistent Martins was called-up, but his fine recent performances have convinced Bento and the stunning goal against Braga was further proof of his good form. After a good pass from Javier Saviola, the Portuguese playmaker received the ball with his right foot, before unleashing a left-footed thunderbolt into the top of the net that gave the keeper no chance whatsoever.

Vintage Martins, who just like a seasoned sniper fancies a shot from just about anywhere!

Talking points

Last week, the Portugeezer declared Guimarães and Académica as the surprise packages of the season, even if it may be slightly too early to confirm that status. Well, it would no longer feel right to exclude Olhanense from that group. Daúto Faquirá’s men have been playing well and currently sit third in the league table. Not bad for a team who struggled for much of last season! They travel to Braga in the next round of games and it will be interesting to see if they can cause the Minho Warriors problems.

Like Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, Paulo Sérgio has joined the list of ugly duckling managers who may be too good for a relegation struggler but not good enough for a team that wants to win silverware. It is a bit of shame though, because most of what is happening is not his fault - Sporting seem to be run by the clueless - but how much longer can he realistically expect having claimed 9 points out of a possible 21?

Porto suffered their first setback – if you can call a 1-1 draw at Guimarães a setback – and are now just seven points ahead of Benfica, Olhanense and Guimarães. Was Monday's result a minor hiccup in their relentless pursuit of the title, or was it a sign they can be beaten just like anybody else?

RESULTS Fri Oct 1 Leiria 2-1 Académica Sat Oct 2 Olhanense 3-1 Vitória Setúbal Sun Oct 3 Benfica 1-0 Braga, Naval 1-2 Paços Ferreira, Nacional 3-1 Portimonense, Rio Ave 0-0 Marítimo Mon Oct 4 Vitória Guimarães 1-1 Porto, Beira-Mar 1-1 Sporting.

Euro football a game of two halves

2010-10-01T15:30:00Z

Portugal’s representatives in Europe played their second continental group matches last week, and enjoyed quite differing degrees of success.

Champions League

If Braga learnt anything last Tuesday, it was that it may be easy to be great for one night, but it is entirely different to play like Netherlands side of 1974 week in, week out.

Braga hosted Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk and were ultimately humbled 3-0, leaving them further from the second spot and with a dreadful nine goal deficit in the group table.

In a bid to rebuild their reputation following the Emirates Stadium massacre, Braga started the match on the front foot, flying out of the traps and attempting to score as soon as possible. And while it is true they had their fair number of chances, it is also a fact you cannot afford to miss them at this level.

At half-time, with the game poised at 0-0, the fans thought it would be possible to go on to win, as the home side had enjoyed good spells of pressure. However the second half showed the harsh reality: the 2009 UEFA Cup winners are a more seasoned team, more used to playing against the top European sides and, in hindsight, it was a case of men against boys.

In the 57th minute, the Ukrainians would break the deadlock and Braga’s hearts, when one time Manchester United target Douglas Costa combined with striker Luiz Adriano who fired a low shot past Felipe. The goal aggravated Braga’s anxiety and enhanced the Ukrainians’ ruthlessness.

Adriano would score again in the 72nd minute and with a minute remaining Douglas Costas scored from the spot. Braga will now decide their European fate in the two matches against Partizan, their weakest opponent on paper.

Finishing third and hopping over to the Europa League doesn’t look like a bad option at the moment, though a bad result against Partizan can quickly erase their qualifying heroics against Celtic and Sevilla. And what a shame would that be…

Benfica went to the Veltins-Arena on a mission: to win for the first time on German soil, something they were not able to do in their previous 17 trips to Deutschland!

Their opponents – Schalke 04 – were struggling in the Bundesliga and the Eagles were hoping to take advantage of their sluggish start to the season.

Unfortunately, this Benfica side is a mere shadow of last year’s and that is why the 2-0 defeat doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

Just like Braga, the Eagles ended the first half with the belief they could win the match; Saviola had missed a glorious chance in the early minutes and Schalke hadn’t exactly looked like the home side.

However, after the break the Germans came on strong and would eventually take the lead through Jefferson Fárfan in the 73rd minute.

By that time, the Eagles looked exhausted and completely clueless and Schalke were able to expose their defence time and time again.

They would eventually find a second goal five minutes from time when Klaas-Jan Huntelaar fired home from close range after good play from Raul.

Considering Schalke are Benfica’s main rival for the second spot, the result is a blow and the Eagles will need to improve if they want to take something from their double date with Lyon.

Europa League

If the Champions League matches could be deemed as utter failures, the Portugal-Bulgaria summit on Thursday was able to rescue some of the country’s pride.

Porto went to Sofia to play against CSKA and they came away with a 1-0 win. The Dragons controlled the match and the score line could have been more empathic if their forwards had got the boots calibrated.

Radamel Falcao scored the only goal after an assist from the in-form Hulk and they are already atop of the group with six points. And with that André Villas-Boas remains invincible…

Sporting entertained Levski Sofia at home and completely destroyed CSKA’s neighbours with a 5-0 hammering.

Probably buoyed by being called-up for the national team, Hélder Postiga was in stunning form as he scored the goal of the night – Sporting’s fourth – when he unleashed a thunderous strike from around 25 yards that stunned the keeper. A great goal that can only keep his morale on a five-year high!

Carriço, Maniche, Diogo Salomão and Matías Fernández scored the other goals in a match that also took some pressure off Paulo Sérgio. The Lions now have six points and look odds-on to go through.

Lions struggle as Dragons march on

2010-09-28T10:10:00Z

The weekend saw Round Six of the Portuguese Liga played, and if there was anything we learnt it was that Sporting really are currently an utter shambles.

After being defeated by eternal rivals Benfica in the previous round, the Lions were hoping to get their title bid back on track with a win against Nacional. Unfortunately, their plans were undermined by the Islanders, who managed to get away with a 1-1 draw with coach Paulo Sérgio being greeted at the end with jeers from the frustrated home supporters following the fulltime whistle.

Director of Football Costinha admitted his side hadn’t had the start to the season envisaged by the club, but if he and chairman Jose Eduardo Bettencourt couldn’t foresee this scenario, they may want to seek consultation from an optician, as the three key causes were clear to see from the beginning.

1) Sporting sold their two most prized assets (Veloso and Moutinho), only to replace them with a few suspect players. 2) The Lisbon outfit also appointed a manager with no discernable experience at the top level. 3) They also mismanaged the Izmailov saga, effectively losing the valuable contribution of the Russian. People may say the team is still gelling, but the Portugeezer believes it will be another long season for them with no silverware or pride to show off.

Not that neighbours Benfica have much to brag about either. The Eagles recorded an morale-boosting victory at Marítimo - their first away success of the season - and have now amassed a total of nine points, just one more than Sporting.

What sets the two sides apart at the moment is that the Eagles seem to be on the upward curve. Their performance levels, while still miles behind last season’s displays of free-flowing football, have steadily improved and they will look to continue building on that.

Braga struggled to get over their Champions League steamrollering by Arsenal, failing to pick themselves off the floor in time to get anything more than a draw against Paços Ferreira in round five. This past Friday however, the Minho Warriors returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-1 victory against Naval. Manager Domingos Paciência will also be pleased with the return of Márcio Mossoró, who scored a goal after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The Arsenalistas are now leading the Porto-chasing pack alongside Guimarães and Académica du Coimbra, the two surprise packages of the season so far.

The two over-achieving sides met at Coimbra where the home team proved stronger in the end. Jorge Costa’s pupils have been stellar so far, and while they will inevitably hit a sticky patch some time soon, they’ll be delighted with their performances so far this season and the fact the 11 points gained so far give them an excellent opportunity to seal safety sooner rather than later.

Now, each of the three teams in the aforementioned chasing pack has 11 points, which is already a fair whack less than leaders Porto, who still boast and 100% record with 18 points.

They hosted Olhanense and completely dominated the match. Hulk has been unplayable this season and both Varela and João Moutinho will have a place on the Selecção’s starting XI, but above all their confidence seems unshakeable at the moment.

Whether it has been the magic wand of André Villas-Boas, shrewd pieces of business made during the summer or the sluggish start from the rivals, the Dragons have once again risen to the top and will be the team to beat this season

Goal of the round

The wonder goal scored by Acádemica forward Sougou against Guimarães that put his side back in front has to be the best goal of matchday six, and a contender for goal of the season.

The Senegalese star was given room to operate and from around 30-35 yards unleashed a powerful drive into the top corner that left the goalkeeper stunned. A Premier Leeague-esque goal that left Jorge Costa with a broad grin on his face.

Honourable mention goes to Carlos Saleiro who, after being introduced at the break, scored Sporting’s goal; Simon Vukcevic delivered a cross into the box and the ball rebounded to Saleiro who dispatched an acrobatic volley into the back of the net

Talking points

There is a huge match next week as Benfica entertain Braga at Estádio da Luz. Benfica goalkeeper Roberto has been unbeaten for 277 minutes now and the Eagles are starting to fly higher, but Braga will prove a stern test for them.

Benfica cannot afford to slip up again and it will be interesting to see how the match will unfold. Last season, the Eagles grinded out a narrow 1-0 win, so expect a close encounter.

Simon Vukcevic was Sporting’s top dog against Nacional. The talented Montenegrin showed once more he can become one of the stars of the league and certainly someone who should be in Sporting’s XI week in week out. His temperament can be fiery at times, but if Paulo Sérgio wants to make an impact, he has to look to Vukcevic as the key man between midfield and attack.

Porto continue to relentlessly crush their opposition. Six matches, six wins and the next stop is Guimarães away. Never an easy match, but they look odds on to get another three points. Considering that at least one of Braga and Benfica will drop points next weekend, is it too early to say another Porto victory will put them on a very comfortable position to clinch the title?

Quote of the week

“In my opinion, there were two great teams in Europe last year: Barcelona and Benfica” – Jorge Jesus

That’s a pretty bold claim of a team that ended up being battered by Liverpool…

RESULTS Fri Sep 24 Braga 3-1 Naval Sat Sep 25 Académica 3-1 Vitória Guimarães, Marítimo 0-1 Benfica, Porto 2-0 Olhanense Sun Sep 26 Portimonense 1-0 Beira-Mar, Leiria 1-0 Rio Ave, Sporting 1-1 Nacional Mon Sep 27 Vitória Setúbal 1-0 Paços de Ferreira.

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Mou snub a blessing in disguise

2010-09-27T13:00:00Z

Paulo Bento was officially unveiled as the National team manager this past week, but, as is often the way in Portuguese football, it wasn’t without some late drama.

In a move to divert attentions away from the Carlos Queiroz face, Portuguese federation president Gilberto Madaíl went to Madrid for a ‘smash-and-grab’ job. The target? José Mourinho.

If you’re wondering why the hell he would want to do that, it is simple to explain, if not as easy to understand. Madail intended to appoint The Special One for the crucial upcoming matches against Denmark and Iceland, with a view to inspiring an instant turnaround in the national team’s fortunes.

Had the deal gone forward – and as you already know, thanks to Florentino Perez, it didn’t – it could actually have done more harm than good in the longer term, regardless of what happened in those matches.

Assuming Mourinho was given green light to lead the Selecção temporarily, there could have been two possible outcomes:

• Scenario A: Mourinho wins both matches.
• Scenario B: Mourinho somehow drops important points in one or both matches.

In Scenario A, Portugal get their qualifying campaign back on track and the disappointing results against Cyprus and Norway are little more than a bitter memory. Of course, that would also mean the expectation would be on Bento to perform at “special” levels once he was at the helm.

In Scenario B, Portugal are in an even worse situation and their prospects of qualifying Euro 2012 would be all the more grim.

Yes, the whole idea of bringing Mourinho for 180 minutes assumes he can get six points, but just like in the Real Madrid match against

Levante strange things happen. Bento would then enter as some sort of lame duck manager who can do little to achieve his targets.
Either way, Bento’s position would have been undermined.

There’s no question the vast majority of people here in Portugal would want Mourinho as their manager, but now is not the moment and many see Bento as a very capable option.

He’s young, qualified and unafraid of injecting young talent into a team. He can also have a tough hand, which is always a good thing when you’re dealing with big egos such as the ones that coexist in the national team.

Having received the backing of high-profile figures such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Pauleta, André Villas-Boas and Jorge Costa, he has all the conditions to make a good job and steer the team to Eastern Europe (that is, Poland and Ukraine!).

Let’s not forget that not long ago – two years to be precise – Queiroz made a sluggish start to the World Cup campaign; after defeating minnows Malta in the initial match, Portugal lost at home to Denmark, drew away to Sweden and were held at home by Albania.

In those first five matches, Portugal accrued six points, and we can realistically do that in four matches this time round. So, to say the campaign is already compromised is quite a hyperbole.

Unlike the ‘autopilot’ matches against Cyprus and Norway, the Portuguese team will have at last a manager that will instill them a renewed sense of confidence. And the Portugeezer is willing to bet they’ll beat Denmark at home.

(Quick note: The Portugeezer has been on a week-long vacation and that is why you may have noticed a lack of updates about the league. Chill out, they are on their way…)

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Portugal need to get Bento

2010-09-10T11:09:00Z

In one of the football world’s worst kept secrets, former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz is now also former Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz.

Back on June 29, following a lackluster showing in South Africa which saw Selecção knocked-out at the Last 16 stage, this seems the most natural scenario.

After all, Maradona and Dunga were sacked due to their side’s poor results, and Fabio Capello was only spared as the FA finally twigged that England yet again failing to match the insurmountable expectations set by the media may also be something to do with the players not bothering to turn up.

The problem was that Queiroz was signed to a four-year lucrative contract and the Portuguese federation was reluctant to pay the remainder of the contract.

The poorly conducted process about his conduct towards National Doping Agency officials seemed more of a smokescreen than a serious investigation, but Queiroz was nonetheless ready to stay on and his ‘scapegoat’ role in this farce granted him support from some quarters.

Carlos ponder unemployment in smart-casual garb

The final straw, however, was reached Tuesday when Portugal were defeated in Oslo and the alarm bells started to ring.

Interim manager Agostinho Oliveira – who seems fairly clueless sat on the bench in all honesty - promoted a few changes in the starting XI as he replaced full-backs Miguel and Fábio Coentrao for Sílvio and Miguel Veloso, while Tiago replaced Danny in the midfield.

Just out of curiosity, it is interesting to note that none of the starting midfield trio – Manuel Fernandes, Raul Meireles and Tiago – is exactly match fit.

It is true that injuries can be blamed by the lack of choice, but it was strange not to see Joao Moutinho from the start…again.

Now, trying to make up for the embarrassing home draw against Cyprus, Portugal started the match in commanding fashion playing in Norways’s own midfield and dictating tempo as the organized home side was happy to play conservatively and catch the Selecção on the break.

Against the run of play, the Scandinavians scored in a bizarre moment from goalkeeper Eduardo. Collecting a back pass from Sílvio, the Genoa goalkeeper took an eternity to deal with the ball and allowed John Carew to steal the ball.

As every Portuguese watched in horror, the ball rebounded to Huseklepp who easily tapped into an empty net.

The Portuguese tried to turn the tide and salvage something from the match, but their disjointed play and lack of creativity were not able to pose a real threat to the Norwegians who cheered loudly when the referee signaled the end of the 90 minutes.

Quote of the night though goes to Agostinho Oliveira who claimed that he had gained a team. Not sure whether he was being ironic…

After the match against Cyprus, he didn’t hesitate to criticize the backline; only Miguel was dropped as a tactical decision and by sheer coincidence he announced after the match against Norway that he’d no longer play for the national team following Simao, Paulo Ferreira and Deco.

According to the latest reports – and that may change by the time you read this – there are two frontrunners for the national manager post: Humberto Coelho and Paulo Bento.

Coelho was the manager that catapulted Portugal to the first tier of International football. Queiroz may have gestated the so-called ‘Golden Generation’, but it was Coelho who best reaped the rewards at Euro 2000 with a third place.

However, his results ever since have been more than questionable: he failed to qualify for World Cups with Morocco and Tunisia and had brief unsuccessful stints with South Korea and a Saudi club.

The fact he has been distant from the Portuguese football circle and the fact he lacks “club action” though decrease his chances.

On the other hand, Paulo Bento may be the right man for the job at the moment. He had a fairly good stint at Sporting – despite being sacked, he went out with his reputation intact – and possesses a set of traits that make him suitable for the job.

He’s young, not afraid to gamble on an inexperienced player and knows all the details of Portuguese football structure having played in that Euro 2000 tournament.

Two other juicy bits: he got the informal endorsement of Cristiano Ronaldo and he would be a cheap option for the Portuguese federation.

Bento: Cristiano's pick...

Luis Aragonés and Sven-Goran Eriksson are some of the other names mooted, but they are barely speculation let alone dark horses. A foreign option at this stage would be risky for two simple reasons:

Firstly, the whole Queiroz fiasco led to calls for an election at the Portuguese federation. You cannot simply pick an expensive foreign option when a new federation board may soon take over and want somebody else.

Secondly, the fact we have a double date with Scandinavian duo Denmark and Iceland in one month make it difficult for a foreign manager to come in and get acquainted to our football.

If you want to pick a qualified Portuguese that is not Mourinho, there are few options more qualified than Paulo Bento.

This is the short-term fix: a new manager with a tougher approach that is able to inject some confidence into a team that can still pretty much qualify for the Euro 2012.

The long-term plan is something for the federation and the League to think about: youth teams are playing more and more foreigners and the Portuguese talent pool seem to be shrinking.

The time to come up with a new strategy is now…but will something new arise from this crisis?

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Portugal suffering Cypriot hangover

2010-09-06T10:14:00Z

Portugal kicked-off their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign on Friday evening with a 4-4 home draw against Cyprus, a result that, while not a disaster per-se, left an entire nation frustrated.

The optimist will try to use this bad experience as an opportunity to fix what is wrong with the national team before any serious damage is done.

1. Autopilot doesn’t work in football

The sub-par performances at South Africa could well have cost Carlos Queiroz his job, had that not in turn cost the Portuguese Football Federation a lot of money, having previously tied-down the former Manchester United assistant to a four-year contract.

Soon after the World Cup, reports emerged about a bust-up with officials from the National Doping Agency and whispers Queiroz was about to have his contract terminated started to spread.

Last week and after a poorly conducted investigation, the National Doping Agency doled out a heavy six month suspension that puts the national manager’s job at risk and the team preparations’ in tatters.

This farce was further compounded when federation supremo Gilberto Madail, in a pathetic attempt to downplay the relevance of the manager, insisted the team would cope ‘in autopilot’ against Cyprus.

Whether we were in autopilot or simply with just the wingman, truth is every team needs a pilot or a leader (Sweden even had two once upon a time!) - Portugal currently have nobody.

Unfortunately for the Selecção, the fact that a lot of people have retreated to silence implies that Queiroz may indeed be made scapegoat in the whole process and that the team is not being properly prepared and supported. In the end, we all lose...

2. No young starlets ready to replace the old geezers

Deco had already announced he would retire from international football before the World Cup, but when you add the departure of the gifted Brazilian-born playmaker to the departures of Simão and Paulo Ferreira, you have a squad that lacks strength-in-depth.

The so-called ‘golden generations’ only appear every now and then and at the moment we lack a bit of star quality.

Furthermore, if in the past, the U-21 side boasted having the likes of Quaresma, Ronaldo and Hugo and Viana, at the moment it seems hard to imagine taking one of the current crop making the step up to the senior squad.

3. What is the selection criteria?

Acting manager Agostinho Oliveira made quite a few surprising inclusions on the starting XI.

Right-back Miguel is someone who peaked four or five years ago - if Portugal had more options at the moment, he would get dropped. The Valencia fullback has lost not only his once-blistering pace, but also his passion, and was a liability against Cyprus.

Raúl Meireles was another puzzling decision; the former Porto midfielder is an important player for the Selecção in normal conditions, but he has barely played so far this term and looked to be lacking sharpness. He scored from outside the box, but also made a glaring error that allowed Konstatinou to score. Should he have started? Certainly not with his current match fitness levels...

Equally surprising, but on a positive note was Ricardo Quaresma’s performance. The flamboyant winger has flourished at Besiktas and was one of the best on Friday. Still, it is a bit ironic to think he only received a call-up after Ronaldo was ruled out through injury...

4. Enthusiasm levels at an all-time low

Portugal played at Vitoria Guimaraes’s 30,000-capacity Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, but only a third of those seats were actually graced with buttocks for the match.

Granted, the match was on a Friday night and against a relatively weak opponent, but it has been quite a long time since the enthusiasm levels with the national team have reached this low.

There is less empathy between the supporters and the squad and that is affecting both parties: supporters are not filling the stadiums and the morale among the players does not increase.

In this chicken-egg type dilemma, only a sound victory can repair the special relationship between the Portuguese supporters and its players.

Prediction

Portugal still have the quality to beat Norway, few would dispute that fact. However, the fact they are struggling and without a manager gives the Scandinavians an opening.

The Portugeezer’s prediction: Norway 1-1 Portugal

The defence – even without the injured Coentrão - will tighten up having been unusually poor on Friday – but the attack will not be as productive as it was. Expect a close match that may be decided ay on a creative spark from Quaresma.

What do you think? Will Portugal leave Oslo empty-handed or with three valuable points in the bag?

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Euro draws favour Portuguese quartet

2010-08-30T10:28:00Z

The play-off round of the UEFA Champions League and Europa League witnessed fairytale endings for Braga and Sporting, with both teams overcoming the odds to go through.

Braga stunned half of Europe by conquering Sevilla with a 4-3 success in Andalusia (5-3 on aggregate), while the Lions went to Denmark to claim a 3-0 win that erased the shocking two-goal defeat suffered at home. As expected, Porto swept Racing Genk aside with a resounding 7-2 aggregate victory to ease into the next phase of the Europa League, but unfortunately Marítimo was unable to defeat BATE Borisov at home, bowing out before the group stages.

Now, it has to be said that none of the four teams that will play Continental football – Benfica, Braga, Porto and Sporting - has a reason to complain about the draws, but let’s break down the chances of each team.

Champions League

Group B: Lyon, Benfica, Schalke 04, Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Benfica will most likely be involved in a three-way fight for the qualifying places. French outfit Lyon were perhaps the “weakest” team from Pot One, but cash-rich Schalke 04 are one of the toughest teams from Pot Three and with Raul and potentially Klaas-Jan Huntelaar they’ll prove a tough bunch to beat. Had the Eagles been handed this group last season, they would have had good chances of finishing top, but considering their current goalkeeping problem and how imbalanced their squad currently is, the Portuguese champions will need to show more than they have so far domestically to deserve a shot at the Last 16.

Prediction: Third place and a bittersweet memory of their 2009/2010 campaign.

Group H: Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Braga, Partizan

Having already defeated Sevilla, Braga cannot help but fancy their chances of advancing through to the last 16 of the competition. Arsenal are the obvious favourites, but Shakhtar and Partizan can definitely be defeated, especially if the ‘Minho Warriors’ keep playing like they did in the play-off round. Braga will hope their underdog status can help them spring a surprise on their opponents, but the hostile environments in Serbia and Ukraine may be too much for them to handle. They should at least guarantee a place in the Europa League, but don’t bet against them advancing into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Prediction: Third place and rave reviews around Europe about their mature displays.

Europa League

Group C: Sporting, Lille, Levski Sofia, KAA Gent

The Lions are a big question mark in the Portugeezer’s book. Their formation, their starting XI and their tactical ideas aren’t settled yet and that is also why they’re currently stuttering. Regardless of their form, they should have no problems dealing with Levski and Gent, but Lille will provide a sterner test. With players like Landreau, Mavuba and Gervinho on their starting XI, the French outfit are a solid and will rival Sporting for the top spot. With Paulo Sérgio still shaping his team, it‘s tough to confidently predict his team will finish top, but they should have more than enough to qualify for the knock-out stages.

Prediction: Second place

Group L: FC Porto, Besiktas, CSKA Sofia, Rapid Vienna

The last time Porto were not in the Champions League, they won the UEFA Cup and the Dragons are once again one of the teams to beat in the competition. The draw dictated the return of former golden boy Ricardo Quaresma to Estádio do Dragão – even if just for one night – but that is actually the only interesting fact from the group. Considering the depth of their squad, Porto will be able to tinker without worrying too much about not finishing in the first place.

Prediction: First place and bring on the good teams...

What do you think? Can the four Portuguese teams advanced to the next stages of the competition? Share your views below…

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Phenomenal Braga keep making history

2010-08-27T10:02:00Z

Back in May, after playing against Paços de Ferreira, Braga claimed a ticket to the qualifying stages of the Champions League and at the end of the match, Hendel’s “Zadok the Priest” adaptation – which is now the renowned official anthem of Europe’s elite competition – was played.

After all, the club had just achieved something remarkable and the chance to play among the top European clubs would be an incredible experience that could catapult the club to another level.

The Minho warriors were handed two tough draws on their road to Champions League football; firstly against Celtic and then against Sevilla.

They manhandled the Scots as if they were playing against a side from Liga Orangina (Portugal’s delightfully named second division) with a 4-2 aggregate success, but Sevilla would prove a far sterner test and, despite an encouraging 1-0 win at home, the heated environment at Sanchez Pizjuán – quite literally as temperatures of 44º C were reported in the afternoon – could have been a little too much for them to handle.

This Braga side, however, fancied beating the odds and with unshakable faith, they not only they won the tie, but also the match on the night through organized, counter-attacking football.

Domingos Paciencia’s men had to withstand initial pressure as Sevilla tried to make the most of their home advantage, but as time went by the Portuguese side started look more comfortable and got a surprising lead in the 31st minute through Mateus, who reacted quickly to a Palop fumble.

One of the key moments of the match came five minutes before the hour mark. Uruguayan playmaker Luis Aguiar was replaced by forward Lima and the Brazilian would go on to earn a hat trick, the plaudits and the man of the match award.

Just three minutes after his introduction, Lima converted from Mateus cross to duble Braga’s lead. Sevilla then knew they had to score four goals, but were handed an immediate lifeline when Fabiano got his name on the score sheet three minutes later as Felipe botched an easy save.

Sevilla exerted tremendous pressure and the match was played at a frenetic tempo. Navas netted a second for the Spaniards in the 84th minute, at which point Braga fans could be forgiven for fearing a spectacular collapse was on the cards.

But if some die-hard Sevilla fans thought they could still pull it off, Lima was quick to dash their dreams just a minute later after rounding a dazed and confused Palop. There was still time for Lima to complete his hat-trick and Fredi Kanouté to score Sevilla’s third before the referee signalled the end of an incredible match.

The Champions League group stage draw has already determined Braga will face Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk and Partizan. The Gunners are the obvious favourites, but the second place should be up for grabs.

Honestly, neither Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar nor Serbian old boys Partizan are better than Sevilla, and if Braga are able to keep their form – just as they did last season – there is no reason to believe they can’t reach the last 16 of the competition. For now though, it is time to smile and relish the chance to play against the big fish while balancing the books.

Cream of the crop

Every Braga player deserves credit after knocking out the Spanish giants, but there were four players in particular who caught the Portugeezer’s eye, and could go on to cause the likes of Arsenal a few problems in the group stage.

Moisés
The centre-back was a giant that kept Kanouté and Fabiano in his pocket. Strong in the air and oozing experience and poise, his presence added steel to a backline that needed a leader.

Sílvio
The former Rio Ave rightback replaced Miguel Garcia in the starting XI and had an absolutely cracking match. He was not only able to mark the talented Diego Perotti, but also had the nerve and energy to provide attacking support down the right flank. His attacking prowess and versatility – he played last season mostly as a leftback – make him a great asset for the club and Queiroz may find him a very interesting addition to the national team.

Matheus
The Brazilian is a great player and it is bizarre to think he was not a regular starter this time last year, having originally signed for the club in 2006. He’s fast, possesses good technique and has a very high work rate. He scored two goals and made one assist over the two matches and will be remembered as one of the mighty warriors to have conquered Sevilla.

Lima
Anyone who scores three goals in a match has to be mentioned, but to be able to do so within 35 minutes in one of the most important matches in a club’s history is a feat that will rarely be matched. The Brazilian forward came off the bench to haunt Sevilla’s defence and has already seen his price tag skyrocket.

Porto set early pace as rivals struggle

2010-08-24T11:19:00Z

In a second round of fixtures with very few goals – an embarrassing total of 10 – there were a few interesting results.

Benfica went to Nacional to redeem themselves after their shocking home collapse in the opening round, but left Madeira with another 2-1 defeat.

The Eagles now have the same number of losses they had last season. Roberto was once again one the culprits as stated in my previous post, but credit should not be taken from the resilient Islanders.

Nacional played very positively with a rather dynamic midfield trio. Luiz Alberto looked like Yaya Touré bossing the engine room, while Rene Mihelic and Diego Barcellos provided the creative spark behind their attacking threat.

Despite Benfica never really being in control of the match, the first half was a fairly evenly matched contest. After the break though, Nacional improved and scored through Luiz Alberto and Orlando Sá. Carlos Martins would score a late consolation goal for the visitors, but it was too late to salvage a draw.

Porto continue to quietly flex their muscles in the early stages of the championship. They entertained recently promoted Beira-Mar at home and strolled to an easy 3-0 victory.

Colombian predator Radamel Falcao netted a brace to move top of the League goalscoring charts, with Argentinean playmaker Fernando Belluschi scoring the other goal from a stunning free-kick.

Falcao moved top of the goalscoring charts

Without even pushing too hard, the Dragons ooze confidence and have already seen their three title rivals drop points. A dream start for young André Villas-Boas who could barely be in a better position to manage his players.

Sporting were made to sweat by Marítimo before clinching their first three points of the season. The Lions – who were exposed at home in the Europa League match against Danish side Brondby – wanted to change their fortunes in front of their own supporters and Paulo Sergio switch to a 4-3-3 formation with a midfield trio of Maniche, André Santos and Spaniard Zapater.

Upfront, Sérgio decided to field quicksilver Djaló and flamboyant Vukcevic alongside Liédson, but the first half the match was even with opportunities for both teams.
The Lions seemed more determined to win after the break, but they would only claim their victory in the 89th minute when Liédson was tripped in the box. Chilean playmaker Matias Fernández made no mistake and gave the team an invaluable morale-boosting result.

The match was marred though by an incident involving Joao Pereira. The Sporting right-back sustained a skull fracture after accidently clashing with teammate Rui Patricio. He was rushed to the hospital shortly after, but Sporting doctors already said he’s recovering well.

Goal of the round

Fernando Belluschi struck an amazing free-kick that gave Beira-Mar keeper no chance and virtually killed off the match. The former Olympiacos midfielder has grown since last year and looks a more comfortable player on the pitch. He had scored a good goal against Genk and will be please to be on the scoresheet once again.

Talking points

On the 1st of August, Benfica manager Jorge Jesus said that it would be very difficult to stop this Benfica side. Three weeks later and that bold prophecy was confirmed in a way; the only thing he didn’t expect was that it would actually be very difficult to stop them losing.

Benfica are currently struggling and Roberto is the laughing stock of Portuguese football, but it is Rui Costa and Jorge Jesus who have every reason to feel responsible.
They failed to do their homework in the summer and are now left with one week to do the one thing they were neglected to do over the past three months: sign the right players for a reasonable price.

With the dream of reaching the group stages of the Champions League so near, Braga decided to make a few changes in the starting XI – resting Alan, Paulo César, Rodríguez and Vandinho – and were unlucky not to get away with more than a goalless draw. Even though they went to Setúbal to win, their minds were a little further south - in Sevilla, to be accurate.

The match against the Spanish side will be one of, if not the most important match of their history and everyone will give the proverbial 110% to achieve what could very well be one of European football’s biggest giant killings in recent history.

Now that Sevilla have sold Frenchman Sebastien Squillaci to Arsenal, it may be a good time to use the pace of attacking trio Matheus, Alan and Paulo César to wreak havoc in their backline.

It will be a very entertaining match and one every football lover should tune in.

Good luck for the Arsenalistas and may their dream run continue!

ROUND 2 RESULTS Fri Aug 20 Académica 1-1 Olhanense Sat Aug 21 Nacional 2-1 Benfica, Vitória Setúbal 0-0 Braga Sun Aug 22: Porto 3-0 Beira-Mar, Leiria 0-0 Paços Ferreira, Sporting 1-0 Marítimo, Portimonense 0-1 Naval Mon Aug 23 Vitória Guimarães 0-0 Rio Ave.

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Why Benfica are struggling

2010-08-23T13:31:00Z

Benfica suffered yet another defeat last Saturday and while it's too early to write them off as title contenders, the warning bells are already ringing.

It's quite amazing that not long ago everything seemed to be in the right place for the Eagles. Under coach Jesus, they scored 29 goals in pre-season and convinced supporters and pundits alike that they still possessed the offensive dynamics that carried them all the way to the title last year despite the loss of mercurial duo Angel Di María and Ramires.

Same formation, different players
It shouldn’t be that difficult to remain close to the 2009/2010 season-winning formula: it would suffice to acquire a pure left winger similar to Di Maria, a versatile central midfielder in the same mould of Ramires and a right midfielder since the team has none. But while Benfica were active in the transfer market, the truth is they bought the wrong players and are now paying the price on the field.

Benfica v Nacional (21.08.2010)

The picture above shows Benfica’s formation and starting XI: most of it remains the same but Nico Gaitán played on the left, and Ruben Amorim slotted into the inside-right midfielder role.

The argument against Gaitán is not that he’s a bad player – though it's debatable whether a €8.7m signing shouldn’t be a ready-made top player. The problem is that he’s not a winger. He’s clearly more comfortable in central midfield, and he lacks the pace and trickery of Angelito.

Since Ruben Amorim isn't a wide man either, it was Javier Saviola who ended up drifting to the wings to stretch the Islanders’ defence and create more opportunities for the Eagles. With his diminutive size and no towering presence to protect him, he was much less effective - as was Oscar Cardozo. The Paraguayan barely touched the ball on Saturday and his limitations were blatantly exposed: he looked as slow as a funeral procession and unable to drop deeper to free his team-mates.

One has to wonder why Benfica possess seven forwards – Cardozo, Saviola, Franco Jara, Alan Kardec, Weldon, Rodrigo and Nuno Gomes – and no clear winger. There’s an imbalance in the team that's choking the connection between midfield and attack, which at the moment could be corrected with the 4-3-3 formation tested in pre-season.

Of course that formation would raise other questions. Would Cardozo play as effectively in that role? Assuming Jara and Saviola play on the wings in such a formation, Benfica would need a player who could effectively link up with them and not simply wait for an incoming ball. Maybe a three-pronged attack of Jara, Saviola and Kardec could work but it would always be a gamble to use it right away.

An €8.5M problem named Roberto
Now, you may have noticed a black circle with a question mark on the picture above. That’s because no matter which formation Benfica play, they still have to deal with that HUGE problem in goal.

Roberto Jiménez’s latest blunder (watch it below) proves he needs to be dropped. It's no longer a question of anxiety or bad luck – it's not being good enough. Had Benfica played with Nacional’s goalkeeper Rafael Bracali on Saturday they would have at least recorded a draw. But they had the Spaniard again and are now left with a decision: what to do with him?

Oops I did it again – click to watch video

There is a term in economics that might help them: ‘sunk cost’. A sunk cost is defined as an amount of money that has already been spent and therefore cannot be recovered, no matter how big that amount is, making it irrelevant to any future decision. Benfica spent €8.5M on Atletico Madrid’s third-choice goalkeeper, something they’re already ruing. However, with the money already agreed, there’s no use in playing Roberto just to see whether he’ll one day live up to his lavish fee. Unless, of course, Benfica are trying to boost merchandising sales by creating the most popular piñata ever.

They must replace Roberto with Júlio César Jacobi or Moreira, because at the moment he’s in no condition to play. The goalkeeper is the backbone of a team: his job is to guarantee the other 10 players can focus on scoring without worrying about conceding a silly goal. His presence can transmit serenity, but if he’s not that good it can also make the other 10 players underperform. At the present, it is clear that the back four do not trust their keeper and therefore something needs to be done.

Benfica have a very hot September: after the next home match against Setúbal, they will travel to Guimarães, host rivals Sporting, travel to Madeira again to face Marítimo and meet rivals Braga. If they don’t get their act together quickly, Jesus may very well be on his way to the cross.

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Braga continue to do the impossible

2010-08-19T09:56:00Z

Amigos, it is getting harder by the day to find superlatives that can do justice to Braga’s performances.

Two weeks ago the Arsenalistas finished their Scottish job with a 4-2 aggregate success over Celtic, but not many were ready to tip them to secure an unlikely passage to the Champions League as the play-off draw somewhat ruthlessly dictated they would meet Spanish giants Sevilla.

A question of scale

It is important to understand how wide the gap between the two sides is. One of the most consistent La Liga teams with world class players such as Luis Fabiano and Jesús Navas, Sevilla are used to playing against top clubs throughout the season and, while they aren‘t known as massive spenders, players like Didier Zokora and Alvaro Negredo both cost upwards of €10 million.

On the other hand, Márcio Mossoró – Braga’s most expensive player ever – was acquired for €700K. Hardly the same scale, you’ll probably agree.
Still, anyone who last night’s match would barely have noticed the difference in stature between the two teams. Braga clinched a 1-0 win and they have every reason to believe it is possible to overcome the Spaniards next Tuesday evening.

Some have already sought to make excuses on Sevilla’s behalf, claiming the La Liga side were not as match fit as Braga, having not yet started their domestic league campaign; the truth is simply that Braga outplayed Sevilla and earned a result that has substantially boosted what were initially very slim chances of Portuguese progression

Slow start

The first half of the match was a rather even contest with just two real goalscoring opportunities. Braga, perhaps a bit nervous, found it difficult to retain possession and almost conceded early in the match as Fabiano hit the post.

Matheus was rarely given any room to operate and could usually be found between Sevilla’s centre-backs Fazio and Escudé. On the one occasion he managed to evade his opposition, he went through one-on-one with Andrés Palop but was unable to beat the veteran custodian.

After the break though, things changed. Whether it was down to Domingos’s words of wisdom or Sevilla’s players’ wary legs, Braga upped the tempo and their free-flowing attacking football quickly caused some problems for the Spaniards.

Around the hour mark, full-back Silvio – who replaced Miguel Garcia in the second half – sent a pinpoint cross to Paulo Cesar who headed for a superb save from Palop. The talented Matheus, however, was quick to pounce on the rebound and give Braga the lead.

Antonio Álvarez’s men had trouble getting back in the game and Braga were able to pin the Andalusian side back inside their own half for large parts of the remainder of the game. There was still time for substitute Lima to rattle the crossbar with a spectacular drive in the last minute that would have given them an even better result, but the home supporters didn’t care. For them, this was yet another memorable night and their European dream continues well alive.

90 minutes from history

It is impossible to single out a player whose individual performance carried the team. From goalkeeper Felipe, who was almost exhaling serenity; to rock-solid centre-backs Moisés and Alberto Rodriguez, to midfield industrious duo Alan and Leandro Salino who were quick to initiate attacks, and of course talismanic forward Matheus, it is the whole team that should be praised.

Nevertheless, it’ll certainly be a different match at Sánchez Pizjuán. Manager Domingos Paciência must find a way to put a leash on the impressive Navas who caused a lot of problems to Elderson.

Sevilla know they need to win this time and probably score at least two goals, giving them no other option than to attack. They sure have the firepower to hit Braga, but if Braga’s backline performs as well as in yesterday’s match, a potential counterattack game plan may stun the Spaniards.

Regardless of what happens next Tuesday though, Braga should be considered a source of pride for Portugal and an example on how positive football coupled with good management can take a club quite far.

Kudos to them!

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Lisbon neighbours off to a bad start

2010-08-17T11:18:00Z

The 2010/11 season may have just started but its opening weekend already offered a few surprises. There were four away successes, but the highlights of the round were defeats for both Benfica and Sporting.

Braga were the first team to play and they looked as solid as last season. Granted, it was against new boys Portimonense, but they have done well in the transfer market and they seem to have kept their dominant attitude to matches.

Thumbs up to Matheus for breaking the deadlock and being a threat throughout the match and to signing Leandro Salino for scoring a goal on his debut.

Porto had to fight harder than they had thought to seal a late 0-1 victory at Naval. The Dragons produced a relatively average first half, but improved after the break with the introduction of Columbian midfielder Freddy Guarín.

Unlike the match against Benfica where Varela was on fire, this time it was Hulk who upped his game a notch, creating some opportunities and scoring the 84th minute penalty that won the game.

Sporting and Benfica were dealt an early blow in their title quest as they were both deservingly beaten.

Playing at Mata Real is never easy and the home side, Paços de Ferreira, proved once again why. Relying on their never-say-die attitude and young talent David Simão and Caeteno, the team known as ‘the Beavers’ showed no fear of going forward and were eventually rewarded in the second half with a goal from Venezuelan striker Rondon.

Sporting had enough opportunities to at least claim a draw, but their forwards must have worn the wrong boots and the closest they came was hitting the bar through Helder Postiga.

The biggest upset of the weekend however was Académica 1-2 win at Estádio da Luz. The Eagles were determined to start their title defence in style, but were dismantled by an organized and resilient side who had studied their lesson at home.

If Benfica were a major threat from dead balls last year, this year they seem to fear them and it is probably due to lack of trust in goalkeeper Roberto.

It was therefore no surprise when Académica scored from a free-kick in the first half. New boy Franco Jara – who once again came off the bench – scored an equalizer, but despite playing against 10 men, Benfica would concede a second goal in the last minute and raise early question marks as to whether they’ll be able to reproduce last year’s levels of performance.

Goal of the round

It’s always better to start in style, right? Here’s the situation: Benfica, current title holders, are playing at home in front of 49,000 supporters and at 1-1 they’re pushing for a victory in the dying minutes. Substitute Laionel then decides to hit a wonder strike to silence an entire stadium and give the Students a famous victory. Cloud number nine for Academica and the 24-year old Brazilian striker!

Talking points

Sporting need to sort out their problems upfront; if the Lions possessed someone with half Liedson’s goalscoring prowess, they would have claimed another result. The Brazilian-turned-Portuguese striker is not getting any younger, and both Yannick Djalo and Postiga couldn’t hit the ground if they fell off a ladder.

That issue can be minimized with someone like Simon Vukcevic. There are not many players like the Montenegrin in the Portuguese League and while he may have a short temperament he also seems to be an ugly duckling type of figure at the club. His talent alone would justify his presence on the starting XI and the reason to include Jaime Valdes ahead of him is unknown to the Portugeezer

Benfica manager Jorge Jesus bemoaned bad luck for the home loss, but shouldn’t he just admit he made some mistakes? The Portugeezer admires his man crush on Cesar Peixoto, but including him on the starting XI won’t take him far. Peixoto is a utility man, a squad player to be mostly used as a sub.

The ‘new’ 4-3-3 formation is not the problem: the problem is not having the right players for such formation; Peixoto is not a winger, Saviola cannot open up defences if pushed to the wings and Amorim cannot link-up with the frontline like Ramires used to do!

There is a surplus of players in certain positions and a deficit in others, which certainly doesn’t bode well for the Eagles. With two weeks before the transfer window closes, can the Eagles find the missing piece(s) in their jigsaw?

RESULTS Fri Aug 13 Braga 3-1 Portimonense; Sat Aug 14 Marítimo 0-1 Vitória Setúbal, Naval 0-1 Porto, Paços Ferreira 1-0 Sporting; Sun Aug 15 Rio Ave 0-1 Nacional, Beira-Mar 0-0 Leiria, Benfica 1-2 Académica; Mon Aug 16 Olhanense 0-0 Vitória Guimarães.

Porto starting new season on a high

2010-08-13T10:46:00Z

Enough of pre-season matches and never-ending debates on whether this or that team is stronger than last year. The start of the ‘exciting-at-times’ Liga Zon Sagres is upon us, so it’s finally time to get down to the real business - predictions!

Despite the imminent start of the new league season, the Portuguese media are currently more interested in Manchester United forking out €9 million for yet another youngster from Portugal.

Having previously signed much-heralded starlets such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson, the Red Devils this time went one further and picked up a virtual unknown.

Tiago Correia – commonly known as Bebé, which, perhaps predictably, means 'baby' in Portuguese – had only moved to Vitoria Guimaraes five weeks before on a free transfer. That’s ridiculously speedy rise through the game is quite a fitting for a boy who once lived on the streets and represented Portugal in the Homeless World Cup just two years ago.

Congratulations and good luck to him, but we’ll analyze this deal in more depth at a later stage, because right now we have a new season starting!

Braga v Portimonense

New boys Portimonense would have wished for an easier start than a visit to in-form Braga. The Algarvian side are arguably one of the weakest teams of the competition and will take some time to settle into top flight. Braga has too much experience and firepower to let this one slip away. Braga stroll to easy win.

Marítimo v Setúbal

Mitchell Van der Gaag has done remarkably well at Maritimo as a manager, and judging by how his side have played in pre-season and in the Europa League qualifying stages, they seem capable of emulating last season results. Setubal, on the other hand, have lost key men Helder Barbosa and Keita over the summer, and therefore might lack some quality upfront. Home win.

Naval v Porto

The Dragons start their domestic campaign on a high after a morale-boosting victory against arch-rivals Benfica and, quite frankly, they should have no problems beating Naval. Watch out for a good old battering and for new Porto coach André Villas-Boas‘ honeymoon period to continue. Definitely a Porto win.

Paços de Ferreira v Sporting

Mata Real (Paços de Ferreira stadium) is traditionally a tricky turf for any side, and Paulo Sérgio’s men will have to prove they are up for the task. Last year, the Lions were held to a goalless draw and there’s no reason to believe the change in direction promoted by Costinha and Bettencourt has yet to inject the necessary spark. A 1-1 draw in what will be the first of many tests for this enigmatic Sporting side.

Rio Ave v Nacional

Carlos Brito – the perennial Rio Ave manager – has conducted some quite shrewd business this summer. Bringing in the likes of Fábio Felicio, Tiago Pinto, Bruno China, Braga and Joao Tomas has increased both the depth and the quality of the squad. Considering how consistent they are at home, they’ll beat a Nacional side that will need to prove they can be as hard to beat without their former coach, Manuel Machado. Narrow home win.

Beira-Mar v Uniao de Leiria

Newcomers Beira-Mar host Leiria and the sheer excitement of playing the first match of the season at home will give them an extra edge. The Portugeezer sees some goals in this match, but it ultimately ending in an entertaining draw.

Benfica v Académica

The Eagles will have to show something different if they want to woo their supporters. An almost packed Estádio da Luz will give the players some extra motivation, although they shouldn’t really need it as they have more than enough quality to see off the Students. Comfortable win for Benfica.

Olhanense v Guimaraes

Guimaraes lost a few important players such as Desmarets and Andrezinho and will travel to the south of the country to face Olhanense, who have managed to make some interesting additions to their squad. The ‘home factor’ could play a key role here and the Algarvian side will manage to get their first three points of the season. Narrow home win.

What do you think? Do you expect any surprises in the opening day?

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Porto give Benfica plenty to ponder

2010-08-11T10:53:00Z

Perhaps for the first time in recent years, Porto went to a match against Benfica as clear underdogs, as the two sides did battle for the Supercup on Saturday evening.

Having finished in third place and not impressed during pre-season, there was the feeling that the Dragons had to prove themselves and naysayers they could still do it against the reigning champions.

Well, not only Porto shot down the Eagles with a 2-0 victory, but they managed to do it with such ease that Jorge Jesus may still be wondering what went wrong.

Surprises in the starting XIs

There were two major surprises in both teams’ starting lineup - despite his encouraging performances in pre-season, Benfica new boy Franco Jara was surprisingly dropped for Cesar Peixoto; such move saw Coentrao play as a winger as Peixoto slotted in the left back role.

For Porto, it was Jorge Fucile – who may still leave the club – who didn’t start with manager Villas-Boas opting to give the nod to Cristian Sapunaru.

Capitalizing on a dream start

Porto started the match in brilliant fashion, breaking the deadlock in the third minute. After a corner from Joao Moutinho, centre-back Rolando was quick to pounce with a header and gave the Dragons an early lead.

The goal managed to stun Benfica who were completely unable to leave their own midfield in the first 30 minutes.

The midfield trio of Airton, Aimar and Carlos Martins were anonymous due to effective marking from Fernando and Moutinho and with no room to explore, Benfica couldn’t create a single clear-cut opportunity.

Many expected Jesus to introduce Jara after the break to try to turn the tide, but he would only do that at the hour mark.

Unfortunately for him, it was Porto who continued to have the best chances and they would clinch the all-important second goal in the 68th minute when the red-hot Varela found space down in the left flank, dribbled Luisao and crossed to predator Falcao who was quick to anticipate the defender and score another goal

The final whistle couldn’t come any sooner for an outclassed Benfica side that had no answer for a much superior opponent.

Highs and lows

Varela was back to his scintillating best as he tormented Benfica defenders all night long, especially Ruben Amorim.

The 25-year old winger - who had broken his fibula at the end of last season – was simply unplayable and was without a doubt the man of the match.

If Hulk – who was somehow shut out by Peixoto - had one of his inspired nights Benfica could have left with more goals in the bag.

Moutinho may have just played one official match, but he already endeared himself to the Porto faithful with a very promising performance.

The former Sporting captain lived up to this hefty price tag and showed a great understanding with his teammates, a good omen for the Dragons.

Benfica supporters were probably curious to see how Roberto would fare in his first official match for the club, but unfortunately for them the Spaniard confirmed their worst fears.

Roberto mistimed almost every cross thrown into the area, he looked nervous with the feet and could have done better in the first goal. Not only he looks far from justifying the €8.5 million invested in him, but he looks a genuine liability.

Supporters may have thought about Reina and Casillas when the club signed him, but they’re now thinking about Moretto...while shaking their heads in disbelief.
Coentrao was also not as effective as he would probably have been had he played at left back.

He’s fast and can dribble, but he’s so much better when attacking from deep, which is why the decision to play him on the wing backfired. He looked uncomfortable in that area and subsequently Benfica suffered.

What next for Benfica?

Benfica are now forced to go back to June and rethink their strategy because their transfer policy this summer has been pretty mediocre.
Gaitan? Not the player to replace Di Maria, and it’s not clear how he’ll fit in the current formation. Roberto? Not a goalkeeper who can win you matches. Rodrigo? A €6 million player from Real Madrid who may yet be loaned out to Guimaraes. Jara? The only good signing so far and in a position where Benfica already possesses quite a few options.

If they’re serious about using the 4-3-3 formation, they’ll need to buy a Ramires type of player that can complement Airton/Garcia and Aimar/Martins and fast.
Running against the transfer deadline may be dangerous, but hey, after wasting buckets of money in random players, why would they stop now, right?

One last note: congratulations to young André Villas-Boas who despite all the razzmatazz surrounding his ability to lead the Dragons already claimed one title, Porto’s 17th Supercup.

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The swashbuckling Supercup preview

2010-08-06T11:05:00Z

Benfica and Porto lock horns on Saturday at Aveiro in the hors d’oeuvres for the 2010/2011 feast: the Portuguese Supercup.

There is more than a trophy at stake as these two teams – on paper, the clear front-runners for the title this season – try to attain momentum and deal each other a psychological blow.

History is largely on the side of the Dragons, who have won the competition a record 16 times. But reigning champions Benfica will also want to claim their first title of the season. Both claim to be favourites, but which one will prevail on Saturday? Let’s analyse...

Formations
Having lost Angel di Maria and not yet found a suitable replacement (€8.4m signing Nicolas Gaitan is a different type of player and has struggled with a minor injury anyway), Benfica coach Jesus switched the formation into an unorthodox 4-3-3 that replaces wingers with two mobile forwards to feed prolific striker Cardozo.

Regardless of that change, Jesus’s trademark gung-ho football has overwhelmed opposition at times during pre-season. To overcome the lack of width exploited by Tottenham in the Eusebio Cup, the Eagles will have to get the best from Fabio Coentrao. The winger-turned-left-back has grown into an invaluable player who is not only capable of defending well – as shown in the World Cup – but also capable of going on a mazy run to support the attack.

Although another new signing Airton was one of Benfica's best players in pre-season, he might not start against Porto; the midfield battle will be important if Benfica want to control possession and Javi Garcia, as the more experienced option, should be in the starting XI.

Porto, on the other hand, remain faithful to the 4-3-3 system used last season despite the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas. The Dragons have more depth now, but still haven’t found the right man to link midfield to attack. There’s great potential in the Moutinho-Micael-Fernando partnership, but if Micael is unavailable (see injury concerns, below) one has to wonder whether Guarin or Belluschi will be up to the task.

With all their wingers and forwards available, they should look to Hulk as the right-sided forward not only because he’s perhaps the most explosive player in the league, but because attacking down that flank can prevent Coentrao from getting forward himself. And by doing that, Porto may decrease the number of opportunities created by the Eagles.

Injury concerns
Ruben Micael is a doubt for the Dragons, which may give a selection headache for Villas-Boas. Without Micael and without Meireles (who should have left by now as he hasn’t played in the last matches), who will link up with the attack?

For the Eagles, Uruguayan Maxi Pereira is unavailable, having only returned to training last week. As usual, Ruben Amorim will be given the nod in the right-back role.

Key players: Fabio Coentrao and Maicon
Benfica left-back Coentrao will be on double duty on Saturday as he’ll have to stop Hulk and support the front trio to overcome Benfica's lack of width. After being eyed up by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, Coentrao stayed and proved his commitment with solid performances during pre-season.

As for Maicon – the Porto centre-back, not his compatriot the Inter right-back, of course – he’ll have to step up to prove he can replace the former Porto captain Bruno Alves, who has sought the whiter pastures of Zenit St Petersburg. Say what you want, but Alves left a huge void in the Dragons’ backline and a replacement is yet to be found. The former Nacional centre-back is likely to have a stern test against Benfica, but if he performs well the team may respond positively.

Likely lineups
BENFICA: Roberto; Ruben Amorim, David Luiz, Luisao, Fabio Coentrao; Javi Garcia, Pablo Aimar, Carlos Martins; Jara, Saviola, Cardozo
PORTO: Helton; Fucille, Rolando, Maicon, Alvaro Pereira; Fernando, Joao Moutinho, Belluschi (Ruben Micael); Hulk, Cristian Rodriguez, Falcao

Prediction Benfica 2-1 Porto
Looking at the last three pre-season matches of each team, one would say that both teams will concede, but at the moment Benfica have the edge, even if by a small margin; they have kept their manager and from their pre-season matches, they continue to score goals for fun.

They may have lost width and Spanish goalkeeper Roberto may give the Eagles supporters some chills, but Porto are still a work in progress. They have more options now, but lost their last two outings against PSG and Bordeaux and still look some way off their best. What do you think?

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Avoiding second season syndrome

2010-08-04T09:27:00Z

Second season syndrome is a common malaise in football.

Usually, after enjoying an above average season, teams or players are not able to handle the increased expectations and end up disappointing in the following campaign.

One-time England international Michael Ricketts is a prime example of someone who suffered from that disease, but there are other examples such as former Porto striker Pena or the 2007/08 União de Leiria side.

The past season saw Braga achieve their best-ever league position and naturally teams will be more wary of the havoc the 2009/10 runners-up can cause.

In a domestic league as asymmetrical as the Portuguese, the first step to avoid falling back to mid-tier obscurity is to keep both the manager and the core of last year’s squad and kudos to club supremo António Salvador for doing just that.

Still, the first real test for Braga was against Celtic for the third Qualifying Round of the Champions League and, to the surprise of many, they battered the Scots with a 3-0 success. Can this be an early sign of things to come? If it is, the 2010/11 edition of the Portuguese League is going to be anything but boring!

Strengths

They were able to keep Domingos Paciência and the majority of their squad, while making some shrewd pieces of business in the transfer market.

Selling World Cup-inflated Eduardo to Genoa for €4M and getting Quim for free would have been genius if it wasn’t for the fact the former Benfica goalkeeper would rupture his Achilles tendon in training (they later signed Artur Moraes from AS Roma).

Also, and while not set in stone, talismanic midfielder Luis Aguiar is due to return to the club while Leandro Salino was brought in from Nacional to increase competition for places in the starting XI.

It is up front though that Braga have gained more depth with the additions of Lima, Keita and Hélder Barbosa, which can only be good as the team looks to keep their momentum on all fronts.

Weaknesses

Looking what has happened so far, their defence is still a question mark. Besides Eduardo and Evaldo, centre-back André Leone and right-back Filipe Oliveira also left after being unable to reach terms with the board for new contracts.

Nigerian left-back Elderson had a dream start against Celtic scoring a goal but it is still too early to say if the first-choice backline – key to last year’s performances – will be as effective this season.

Who should they buy?

Bruno Patacas and Rafik Halliche. Considering their budget constraints – at least when compared to the ‘Big Three’ – and the risk of paying an handsome amount of money for an unknown player from a different league, the Portugeezer would look internally for options that would add steel to the back four.

Nacional captain Patacas is a more than capable performer who has a lot of experience in the league, while Algerian defender Halliche had a good season at the Islanders while proving his pedigree for the national team. Nacional would probably be reluctant to do business, but Benfica would listen to a suitable offer for a centre-back that will not feature on their plans.

Who can they afford to lose?

Meyong. The Cameroonian player may have signed a new contract last month, but he didn’t play against Celtic and it’s not guaranteed he’ll be the team’s first-choice striker. Over the years he has attracted the interest of several teams in Europe and if a good offer came in, Domingos and Salvador might just consider offloading him.

As for tonight’s crunch encounter, the Arsenalistas will be playing at Celtic Park, a tough environment for any team, but the Portugeezer can’t see past a Braga victory in all honesty. Without a Henrik Larsson, Shunsuke Nakamura or even Aiden McGeady type of player available, Celtic are little more than an experienced side with average, industrious players.

Want a prediction? Celtic 2-1 Braga and bring on the play-off round...

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Swapping crown jewels for silverware

2010-08-03T09:23:00Z

If last summer you told a Sporting fan the Lions would be selling the crown jewels of their academy, he or she would probably burst out laughing in disbelief.

However, after completing the sale of Miguel Veloso to Genoa for €9 million plus Spaniard Alberto Zapater, Sporting signals a clear shift in their strategy. In recent years, everyone at the club was convinced that nurturing their own players was the best way to build a successful future for the club.

The truth is that Sporting last won the league in the 2001/02 season, and last year looked miles behind top trio Benfica, Braga and Porto. Whether it is because their academy products end up thriving for other clubs or are not up to the standard, Costinha and Bettencourt have realized the club needs to be more than a production line to remain competitive.

Joao Moutinho and Veloso, the most prized assets of their much-hailed academy, were sacrificed to raise funds, but Adrien Silva and Bruno Pereirinha also left, albeit on loan deals.

Fans and pundits are now starting to suggest the young players cannot achieve success on their own - sentiments fans of the Premier League will be all to familiar with, having heard similar about Manchester United and more recently Arsenal. The popular perception is that in order to succeed, Sporting will need to find the right balance between youth and experience.

It’s hard to say whether they’re right or wrong because, just like anywhere else, there is no flawless strategy, only multiple bad ones.

Had they moved forward with this decision two years ago, they would have been able to get more money. It’s not that the Miguel Veloso and João Moutinho deals were bad deals, but they weren’t great either; considering the current market conditions and the fact Sporting had enjoyed a truly dismal season, the Lions managed two fair pieces of business.

And let’s be honest: it’s not the midfield that should worry manager Paulo Sérgio. Provided he is able to get the best out of talented duo Marat Izmailov and Simon Vukcevic, Sporting should have enough quality and diversity in that department (adding to the duo above Pedro Mendes, Maniche, Matias Fernández and new boys Zapater and Valdés).

In fact, the biggest problem for Sporting will be replacing Liédson, who is in the twilight of his career. The talismanic Brazilian-born striker will be 33 later this year and will most likely lose his influence and ability to carry the team. Djaló, Saleiro and Postiga are not exactly prolific strikers, which doesn’t bode particularly well for Paulo Sérgio’s side, but there is still time to do more business before the start of the season on August 14.

The question remains, are Sporting better equipped to challenge for honours this term than in 2009/10? Can we actually say at the moment that Sporting have a better squad today than it had two months ago?

The Portugeezer doesn’t think so for now...but if the Lions use some of the money available to buy a striker and a right-back, they may well do.

'Little' Braga humble Celtic

2010-07-30T08:56:00Z

Regardless of what they achieved last season, many have immediately written off Braga’s chances of fighting for the title this season or even reaching the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

It may be a bit harsh for a team that ensured the title race went down to the last day, but the weight of expectations make things harder and many teams suffer from the so-called ‘second-season syndrome’.

Just like any other team that performs above their regular standards, Braga lost a few players: Eduardo was lured to the trattorias in Genoa, Evaldo left for Sporting and André Leone returned to Brazil.

They also lost sporting director Carlos Freitas to Panathinaikos this summer, which is why drawing Celtic instead of the arguably easier BSC Young Boys or KAA Gent so early in the season was perhaps a little bit unfair.

The Scots have a lot of experience in the competition, but if Neil Lennon’s men thought they were going to have an easy day at the office, they couldn’t have been any more wrong.

Little, unknown Braga not only outclassed them, but also gave them a football lesson at the beautiful AXA stadium and earned a result that, while not enough to secure passage to the playoff round of the competition, is quite a big step towards that goal.

With a commanding 3-0 lead – courtesy of goals from Alan, Elderson and Matheus – Braga are just a whisker away from knocking out the historical Glaswegian side.

Naysayers will say ‘You know, they scored from set-pieces and will find Celtic Park a very hostile environment‘. Celtic fans may even be thinking of the time they were hammered 5-0 away to Artmedia Bratislava, only to come very close to turn the tie around with a 4-0 victory in the home leg back in Glasgow.

Unlike the Slovakian side though, Braga are a more sophisticated team and the result was not merely a by-product of luck, form or high morale. The players have quality, the team knows how to play good football and more than that they seem up to the task.

They’re still some way off getting inside castle – the actual Champions League – but part one of their plan was executed flawlessly.

Goal of the match

Brazilian forward Matheus had already took the corner that allowed new boy Elderson to score on his official debut for the club, but he decided to take matters into his own hands in the 88th minute when he hammered a 35 yard screamer that gave the keeper no chance. A sublime goal that added some gloss to the score-line and sent the Braga faithful ecstatic.

Food for thought

People talk about whether Villas-Boas’s Porto and Paulo Sérgio’s Sporting can dethrone Benfica, but what about Braga? Manager Domingos Paciência remained at the helm of the club and they made astute moves in the market. But the question is; can they be considered contenders this season?

Can Benfica seal another title?

2010-07-26T16:26:00Z

OK folks, the Portugeezer is back from his off-season duties and ready to start looking forward to 2010/11. And while teams are still trying to identify the last pieces of their jigsaw, the first pre-season matches have already given us a hint of what we can expect.

Regardless of whether Benfica can claim another championship, Braga go one better than last year or Sporting or Porto make a triumphant return to the top, there is one thing we do know for certain: the league’s official name is now Liga ZON Sagres. Kudos to the marketing geniuses who pulled out this brilliant name from God knows where...

Anyway, let’s start this pre-season discussion buffet (the plates are to your right) with Benfica, current title holders and perennial contenders.

The Eagles enjoyed a tremendous 2009/2010 season, playing some of the finest football their supporters have seen in the last 20 years. However, the title win means two things: 1) they’re now the team to beat, and 2) they’ll have to handle more pressure to match both their domestic and European ambitions.

In the six matches they’ve played so far Benfica continue to show an above average goalscoring prowess, but are leaking more goals than last year.

Granted, “it’s just pre-season”, but questions are already emerging about Spanish goalkeeper Roberto Jiménez. One would expect a real asset for €8.5M, but worse than not being one is the fact he may become a liability. See for yourself his pre-season ‘greeting card’...

Strengths

So far, and baring in mind we're still some way off the start of the 2010/2011 season, the Eagles have managed to keep their most prized assets with the exception of Ángel Di Maria. They’ve acquired Nicolás Gaitán and Franco Jara, who look capable of becoming useful squad members. Moreover, players such as Ruben Amorim, Javi Garcia, Airton and Coentrão, arguably Portugal’s best player in the World Cup, are now more mature and experienced, and can offer more to the team.

Weaknesses

Even with their immense attacking ability, Benfica lack width. Gaitán is not a pure winger and lacks the raw pace and dribbling ability of Di Maria, now at Real Madrid. Surprisingly, they have loaned out Urretavizcaya, who could have been the one to take up the mantle of Di Maria. Apart from the wings, the aforementioned Roberto must be giving manager Jorge Jesus a migraine: the decision to splash that amount of money on Atletico’s third choice ‘keeper is something that may come back to haunt him.

Who should they buy?

Simão. The former Benfica captain is capable of playing on either wing and is not an invaluable piece at Atletico. With the Spanish club rumoured to be interested in Santi Cazorla, Simão may become available for a cut-price fee which would interest everyone involved. Not a Di Maria type of player, but would add experience, versatility and danger from set-pieces.

Who can they afford to lose?

Cardozo. While Benfica would like to retain the core of last season’s squad, they are neither immune to the financial crisis nor stubborn to the point of not selling a player if a ridiculous offer comes in. Losing David Luiz, Fábio Coentrão or Ramires right now would be a huge blow – except for the coffers obviously – but can the same be said about Óscar Cardozo? The Paraguayan striker was at his sharpshooting best last season with a total of 38 goals, but his limited pace and technique has made some people question whether another striker couldn’t have done more. With Jara in the squad and Kardec more settled, shouldn’t the €25 million offer from Shakhtar have been accepted (if it was ever submitted)?

The verdict

It has been a while – 1983/1984 to be precise – since Benfica last won back-to-back championships. Can they produce the same kind of free-flowing football that dazzled their opponents last season? Yes, but they have to keep the core of last season’s squad to be seen as front-runners...

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Sporting face Moutinho sale backlash

2010-07-06T11:05:00Z

Remember when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was on the verge of moving to Chelsea in 2005? Despite having been a Liverpool supporter his whole life, Gerrard admitted he considered it because he thought his club was some way off winning the Premiership title.

If such move would have gone through, the Blues would have signed one of the most complete midfielders in the world while Liverpool would probably have lost relevance in the title picture.

Perhaps now you can understand why João Moutinho moving to FC Porto is sending shockwaves through Portuguese football. In an unexpected move, the Dragons announced the signing of Sporting captain Moutinho – of whom Porto supremo Pinto da Costa had long expressed his admiration - for €10M plus young centre-back Nuno André Coelho, the biggest transfer between Portuguese clubs.

No matter what people from either side of the fence say, this a pivotal moment that will define one way or another both clubs’ 2010/11 season. But let’s try to put things in perspective and assess the move from three points of view: Porto, Sporting and Moutinho.

Porto

With this move, it seems clear they are about to sell Raul Meireles. The industrious midfielder enjoyed a poor domestic season, but was one of the best players for the Selecção at the World Cup which is why Porto are more than willing to do business.

In Moutinho, they get a player four years his junior who happens to have more potential and versatility. It is quite a big investment in Portuguese football terms, but the fact they were so willing to do the deal signals how highly they think of him.

Moutinho

The player had stagnated at Sporting. Their youngest captain at the tender age of 20 and with more than 200 games for the Lions, Moutinho is yet to really fulfil the potential which saw Sporting reject bids of upwards of €15M for his services from the likes of Everton in recent years.

He may have renewed his contract after this interest from England and beyond, but his influence waned and he didn’t seem as happy playing for the club and the relationship with the other players and the board appeared to have worsened.

The last straw was probably his omission from Carlos Queiroz’s World Cup squad and knowing he wouldn’t play Champions League football in the 2010/2010 season, he decided it was time to seek a move away from the club. FC Porto is a good fit for him and he has the tools to become an even finer player.

As for the question “Should he have looked elsewhere?”, the answer is not a straight forward one. A die-hard Sporting fan would liken his act to betrayal of biblical proportions, but a more rational observer would suggest few teams would offer him what Porto do. It is perhaps a question that needs to be reassessed in the future...

Sporting

President Bettencourt and some of the people at the club are already pressing the ‘damage control button’ and downplaying the sale of Moutinho. Make no mistake: it is a blow and it is a big one.

The supporters could understand selling an unsettled player to a foreign club, but to sell him to one of their fiercest rivals – even if both clubs have done business in the past – is an admission of inferiority. They’ve just lost their club captain and one of their youth academy’s poster boys, and while publicly they say ‘Good riddance’, deep down they know they’ll miss him.

Yes, they’re getting €10M and promising centre-back Nuno André Coelho who was highly regarded at Porto, but still one has to think how they’re planning to rebuild their squad. Bettencourt and Costinha may well be prepared for the backlash of this deal, because Moutinho will most likely be a success at Porto.

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Benfica splash cash on new keeper

2010-06-28T13:27:00Z

With the World Cup hogging the spotlight, it’s trickier to effectively report on the domestic developments.

Nevertheless, the latest juicy bit from Portugal is too good to pass up and a flabbergasted Portugeezer has to share what is going on at Benfica.

While the national team was getting ready for the clash against Brazil, Benfica quietly announced the signing of Spanish goalkeeper Roberto Jiménez, which would hardly be news if it wasn’t for the fact the former Atlético Madrid player cost €8.5M.

If you’re thinking “I bet that’s a typo”...well, you’re wrong because Benfica have to announce their transfers to the Portuguese securities market commission and the figure is unmistakable.

Now, let’s all calm down and analyze for a second what the Eagles have just done: Quim, their first-choice goalkeeper throughout the 2009/2010 season, while not a world-beater is a good keeper who has been at the club since 2004.

At 34, he’s not getting any younger, but he wasn’t the weak link of the team last season and he could always pass on his experience to a younger, promising custodian.

Still, with his contract expiring this summer, what did Jesus and Rui Costa decide to do? Let him go. Then again, there’s always the argument that Jesus had already stated he wanted a keeper capable of winning matches for his side.

Portuguese number one Eduardo was rumoured to be on his way to Estádio da Luz, but his minimum release fee of €4 millions quickly cooled down any interest from the reigning champions.

Argentinean international Sergio Romero and Spaniard David de Gea were some of the other options mooted, but the problem remained the same: they were all perceived as expensive.

So finally, after scouring the world for a goalkeeper good enough to save shots from God knows where, the club made up their mind and spent the lavish amount of €8.5M on Atletico Madrid’s third-choice goalkeeper, 24 year-old Roberto Jiménez.

Whether he’s good or not, truth is both De Gea and Asenjo are regarded as better shot-stoppers and that’s why Atletico loaned him out to Zaragoza last season in the first place.

And even if he turns out to be that good, the universal laws of supply-and-demand tell us that €8.5M is not the price you pay for a want-away keeper who didn’t play a league match in the 2008/2009 season for Recreativo Huelva.

With neither Atletico nor Jimenez keen on staying together, Benfica could have either got him on the cheap or looked elsewhere for a cheaper alternative (e.g.: Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio or Nacional goalkeeper Rafael Bracali).

Financially irresponsible and sportingly questionable, this signing seems more of a Woody Allen-ish fetish than a well thought out strategic decision to improve the club’s squad.

It shall be interesting to see his first performances for the Eagles nonetheless...

Claudia Schiffer, Mark Knopfler and 30 years of Portuguese madness

2010-05-25T09:06:00Z

What do Kevin Keegan and Sousa Cintra have in common? They both suffer from ‘foot-in-mouth’ syndrome and down the years have provided some one-liners that already belong to the Comedy Hall of Fame.

Colourful characters such as Keegan, Holloway and Atkison and quotes such as ‘The good news for Nigeria is that they're two-nil down very early in the game’ or ‘He’s using his strength and that is his strength – his strength.’ are popular among fans, but most people are not aware of the many, many pearls of wisdom shared by many figures in Portuguese football.

Well, if you have ever wanted to learn more about that, you’re in for a treat because the Portugeezer recently acquired a book entitled ’30 Anos de Mau Futebol’ (30 years of poor football) that contains some of the most illustrious and insightful quotes of the last 30 years.

Pull up a chair, grab some popcorn and brace yourself because here comes the Portugeezer’s top 10:

10. “The main problem was Queiroz, not as a manager but as a person. Some people around him put him above the club, it was sick! Even if it was a sudden passion for a woman, I would understand…”
Santana Lopes, former prime-minister and Sporting president, explaining what was wrong with his club in 1996.

9. “Eight goals in two matches may be a lot, but for God it is never too much…”
Former Setúbal striker Rashid Yekini, one of the best strikers to grace the Portuguese game in the 90s, explains his goal scoring prowess with the simplest of answers.

8. “In the dictionary of the teams managed by Artur Jorge, the word ‘loss’ does not exist…before the matches”
Gaffe-prone João Pinto –former FC Porto captain –revealed his admiration for then-manager Artur Jorge.

7. “Salgueiros defend when they don’t have the ball and attack when they have it…”
‘Captain Obvious’ Humberto Coelho in 1986 trying to describe the style employed by his Salgueiros side.

6. ”We are drug addicts of victories”
Joaquim Teixeira , FC Porto assistant manager in 1998, in a very awkward way of saying his team always wanted to win…

5. “Marítimo wants him? I’d also like to sleep with Claudia Schiffer but unfortunately that’s not possible…”
Manuel Barbosa, a prominent football agent in the 90s, about the rumoured interest from Marítimo in Benfica player Kenedy. Later in his career, Kenedy would move to Marítimo, which brings the question: has Barbosa met with Schiffer?

4. “It is true and I don’t know why all the fuss about that. I tell my sons the same when they annoy me.”
Fernando Pedrosa, former Vitória Setúbal supremo, when asked whether he had told his players to f*ck off! Come on, if his sons heard that, why wouldn’t the players?

3. “I believe in everything. I just don’t believe it is possible to shove an umbrella up in the ass and then open it….”
Raul Águas, Sporting manager in 1990 trying to assure the Lions were still in the title race with the most incredible of analogies. They didn’t win it...

2. “I had a conversation with the man and the player and the latter told me I could count on the former…”
That’s the textbook definition of eloquence. The poet was Álvaro Magalhães, GD Chaves manager in 1998, who was trying to say he could count on Croatian defender Denis Putnik.

1. “Mark Knopfler? I don’t doubt he is a good player, but our team is already closed”
Apparently not a big fan of the Dire Straits, Sousa Cintra, former Sporting supremo and one of the most active contributors to the book, spoke his mind about singer-turned-football player Knopfler who was going to perform at Estádio de Alvalade the following day.

This is a man who once tried to toss away a bottle of water while driving - with his window closed...

Have more funny quotes you would like to share? Then please feel free to post them! Some may forever be lost in translation, but others are definitely easier to share with our English-speaking audience!

Porto see off Chaves to end tough season on a high

2010-05-17T08:50:00Z

It has been 11 years since we have seen GD Chaves in the Portuguese top flight. The historical club from Trás-os-Montes is today a mere shadow of its former self and the time when Chaves were regarded as very tough nut to crack at their home turf is long gone.

Still, despite a poor season that saw them relegated from Liga Vitalis, Chaves rolled back the years and went to the final of the Portuguese Cup for the very first time in their history. On their way to Estádio do Jamor, Chaves defeated Liga Sagres boys Paços de Ferreira and Naval and were looking for yet another upset.

Their opponents: FC Porto. The Dragons didn’t enjoy the best of seasons, but after the return of trick artist Hulk their form greatly improved and they wanted to end the 2009/2010 campaign on a high with another piece of silverware and some closure.

People usually say there are no favourites in a Cup final as ‘anything can happen’, but only the most diehard Chaves fan would actually believe in a famous triumph over Porto.

It was the Trás-os-Montes side that had the first real opportunity though, as forward Edu saw his effort hit the post after making a gut-busting run onto a long pass. They would get a reality check five minutes later when Colombian midfielder Freddy Guarín broke the deadlock with a low shot that keeper Rui Rego should have saved

From the beginning it was impossible not to notice the gap in quality between the two sides and Hulk in particular created many problems for Chaves’s sluggish backline. The Dragons eventually reached a second goal in the 23rd minute when Belluschi picked out Hulk who had all the time in the world to tee-up hitman Falcao for the easy tap-in

Before the break Porto continued to push for more goals and wasted a few clear cut opportunities, but in the second-half Jesualdo Ferreira’s men slowed down the tempo and were happy to control possession.

A late lapse from Bruno Alves allowed sub Clement to hit one back from Chaves and ensured a more dramatic finish, but the unlikely equalized never came

In the end and as expected, Porto lifted their 15th Portuguese Cup, a consolation prize to a dismal season while Chaves can hold their heads high as they never stopped fighting against a vastly superior opponent.

Porto Starting XI
Helton; Miguel Lopes, Bruno Alves, Rolando, Alvaro Pereira; Fernando, Raul Meireles, Guarín, Belluschi; Hulk, Falcao

Chaves Starting XI
Rego; Danilo, Lameirão, Ricardo Rocha, Eduardo; Bamba, Bruno Magalhães, Castanheira, Samson, Edu; Diop

Talking points

Jesualdo Ferreira was coy about his future at Porto, but despite the public support of some players, the veteran tactician still looks odds-on to leave. Is it the end of a cycle at the club or should Ferreira be given another opportunity?

After the match, Bruno Alves admitted he would like better conditions for both his life and career, a statement that can be read as a desire to play in a better league. With Lyon expected to offer a fee in the €15-20 million region, will the club captain leave? And what would that mean for Porto?

Had Chaves played in Liga Vitalis as valiantly as they did last Sunday, would they be relegated? II Divisão - Portuguese third tier - is a tough place to be stuck in as not even the winner is guaranteed to be promoted, but can they pull a Newcastle and bounce back in just one season?

Has Queiroz caused problems for himself with his World Cup selection?

2010-05-14T14:39:00Z

When Carlos Queiroz announced his 24-men squad – not a typo, it’s just that the national coach will later drop one unlucky spare wheel – few were expecting big surprises, as 90% of the team is a no-brainer.

However the remaining 10% are at least debatable and much like the latest performances of the Portuguese team lack a certain something.

Allow the Portugeezer to explain himself:

1. Conservative squad

The national manager was never known for his boldness and this squad pretty much confirms it.

While it’s obvious Queiroz is still unsure over Pepe’s fitness - hence announcing a 24 man squad - even if he drops one of Pepe, Ricardo Costa or Zé Castro, he’ll be taking five centre-backs to South Africa.

Why would he do that? We possess accomplished performers for that position and we should be looking for players who could add something different in the midfield or attack.

People may complain about Moutinho and Rúben Amorim not being included in the squad, but they would probably not be the best options.

The duo are often praised for their steady, consistent play, but you could make an argument that you’d rather have a bit more instant impact from a player being used in a substitute role. Furthermore, let’s not forget Amorim is yet to play a single game for the Selecção.

The player who could eventually bring something different would be Carlos Martins (yes you read it right!). The 28-year old midfielder enjoyed a good season at Benfica, even if he was not a starter week in week out, and on a good day can score from distance and pick out forwards with clever passes.

His fiery temperament and inconsistent form may mean he’s unlikely to feature in the starting XI, but as an impact player he could certainly play a part at some stage.

2. Keepers’ criteria

It’s strange to see Eduardo, Beto and Daniel Fernandes when it could have easily been Quim, Hilário and Rui Patrício!

To be fair, Eduardo has been Queiroz’s first-choice for some time now and he fully deserves his inclusion in the team, especially considering his magnificent season at Braga.

However, Beto has only played once for the national team and he has only established himself as a starter at FC Porto in the last few games of the season, which begs the question: why was he and not one of Hilário or Quim selected?

There was much fuss when then-manager Scolari shunned iconic goalkeeper Vitor Baia – at the time, Portuguese and European champion - but isn’t the non-inclusion of Benfica goalkeeper Quim the same case on a smaller scale?

The Daniel Fernandes call-up is more of a question of personal taste than anything else. He’ll be Portugal’s third choice goalkeeper and Patrício may already be too big for that role.

3. The toll of expectations

Everyone pretty much agrees that the Portuguese team doesn’t cope well with lofty expectations, but Queiroz was still very adamant on his self-imposed target of mimicking the World Cup 2006 feats, where we reached the semi-finals of the tournaments.

In all honesty though, that may be a bit unrealistic at the moment.

Despite the third place in the FIFA Ranking, Portugal failed to shine throughout the qualifying campaign; we had to settle for a second place in a relatively easy group and were then forced to play Bosnia to clinch our ticket to South Africa.

The group of players chosen by Queiroz has enough talent to do well in the tournament, but the overall quality of the squad is lower than the Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006 squads, thanks to the decline of the aging ‘golden generation’.

There’s no Figo, of course, and a few players such as Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and Paulo Ferreira are already past their prime, which coupled with our recent lacklustre displays are enough reasons to be cautions and downplay any hype this team may or not have.

World Cup 24-men provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Braga), Beto (FC Porto), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis)

Defenders: Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel (Valencia), Fabio Coentrão (Benfica), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Rolando (FC Porto), Pepe (Real Madrid), Duda (Malaga), Zé Castro (Deportivo)

Midfielders: Tiago (Atlético Madrid), Deco (Chelsea), Raúl Meireles (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting), Pedro Mendes (Sporting)

Wingers/Forwards: Simão Sabrosa (Atlético Madrid), Nani (Manchester United), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Peterburg), Liédson (Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen)

What do you think? Has Queiroz made the right choices? Can we realistically achieve the semi-finals of the tournament?

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Benfica seal title as question marks already surround Sporting-bound Sergio

2010-05-12T08:59:00Z

At last Liga Sagres has a winner, and (…drum roll…) it is Benfica!

Over 64,000 supporters packed Estádio da Luz to see their team being crowned 2009/10 Champions and when Paraguayan hitman Óscar Cardozo scored in the third minute, few believed the Eagles would somehow drop the ball.

Things would get even easier eight minutes later, when Wires was sent-off for a tough challenge on Brazilian midfielder Ramires.

With everything seemingly going for them, Benfica controlled the match without pushing too hard for a second goal. However that move suddenly looked to have backfired as Rio Ave somehow leveled through Ricardo Chaves in the 72nd minute to give Braga a glimmer of hope.

But that late drama would only last seven minutes as Cardozo grabbed his second goal to not only confirm the title but also surpass Porto forward Radamel Falcao as the league’s top goalscorer.

As for Braga, even though they were only able to claim the runners-up sport – which is a still an immense achievement considering their expectations at the beginning of the season – they can hold their heads high after a terrific campaign that drew many supporters and will see their team fighting for a place in the Champions League, ‘le crème de la crème’ of continental football. They have surely come a long way and it will be interesting to see how well they will fare next season.

Are Benfica deserving champions?

Though the Eagles have played the best football the Portugueezer has ever seen them play (hey, I am young!), their title isn’t without its shades of controversy: the tunnel controversies, some dubious penalty awards and the relatively high number of matches played against 10-men.

Managers usually whisper that the number of decisions for and against them pretty much evens out, but it is hard not to wonder how the Eagles would have coped with more decisions going against them.

Marítimo pip Guimarães to final Europa League berth

Guimarães enjoyed a somewhat slow start, but under Paulo Sérgio the team eventually blossomed into a rather plucky and organized side and for a while it seemed like they could dethrone Sporting from fourth spot.

However, they will be very disappointed to miss out on next season’s Europa League at the last hurdle as Mitchell Van der Gaag steered the Islanders to a surprising 1-2 away win to secure an unexpected fifth place.

Worth watching is Marítimo’s winner in the 81th minute, an example of simple yet beautiful team play!

Thumbs up to the young Dutch manager and thumbs down to Paulo Sérgio who will now be heading to Sporting with more question marks surrounding him…

Welcome Beira-Mar and Portimonense!

The duo were in pole position to clinch promotion ahead of the final round of matches in Portugal’s second tier, and both claimed wins in the final day (Beira-Mar 1-0 Carregado, Oliveirense 0-1 Portimonense) to join the big fish in the scenic pond of the Liga Sagres 2010/11 season.

How they will perform and whether they are capable of beating the drop next year remains to be seen, but we’d welcome any opinions on the matter below.

Just one point of interest to finish off, next season will be first since 1988/1989 that the Portuguese top-flight features two Algarvian teams (Portimonense and Olhanense). It is also interesting to note that in a region with few developed clubs , nobody will play at Estádio do Algarve, one of the stadiums specifically built for the Euro 2004.

And to think AC Milan and Internazionale share their stadium!

RESULTS Sun May 09: Paços Ferreira 2-2 Olhanense, Naval 0-1 Académica; Vitória Guimarães 1-2 Marítimo, Benfica 2-1 Rio Ave, Nacional 1-1 Braga; Sat May 08: União Leiria 1-4 Porto, Vitória Setúbal 1-2 Belenenses, Leixões 1-2 Sporting.

Only Benfica capitulation save Braga's title dream

2010-05-07T10:30:00Z

RESULTS Sun May 02: Rio Ave 0-0 Vitória Guimarães, Marítimo 2-0 Vitória Setúbal, Porto 3-1 Benfica, Belenenses 5-2 Leiria, Olhanense 1-0 Leixões, Sporting 0-1 Naval, Académica 3-3 Nacional, Braga 1-0 Paços Ferreira.

You know the old saying ‘It ain’t over till it’s over’? Well, that pretty much sums up the title race in Portugal at this moment.

With decisive issues still to be settled at both ends of the table, all of last weekend’s round 29 matches started at 20.15 GMT adding an extra bit of intrigue and excitement to the Liga Sagres.

The matches at Porto and Braga could have decided the title – they didn’t by the way but you probably knew that already – while Leixões had their last chance to avoid relegation as they visited fellow strugglers Olhanense.

The ever-fierce ‘Clássico’ between Porto and Benfica hogged the media spotlight in the week running up to the penultimate round of matches, as newspapers tried to milk the clash in every conceivable way (other than literally).

However, even with such big hype-job, the Portugeezer found the match to be a fairly lukewarm affair, and that’s probably being generous.

From the start it seemed clear that Benfica were happy to play for the draw, while Porto wanted to avenge their Carlsberg Cup final defeat and make their fierce rivals pay for the infamous tunnel controversy that helped derail their season.

The Dragons broke the deadlock three minutes before the break when Bruno Alves scored with a powerful header from a corner, but when Jorge Fucille was sent-off at the beginning of the second half, it looked like the tables would be turned.

Brazilian centre-back Luisão would eventually level matters in the 56th minute, but the Eagles’ celebrations were short lived as forgotten striker Ernesto Farías would put Porto in front again just 3 minutes later.
The game remained delicately poised until Fernando Belluschi produced a piece of magic in the 82th minute.

The Argentinean playmaker nutmegged Pablo Aimar and unleashed a powerful shot from just outside the box that stunned Benfica goalkeeper Quim and sent the stadium into raptures.
After the match, both teams complained about the referee – can they ever stop whining?

Several questions were raised by the two sides: was Porto defender Jorge Fucile wrongly sent-off? Should Fábio Coentrão and Luisão have been sent-off? Should Benfica have been awarded a penalty when Hulk handled the ball in the box? Why was Porto boss Jesualdo Ferreira sent to the stands?

No matter what, after all the dust settles, the fact is Porto were the better team and they taught Benfica a valuable lesson: don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.

Since Braga narrowly defeated Paços de Ferreira at home with a goal from Meyong, the 2009/10 champions will be decided in the very last day.

Yet Braga are still left praying for Benfica capitulation on the final day in order to clinch the title. They have to win their match at Nacional and hope Benfica lose at home to Rio Ave, which could be a big ask given the Eagles have dropped just two points at Estadio da Luz this season. If Braga can somehow pull it off, it would certainly make for one of the most amazing league endings ever, wouldn’t it?

Meanwhile, Leixões will accompany Belenenses in the Liga Vitalis next season, as they were edged out by Olhanense at Algarve.

The Matosinhos side has been far from the heights reached last season and rarely looked a top-flight team which is why their relegation doesn’t come out as a surprise.

Just like Belenenses, maybe now it is time to regroup and rethink the way the club has been run.

Talking points

Benfica or Braga: which side will claim the championship? They were definitely the most consistent teams and the ones that played better, so either one of them would be deserving champions.

The odds clearly favour Benfica, but stranger things have happened in life...Regardless of the outcome, kudos to Braga for their incredible campaign and for the Champions League spot. That is a huge, huge achievement in itself.

The Liga Vitalis will also witness a nail-biting finish as five teams can still clinch the much-coveted promotion.

Beira-Mar look to be in pole position as they have 51 points and will host basement boys Carregado in the last match but the other spot is far from settled.

Yet the key clash could be second placed Portimonense's (51 points) trip to fourth placed promotion rivals Oliveirense (49 points). Elsewhere third placed Feirense (49 points) and fifth placed Santa Clara (48 points) will play against Estoril and Aves respectively.

Anything can happen and it is almost guaranteed that throughout the 90 minutes the top two will change a couple of times.

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Braga keep up the pressure on Benfica as title race hots up

2010-04-27T09:40:00Z

RESULTS Fri Apr 23: Rio Ave 0-0 Marítimo; Sat Apr 24: Vitória Setúbal 2-5 Porto, Benfica 5-0 Olhanense; Sun Apr 25: Nacional 1-1 Paços Ferreira, Leixões 1-3 Académica, Naval 0-4 Braga, Leiria 1-1 Sporting; Mon Apr 26: Vitória Guimarães 2-0 Belenenses

Wow, what a terrific weekend for the Portuguese League!

Not so much for a particular match – though there were plenty of goals – but mostly due to the myriad of people that flocked to the stadiums in support of their team. Why can’t it be like this week in week out?

With the European places pretty much decided, the main interest was to see whether this round would produce the 2009/10 champions.

Benfica hosted Olhanense on Saturday hoping a good result would heap the pressure on Braga and cause a wobble, and the Eagles executed the first part flawlessly.

If the 62,000 supporters were not enough to push the home side on to victory, Olhanense midfielder Delson was.

The Brazilian handled Weldon’s cross inside the box in the third minute and would be sent off just five minutes later when he made a reckless tackle on Angel di Maria.

After Oscar Cardozo scored from the spot, Benfica never looked in trouble of dropping any points and naturally created many opportunities throughout the match.

Di Maria scored the second goal and in the second half Cardozo would go on to complete a hat-trick before Pablo Aimar added some gloss to the scoreline as it finished 5-0 to the league leaders.

Many teams may have crumbled under that pressure to perform, but not so this incredible Braga side.

Seven thousand roaring supporters travelled to Figueira da Foz and must have left the stadium with a strong sense of pride as Braga dominated the match and thrashed Naval 4-0.

Uruguayan playmaker Luis Aguiar broke the deadlock in the 24th minute with a stunning free-kick, and then when Brazilian forward Matheus doubled the title chasers’ advantage a few minutes before half time, everyone knew any title decision would be left to the final two matches.

Six points continue to separate both teams and Benfica will now visit their nemesis Porto next weekend.

Considering Benfica’s poor record at Porto, the bad blood between the two clubs this season and the Dragons’ hunger to inflict some damage to their rivals, one may think everything will be settled in the final day.

It would certainly make an intriguing end to this season, but let’s wait and we’ll see how the ‘Clássico’ plays out next week.

Elsewhere, in-form Porto striker Radamel Falcao received a controversial yellow card in the match against Setúbal that makes him unavailable for the titanic clash against Benfica.

After all the controversy with the harsh punishments of Hulk and Sapunaru, have Porto genuine reasons to feel aggrieved? We will discuss this in greater detail come the end of the season, but will the 2009/10 campaign ultimately be tainted by these off-field quarrels?

Vitória Guimarães are ending the season on a high as they close in on a respectable fifth place finish. As announced last week, manager Paulo Sérgio will be heading to Sporting next season in a somewhat surprising move by the Lions.

The Guimarães manager has a CV in many ways similar to Carvalhal’s which begs two questions:

1) Is Paulo Sérgio the right man to bring silverware to the club?
2) Are Bettencourt and Costinha showing lack of ambition by signing a manager who is unproven at top level?

Leixões wasted a good chance to close the gap on Olhanense and now have just one more chance to avoid the much-dreaded demotion to Liga Vitalis.

Fernando Castro Santos’ men are four points behind Olhanense and the two will be facing one another next weekend.

Anything less than a victory and Leixões will accompany Belenenses on the painful summer journey to the second tier of Portuguese football. Can they do the unthinkable and leapfrog the Algarvians in the league table?

Goal of the round

Braga star Luis Aguiar takes the cake because he scored two good goals. The first, as mentioned above, was a delightful curler from 30 yards out that paved the way to his team’s victory.

His second goal, though not as good, was a clever lob that settled the match in Braga’s favour. Are FC Porto regretting the decision to ditch him two years ago?

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Benfica edge closer to title after derby success

2010-04-14T11:00:00Z

RESULTS Tue Apr 13: Benfica 2-0 Sporting; Mon Apr 12: Vitória Setúbal 1-1 Académica; Sun Apr 11: Marítimo 3-3 Belenenses, Leixões 2-0 Paços Ferreira, Vitória Guimarães 1-1 Olhanense; Sat Apr 10: Leiria 1-2 Braga, Rio Ave 0-1 Porto; Fri Apr 09: Naval 0-0 Nacional.

As the title race goes down to the wire, the much anticipated clash between Benfica and Sporting was the highlight of the round.

Even though the Eagles enjoyed a six-point gap to title chasers Braga, they knew an eventual loss against the pressure-free Lions would weaken their position as they still have to play Porto away.

Furthermore, tradition in the Lisbon derby says that the team playing worse is usually the team that ends up winning the match.

Maybe that’s why it wasn’t that surprising to see Benfica starting the match in a way reminiscent to how the Portugeezer plays FIFA on the Playstation: with no creativity and an uncanny ability to remain in his own midfield. Not that Sporting were doing much better though as striker Liédon barely had any support from their teammates.

At half-time the 0-0 result flattered the Eagles and for a while it seemed they would settle for a draw instead of going all-out for the win.

The second half was different though as Benfica pushed for a goal and started looking more dangerous. The goal came in the 68th minute as Carlos Martins ghosted past two defenders and his long cross met Fábio Coentrão who assisted Cardozo for the easy tap-in.

If some were expecting some sort of reaction from Sporting, they would be left disappointed as the Lions kept quiet and unable to pose a real challenge to the home side.

The match virtually ended 10 minutes later. Ramires found Pablo Aimar with clevery through pass and the Argentinean dribbled goalkeeper Rui Patricio before sending the ball into the empty net. After that goal, the Eagles cruised to register another invaluable victory and move closer to the title.

No matter how the season will end for Braga –and it seems they will be able to clinch at least the runners-up spot – the 2009/2010 campaign will be a historic one for the Arsenalistas.

Working on a much tighter budget, Braga has played attractive football, made the right moves in the market (and that includes selling right-back João Pereira in January by the way) and were simply a cut above the other ‘non-Big Three’ teams. The fact they’re still going strong under pressure confirms how well they have performed.

On Saturday’s match against Leiria, they did what they were asked to, earning a 1:2 success over one of the surprise packages of the season. Leiria scored first, but two goals in 3 minutes from Meyong and Rentería ensured Braga would keep their title bid alive.

At the other end of the table, Leixões were given a lifeline in their quest to avoid relegation as they beat Paços de Ferreira 2-0 at home. It will still be quite tough for them – Olhanense is 4 points away – but at least the 3 points won may give them something to build on.

Can Benfica still finish in second? The match against Sporting was on paper their second most difficult match and should they win at Académica – the other remaining away match apart from the one against Porto – it will be all but certain they’ll be the next Portuguese champions.

This time is for real. Belenenses were saved from relegation last season after Estrela da Amadora were deemed bankrupt. Unless something similar happens – and it doesn’t look like it will – they will be playing Liga Vitalis football next season. And deservingly one must add...

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Much-hyped Benfica look to come of age at Anfield

2010-04-08T11:00:00Z

Benfica face Liverpool tonight in one of the biggest matches in their recent history.

At the legendary Anfield, the Eagles are fighting for more than a place in the Europa League semi-finals; they’re fighting to return to the glory days of the 1960s, when the club was respected and feared in equal measure worldwide.

In the first leg, Benfica recorded a narrow 2-1 victory courtesy of two penalties from Paraguayan striker Cardozo, but the result has left the tie very open, everything to play for.

Considering what happened in that game and taking into account their most recent performances, The Portugeezer would say the clash between the two teams is a 50-50 bet, but the Portuguese side will be rightly cautious ahead of the game.

Even though Benfica beat a plucky Naval side 4-2 at the weekend, they had to overcome a two-goal deficit and looked sluggish at times.

The match will certainly have drained the Reds’ stars and coach Jorge Jesus admitted some of the players are a bit tired, but in all honesty he only has himself to blame.

Squad players such as Sidnei, Ruben Amorim or Weldon could and should have been used more often to ensure the team could match their ambitions in every competition.

The Eagles played on Monday and had one day less to rest which on paper may give Liverpool a slight physical edge.

Benfica will also be missing Javier Saviola. The pint-sized Argentinean forward has been a revelation this season and is usually the key to open defences and free Cardozo.

Unfortunately, he fractured a toe a fortnight ago and will be sorely missed.

Weldon is injured, Vélodrome hero Kardec is not ready to start and Nuno Gomes does not possess the required match fitness either which means Pablo Aimar will likely be deployed in the supporting striker role.

Liverpool also hold home advantage, and playing at Anfield is a tough job for any visiting team.

The incredible atmosphere at the stadium lifts the team and guides the players to a better performance, especially on a European night.

When the Scousers start a rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” one realises they actually mean it.

Yet there are also reasons for Benfica to feel optimistic going into tonight’s game.

Liverpool and Rafa Benítez are not exactly enjoying their happiest days.

They stumbled at Birmingham City last weekend and the Spanish tactician shocked everyone when he decided to replace the prolific Fernando Torres with the ineffective David N’Gog.

Captain Gerrard, in particular, was astonished by a decision that may have affected the team spirit. After all, Liverpool are in real danger of missing out on a UEFA Champions League spot for next season.

Benfica will also go into the tie with that goal advantage. If they play a clever game, they’ll invite Liverpool to go forward so that they can hit the English side on the counter, which is certainly one of their strengths with the likes of Angel di Maria in the side.

Expect through-balls similar to the one made by David Luiz against Naval to be employed in order to exploit Di Maria’s pace.

Prediction: Liverpool 1 Benfica 1

This is a tricky affair but The Portugeezer is making a bold prediction.

Both sides on their day are able to kill off a match, but it may well be that both lack the mental and physical strength to deliver a knock-out blow tonight.

Though previously rated as a 50-50 encounter, should Benfica survive the expected initial onslaught from the home side, they’ll have a better chance of going through.

They’ll have to sweat blood and tears, but if they play like they did against Marseille, they will be in the semi-finals.

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Return of the Incredible Hulk overshadows Carvalhal exit

2010-04-07T10:14:00Z

Last week Benfica beat Braga 1-0 in the all-important title battle and cemented their position as big favourites to be crowned Portuguese Champions.

The match was far from exciting but overall Benfica were the better side and will be more than happy to have opened a six-point gap to their closest rivals.

If that match was supposed to be the main dish of the previous weekend’s feast, the return of FC Porto forward Hulk was able to at least share the spotlight.

The explosive Brazilian had been handed a four-month ban for the infamous ‘tunnel-gate’ back in the December 20 match against Benfica, but the Liga Disciplinary Committee’s decision was incredibly overturned by the Federation Justice Council.

His suspension was therefore slashed to just three matches, which means that the player ended up spending 14 more matches on the sidelines than he should have.

The whole controversy stemmed from the status of the stewards in the law which wasn’t very clear: should they be regarded as match officials or not?

"It doesn't bloody taste of oranges..."

That tiny detail was the difference between getting a minimum of three months or a minimum of three matches.

Now, the Portugeezer is no expert when it comes to the finer laws of the game, but regardless of what the right decision may have been – if there’s only one, that is – one thing seems as clear as crystal: the whole process was a disgrace that should embarrass every person from the governing bodies of Portuguese football.

FC Porto knew the player would be suspended for either three matches or three months. Even if the law could be read in the two distinct ways, the final decision should have always come out before the ‘best-case’ scenario, i.e. before the third match of suspension.

The members of the Liga Disciplinary Committee responsible (namely Ricardo Costa) have no other option but to resign. They lost every bit of credibility they still had and any further decision taken by the same people will be taken with a grain of salt....

Who’s in charge of Liga Sagres affairs after all? The Portuguese Federation oversees the Portuguese Cup and the third and fourth tiers of our football, but ultimately they were the ones to decide. Two bodies governing one league is never a good thing...

Porto are outraged and rightly so; they were without an important player for 17 matches and they should naturally seek compensation.

Porto supremo Pinto da Costa floated a staggering amount of €17M to account for the player devaluation and the hypothetical failure to qualify for the Champions League, but while that seems a bit over the top, at the very least the player’s salaries ought to be paid back.

Hulk was able to return to action in the match against Belenenses – which Porto comfortably won 3-0 – and to make his point the trick artist scored one goal and layed on two assists.

His goal was actually the best of the week, as he blasted one of his trademark rockets into the roof of the net.

"You won't like me when I'm....scoring goals against you"

In other news – if you can call it that – Sporting announced that Carlos Carvalhal is due to leave at the end of the season.

From the very beginning, it seemed obvious that Carvalhal was an ugly duckling type of figure at the club and looking back there were many things hinting he would be only a short-term replacement for Paulo Bento.

These included the announcement of his appointment at two in the morning, the lack of a proper press conference to confirm his arrival, the six-month deal and the constant rumours that he was never President Betterncourt’s first option.

For Carvalhal, Sporting was like the rollercoaster you only ride once...

"Stop Sporting, I want to get off..."

Who will be the next in line for the Lions? André Villas-Boas seems to have caught the eye of both Bettencourt and Costinha, but Paul Le Guen and Jean Tigana have also been mooted in the press.

If those three names are indeed the only ones in their shortlist, then the Portugeezer would go for the Académica manager in a heartbeat.

He’s a good prospect, has a scouting background and actually knows Portuguese football. It may be a bit early for him, but the French duo would also need time to get acquainted to the peculiar world of Portuguese football.

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A cracking weekend that changed little

2010-04-06T14:00:00Z

It is not every day Liga Sagres sees so many goals in just one round, but last weekend offered a tally of 26 goals, which is even more impressive when considering that two matches ended in a 0-0 draw.

The match between Braga and Guimarães was the textbook definition of a thriller: five goals, four penalties, four red cards and an awful lot of controversy.

Guimarães had been the first team to defeat the Arsenalistas this season and knowing the fierce rivalry between both sides, many accurately predicted a tough match for the title chasers.

Interestingly the visitors were the first score, but Braga were able to come from behind as both Alan and Meyong scored from the spot.

The best was yet to come though as 10-men Guimarães were awarded a penalty in the second minute of injury time; Andrezinho scored what could have been the goal that dashed Braga’s title hopes, but there was still time for another goal.

Wason Rentería fell inside the box and the referee incredibly pointed to the spot for a fourth time and sent-off three Guimarães players for protesting the decision. Meyong made no mistake again and one minute later the match would end as Braga continue their relentless pursuit for an unprecedented title!

Porto defeated Marítimo at home in a match that witnessed a frenetic start with three goals in just 8 minutes! With 15 seconds played, Japanese midfielder Taka took advantage of the initial apathy and scored from outside the box to give the away side a surprising lead.

The Dragons weren’t fazed though and 3 minutes later Radamel Falcao scored what will probably be the goal of the season. Hulk - who put in another good performance - crossed from the right flank and the Colombian striker connected with the most beautiful of bicycle kicks.

Late coming spectators were probably still trying to get into the stadium when Raul Meireles put the Dragons in front with a speculative header that goalkeeper Peçanha was not able to hold.

Buoyed by their encouraging start, Porto wouldn’t allow the Islanders to get back in the game again and pushed for more goals. Falcao would eventually score his 20th goal in the league and Hulk added a fourth to secure a more than comfortable victory for the Dragons.

Sporting entertained Rio Ave at home and gave Carlos Brito’s men a high five. The man of the match was the usually ineffective Yannick Djaló who scored a hattrick; Djaló actually scored the other wonder goal of the round as he acrobatically volleyed home a cross from Liédson.

Liédson and Moutinho scored the other goals in a game where Sporting were by far the better side.

It is also very curious how quickly Marat Izmailov fell out of favour with the club.

The Russian, who hadn’t featured since his apparent refusal to play against Atlético Madrid, came on in the 72th minute under loud jeers from the Sporting faithful but would be sent off 10 minutes later after a foolish tackle. Pretty sums up his current demise...

Benfica played against Naval on Monday knowing they could not afford to slip-up but the home side was in no mood to make things easy for the high-flying Eagles.

Naval reached a 2-0 lead with just 12 minutes played to test Benfica’s title credentials, but Jorge Jesus’ men were quick to react. Weldon – a surprising inclusion in the starting XI – scored two goals in 3 minutes to draw level and Di Maria would put his team in front before the break much to the relief of many Benfica supporters watching the game.

The current table-toppers controlled the match in the second half, especially after Cardozo killed off the match in the 55th minute, and will be happy for their inspired reaction; however, it is impossible to overlook the fact Benfica are a team running out of gas. The players looked tired and the team as a whole looked sluggish. Do they have enough in the tank to beat Sporting?

Round 25 Results: Mon Apr 05: Naval 2-4 Benfica; Sat Apr 03: Olhanense 2-2 Vitória Setúbal, Paços Ferreira 0-0 Belenenses, Académica 0-0 Leiria, Porto 4-1 Marítimo; Fri Apr 02: Braga 3-2 Vitória Guimarães, Nacional 1-0 Leixões, Sporting 5-0 Rio Ave.

Why Liverpool will lose to Benfica this evening

2010-04-01T10:49:00Z

Benfica play Liverpool tonight in the quarterfinals the Europa League, but while many will rate the English side as favourites, the Portugeezer thinks otherwise.

Liverpool areof course a very good team and the tie will no doubt be incredibly tight, but many factors play against Rafa Benitéz’s side.

Portuguese teams traditionally fare well against English sides.

Yes, both Arsenal and Chelsea beat Porto in the Champions League this season, but let’s not forget Benfica crushed Everton in the Europa League group stages, before Sporting knocked the Toffees out of the competition in the first knock-out round.

Porto and Benfica have both knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League in recent years and, perhaps more intriguingly, four years ago Benfica stunned then-European Champions Liverpool with a 3-0 aggregate success.

Simao (not pictured) scores past Reina in 2006

The two matches will also be a clash of differing styles and that may not be something that works in the favour of Liverpool, currently an inconsistent side who usually shine more brightly on the big occasion when playing the underdog role.

The Reds trashed Real Madrid last year and have been Chelsea’s worst nightmare for the last few years, but this year however they eliminated in a group where they were top seeds.

They are struggling in the league as well, with their fight with Tottenham and Manchester City for the much-coveted fourth place surely their top priority, so they may not be fully focused on their match against Benfica.

The Eagles themselves have been playing attractive football this term.

At home in front of 60,000 roaring supporters, the Eagles will try to attack from the first minute and they boast the options to make Liverpool suffer.

Many of the Benfica ‘stars’ are still unknown in the international arena and that may just provide a surprise boost to the Eagles. It is not a surprise to read Benitéz acknowledging Luisão and Aimar (the more seasoned players) in an interview but the truth is that there are many others, such as David Luiz, Saviola, Javi Garcia and Ramires that may tip the scales in favour of the Eagles.

Benfica have already tasted success this season in the League Cup

Having said that, three titanic individual battles are likely to erupt throughout the two legs and their result may be pivotal to ultimately decide the outcome of the match.

David v Goliath

Fernando Tores is back and that’s never good news for the opposition. Nando is scoring once again, so he’ll most likely cause a lot of problems to Benfica’s defence.

Few people are able to stop Torres, but David Luiz has the ability to at least minimize the damage. He’s strong, quick and good with the feet and while this may be a tremendous test for him, it is also an opportunity to confirm Luiz as one of the best young centre-backs in Europe.

The 22 year-old curly-haired Brazilian has, apart from the odd blunder that his youth still allows, excelled this term and a commanding performance against Liverpool may still grant him a last-minute ticket to South Africa.

Argentinean flair v English resolve

Ángel Di Maria has blossomed this season into a more consistent performer.

Di Maria’s pace, trickery and talent were always there but the winger used to lack end-product and seemed to remain anonymous 80% of the time.

He has improved and Benfica have a meaner edge with the Argentinean.

Glen Johnson, meanwhile, was hailed as the man to finally bring some stability at fullback for Liverpool, and he has quickly established himself as a very reliable defender, when fit.

Argentina's Di Maria would love to see off Liverpool

Will be able to shut out Di Maria? That’s one very interesting duel to follow, but an inspired Di Maria backed by the hot atmosphere of the stadium may be a little too much for the former Chelsea defender, who is renowned for being better offensively than defensively.

Blue Kenyan v The Little Chief

Good, solid nicknames, these. This is a battle for the long-distance runners. These two spend most of their time outrunning their opponents, tackling and doing the dirty work for the sake of the team.

Javier Mascherano is a true holding midfielder, while Ramires is more of a ‘number 8’ that plays on the right side of the midfield, but both will hope their stamina can give their team the upper hand.

Because controlling the midfield is usually the key to controlling possession and dictating play, the one on top may be the player who tastes victory.

Prediction: Benfica 3 Liverpool 1

Benfica have plenty of attacking options and buoyed by their recent results, they’ll be confident to attack and steamroll the red side of Liverpool.

Still, Torres will salvage something from the match and take the decision to England where everything will be settled.

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Benfica outclass hapless Porto to retain League Cup

2010-03-29T11:27:00Z

Porto and Benfica met in the cobweb-filled Algarve stadium for the final of the Carlsberg Cup, Portugal’s League Cup.

The competition may have been small for the ever-thrilling Clássico, but there was more than a simple trophy at stake.

Had Porto won the game, they would have had the same number of titles as Benfica, which meant the was being used as a tool by which to settle any debates over which side is the best in the country.

Porto suffered a setback in the middle of the week as star performer Silvestre Varela – who was on the verge of being included in the 2010 World Cup squad – fractured a fibula and will miss the remainder of the season.

With Mariano González also injured, Fernando Belluschi returned to the team to play in the right side of the midfield.

On the other hand, having his full squad available, Benfica coach Jorge Jesus opted to make a few changes as Oscar Cardozo, Javier Saviola, Javi Garcia and Ramires were all dropped.

Alan Kardec – the hero against Marseille – was given a starting berth alongside Pablo Aimar, with the latter playing in a more advanced role.

If any moment summed up Porto’s season thus far, it would have to be Benfica’s first goal.

In the first real opportunity for the Reds, Ruben Amorim attempted a timid long-range shot and Nuno produced a massive howler to gift the Eagles with the lead in the 10th minute.

The veteran goalkeeper was given a rare start as a reward for his professionalism and experience, but when one of the leaders in the locker room makes a blunder as a big as this one, things will naturally get more difficult.

Just before the break, Carlos Martins – always up for some shooting practice – unleashed a powerful 35 yard free-kick that barely gave Nuno a chance and virtually killed off the match.

The second half was pretty uneventful, with Porto lacking ideas (and players…) and Benfica simply focused on controlling possession and keeping it simple.

Nevertheless, the Eagles would grab a late goal to add some gloss to the scoreline; Ruben Amorim played a beautiful one-two with Saviola and his flicked effort hit the post before Paraguayan predator Cardozo tapped in and piled more misery on their rivals.

Man of the match: Airton
Ruben Amorin was heavily involved in two goals, but the former Flamengo defensive midfielder put in an eye-catching display to take the plaudits. Replacing Javi Garcia in the starting XI, the 20 year-old Brazilian marshalled the midfield and looked more of a seasoned performer than an exciting prospect. Jesus now has one of those headaches every manager welcomes as it will be difficult to leave one of Airton and Garcia out.

Talking points
Jesualdo is – now more than ever – a lonely man on his last days trying desperately to bow out in a way he actually deserves. It seems obvious that the club needs to press the ‘reset’ button at the end of the season so there is no way he can stay at the helm of the club.

Last time Porto started over, Mourinho assembled a squad that went on to win just about everything. Could change reinvigorate the Dragons again?

Porto skipper Bruno Alves displayed some disgraceful behaviour on the field, delivering some vicious tackles and even kicking some Benfica players on more than one occasion.

Alves was always known for his toughness, but the way he lost his cool clearly indicates that something is not right at the club. Should he be stripped of his captain’s armband?

Quote of the past week
Porto defender Miguel Lopes – who started the match against Benfica – brilliantly claimed that “the morale was high” ahead of the match against Rio Ave for the Portuguese Cup semi-finals. Seriously Miguel? After getting crushed by Sporting, Arsenal and Benfica, how on Earth can morale be high at the club? Definitely, one of those “insert foot in mouth” moments...

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Eagles soar into last eight as Atletico tame toothless Lions

2010-03-22T15:32:00Z

All eyes were on the Lisbon rivals last Thursday, as they both resumed their Europa League journey.

There was still all to play for as Sporting had held Atlético Madrid to a 0-0 draw, while Benfica were surprisingly outplayed at home by Marseille and couldn’t get more than a 1-1 draw.

Benfica knew beforehand they had to score if they wanted to go through and, spurred by the opportunity to exact revenge over a team that had previously humbled them, they started the game more focused and organized than the week before.

The Eagles outfit created the best opportunities in the first half as Cardozo hit the post with a thunderous strike and Di Maria wasted a good chance when he only had goalkeeper Mandanda to beat.

The goal seemed just a matter of time but when the referee blew his whistle for half-time, the deadlock was still to be broken.

The second half was more of the same with Benfica creating goal opportunities and gradually piling more pressure on the French side. Ironically, just like the first-leg match it was the home side that scored against the run of play.

After a free-kick that seemed as harmful as a kitten, the ball fell to striker Brandão who managed to put the ball in play, much to the despair of goalkeeper Júlio César; Niang was quick to react and put his team in front with 20 minutes left to play.

Benfica didn’t wobble though and they levelled the game when Maxi Pereira’s deflected shot from out of nowhere beat Mandanda putting everything back to square one.

Realizing that Marseille were finding it hard to create opportunities from open play, Jesus replaced midfielder Carlos Martins for Brazilian starlet Alan Kardec with just four minutes to go in a last-ditch attempt to win the match before extra time.

And in dramatic fashion, it was the young striker who secured their passage to the next round of the competition. Pablo Aimar sent a free kick to the box and as the Marseille defence failed to clear, Kardec found some space and unleashed a shot that only stopped in the back of the net.

It was an incredible ending to a cracking match which has left Benfica and their supporters dreaming about a May trip to Hamburg.

Sporting were looking to emulate their neighbours’ heroics but were unfortunately undone by an Atlético Madrid side who were far from superior.

The Lions’ failure to advance to the next round can be explained by two facts: 1) their depleted backline (Grimi and Tonel were suspended and Carriço injured) and 2) a red-hot Sergio Agüero that single-handedly carried his team to the next round.

The home team couldn’t have wished for a worse start as Atletico scored with just three minutes in the game. Being one goal down at home meant that Sporting needed two goals to advance to the next round, but the players didn’t seem fazed by their tough task.

They immediately settled into Atletico’s own half and eventually reached a leveller when Liédson headed home from Carlos Saleiro pinpoint cross.

However, party-pooper-in-chief Agüero was able to ruin Sporting’s plan once again as he produced an individual masterpiece to give his team the lead.

Running onto a José Antonio Reyes’s through pass, the pint-sized Argentinean turned Caneira and sent the ball past Rui Patrício with the outside of his right foot.

Anderson Polga scored just before the break but Sporting were unable to push for a decisive third goal in the second half.

It was truly a pity, because looking back at the two matches, the Spanish side was never better than Sporting. Still, in Aguero they had a standout performer that tipped the scales in favour of Atlético. And so the 2009/2010 ends for the Lions...

Talking points

Does someone know what actually happened to Marat Izmailov? The Russian withdrew from the crucial match against Atletico due to an alleged injury, but his club (through sporting director Costinha) claim there is more to this storyline than meets the eye. Who’s telling the truth?

Benfica were drawn against Liverpool in the quarterfinals of the Europa League. Definitely one of the sharks the Eagles were keen to avoid, but they have fond memories of facing sides from Merseyside, having beaten the Reds in 2006 and trashed Everton earlier this season. Can they defeat Rafa Benítez’s men again?

Sporting lead the way in Europe as Dragons slain

2010-03-17T15:31:00Z

And then there were two. Porto, Sporting and Benfica continued their European journey last week, but it was end of the line for the Dragons who were unable to hold to their narrow 2-1 lead against Arsenal.

Looking at the results, it is ironic to think that three weeks ago nobody would bet on Sporting being the team to spearhead the Portuguese attack on the UEFA competitions. Let’s see what happened...

Arsenal 5 FC Porto 0

Everybody knew that morale wasn’t exactly high in Porto squad after a crushing defeat at Sporting and a disappointing home draw against Olhanense, but few would predict the cataclysm they were about to face in London.

Jesualdo Ferreira raised a few eyebrows when he decided to include untested centre-back Nuno André Coelho in the starting XI to fill the holding midfielder role, and the move backfired as Porto were unable to get control of the midfield.

Porto's beaten stars look on as Bendtner makes it five

Arsenal started brightly and scored an early goal when Nicklas Bendtner was quick to pounce after Helton blocked a ball from Arshavin. The Gunners created many, many problems for the Dragons defence through Arshavin, Nasri and Diaby and naturally it didn’t take them too long to score the second goal.

The Russian wizard bamboozled Porto defence and assisted the giant Dane who just had to tap in.

After the break, Jesualdo tried to undo his conservative tactics and for the first 20 minutes in the second half they looked like they could pose some problems to the home side.

However, Samir Nasri pulled a giant rabbit out of his hat when he dribbled three players and struck an accurate shot into the bottom right corner. That was the moment of the night, not only because it was a sublime piece of skill, but because it killed off the match.

Eboué would add a fourth and Bendtner would still clinch a hat-trick in a late penalty to heap more misery on the Dragons.

Porto are usually such a resilient and mature side that few saw this coming, but this heavy loss signals the end of a cycle – the end of Jesualdo Ferreira at the helm of the club.

Atlético 0 Sporting 0

Sporting played at Vicente Caldéron in match that pitted two extremely inconsistent teams against one another.

Sergio Aguero couldn't get the better of Pedro Mendes and co.

Keeping up with their good form of late, Sporting were able to hold Atlético, even at a man down for an hour!

The Lions were very organized throughout the match and even created the best opportunity of the night when Liédson hit the woodwork in the first half.

Still, they will be happy to have taken the decision to their home turf where they have been feeling very, very confident. Even without Grimi and Tonel, Sporting have the upper hand and the quarterfinals are just around the corner.

Benfica 1 Marseille 1

Benfica hosted Marseille in what was one of the most intriguing ties of the Last 16.

"GOAL! Which competition is this again...?"

Buoyed by their position in the league, the Eagles were full of confidence ahead of the match and 60,000 supporters went to the stadium with hopes of seeing their team hammering yet another side.

Well, they must have been left disappointed because the Jorge Jesus side was schooled by an impressive Marseille.

Unlike the majority of the matches this season, the Eagles looked sluggish and unable to reproduce their gung-ho style as the French side controlled the affairs perfectly and created the best opportunities.

Lucho González and Benoît Cheyrou were the key men in the midfield and their tactical awareness and clever passing play was vital to dismantle the stunned host side.

Everything seemed to fall into the right place though, as goalkeeper Steve Mandanda botched a simple save and allowed Maxi Pereira to score. 1-0 was a good result and they could have turned it into a great result when Ramires rattled the woodwork from outside the box but ended up being a bad one as Hatem Ben Arfa scored in the dying moments of the match.

It is advantage Marseille and Benfica need to do a lot more at the mythical Vélodrome if they want to reach the quarterfinals of the competition.

Predictions

Sporting 2 Atlético 0

The Lions are expecting a packed stadium to witness their team beating Los Colchoneros and if they put another good performance they’ll win.

They are enjoying their football and look much more dangerous than at the beginning of the season which is why a lukewarm Atlético will be knocked out. Goals from Liédson and Veloso!

Marseille 2 Benfica 2

This one will be very tough but regardless of the result, the Portugeezer is predicting a thrilling match.

Benfica know they cannot play the same game they played in Lisbon and they’ll have to be at their best to have a chance. Vélodrome will play a role naturally, but Benfica will survive and conquer the French side.

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Extinguished Dragons snuffed out of title race

2010-03-10T17:00:00Z

There are still eight matches to go, but after a disappointing home draw against Olhanense it's fair to assume that Porto are out of the title race. It looks like for the first time since 2005, the Dragons won't be Portugal's league champions.

Eight points off the pace going into the weekend, the holders couldn’t afford to lose any more points – but despite the poor showing against Sporting the previous Sunday, few would have guessed that it would be the Algarvian side to deal a potentially fatal blow to the champions.

FEATURE Super Sporting pummel poor Porto

Olhanense – who possess five Porto loanees and (perhaps not coincidentally) are managed by Champions League-lifting legend Jorge Costa – started the match in bullish mood and went two up within 20 minutes. Nevertheless, the home side would gradually assume complete control of the match and watching the second half was like witnessing a shooting squad desperately trying – and failing – to kill a stubborn hare.

Porto hit the post twice but it would only be in the later stages that they would level. Radamel Falcao scored in the 81st minute and fellow countryman Freddy Guarín got the second in the last attack of the match to snatch a hard-fought draw that tasted as sour as the loss against Sporting.

Jorge Costa: You have to hand it to him

Longtime pace-setters Braga couldn’t do any better either as they were held to a boring 0-0 draw by strugglers Setúbal. They might have kept their eight-point gap over the Dragons, but they allowed Benfica – the real winner of this round – to get away.

With Braga and Porto having slipped up on Saturday, the Eagles went into their Sunday game against Paços de Ferreira knowing they could move three points clear at the top. With 43,000 supporters behind them, Benfica started as strongly as usual and when Rúben Amorim got the first goal in the 13th minute, they looked set for yet another eye-catching scoreline.

Saviola scored a second and the team created several opportunities through some delightful moments of free-flowing football, but it was Paços de Ferreira that got a goal just before the break. Maykon – an interesting player with a good left foot – sent a terrific cross to the onrushing William, who scored his 10th goal of the season and kept the game on.

Half-time gave the home side a meaner edge and they ultimately killed off the match when Cardozo’s deflected shot beat the inspired Coelho. Nevertheless, The Portugeezer has to throw his hat off to Ulisses Morais and his team who, unlike many visitors to Estádio da Luz this season, never stopped trying even after being 2-0 down early in the match.

Only one of these men did not score

Meanwhile, Sporting went to basement boys Belenenses to pile more misery on the home side with another big result, striker Liédson scoring all four of the Lions' goals.

While his team might not climb any higher than fourth – they're nine points behind Porto – they seem to have found their feet and will hope to make amends with their supporters in the remaining matches of the season.

On the up
Benfica cemented their first place and put in a solid performance that will give them confidence for the tough remainder of March. If they’re as good as they claim, now's a good time to prove it.

Going down
In a matter of just two weeks, everything simply fell apart for Porto. They seemed to back to their best when they hammered Braga, but then lost to Sporting and were held by Olhanense. They're now in serious danger of not playing Champions League football in 2010/2011 – a far-fetched scenario at the beginning of the season. They still have two cup finals to play, but Jesualdo Ferreira’s era at the club is just about to end.

Goal of the round
Guimarães continued their good form with a 2-0 win over Nacional and their second goal was a joy to behold. Veteran playmaker Nuno Assis received the ball on the left before cutting inside and cleverly assisting Desmarets who immediately dispatched the ball into the back of the net.

We also have a surprise this round. It's not every time that Liga Vitalis – Portugal’s second-tier – grabs the spotlight, but a goal in the match between Beira-Mar and Chaves has to be mentioned. That one-of-a-kind moment happened when Beira-Mar striker Élio finished a cross from the left with a cheeky back-heel effort that will be a contender for goal of the season

Talking points
* Sporting have scored 10 goals in the last three matches and impressed against Belenenses. With reports about André Villas-Boas being lined up to replace Carvalhal next season, can the current manager still change president Bettencourt’s mind?

* Jesualdo’s time at Porto is now all but over, but who’ll replace him next season? André Villas-Boas, Paulo Bento, Domingos Paciência... or Jorge Costa?

* Benfica continue to look strong and will now face five critical matches: Marseille (home and away), Nacional (away), Porto (League Cup final) and Braga (home). Will they confirm their status as the best team in Portugal this season or will they crack under pressure?

Round 22 Results: Fri Mar 5 Leiria 2-1 Leixoes Sat Mar 6 Porto 2-2 Olhanense, Rio Ave 0-0 Naval, Setúbal 0-0 Braga Sun Mar 7 Marítimo 0-0 Académica, Belenenses 0-4 Sporting, Benfica 3-1 Paços Ferreira Mon Mar 8 Vitória Guimarães 2-0 Nacional

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China crisis: Five reasons why Portugal failed

2010-03-08T14:00:00Z

Portugal hosted China last Wednesday in a World Cup warm-up match and won 2-0, but the performance was anything but convincing and it raised more questions than it answered. Here’s why:

1) The match was against China

With all due respect to the team ranked 83rd in the FIFA rankings, China is a weak team and nobody actually expected them to pose serious problems to the Portuguese team. Additionally, after the match the Chinese national coach claimed the team went easy on the Selecção to avoid potential injuries, which further suggests that this match wasn’t a serious test.

It's also difficult to buy the argument that China were selected to their similarities with North Korea. Despite being our opponents in the group, the Koreans are the least of our headaches in South Africa. It would have made more sense to play against a team similar to Brazil or Ivory Coast (let’s say Argentina, Paraguay, Ghana or Cameroon). ‘Getting ready for North Korea’ is just a sign of how high the expectations are...

2) The performance was just poor

Even if the current Portuguese team doesn't possess the same talent as the 2006 World Cup squad , we should always be able to play good football against China. The first half was OK and mostly because of Cristiano Ronaldo: the Real Madrid forward put in a solid performance and was a threat in the first 45 minutes.

As soon as he was benched, Portugal faded out and the lack of effort and imagination was greeted with jeers from the crowd. Shame though, because a good overall performance could have boosted the morale ahead of the tournament.

"Have I got to do EVRYTHING myself?!"

3) Varela only played for 30 minutes

Silvestre Varela earned his first call-up – congratulations! – and, considering this match was the last before Carlos Queiroz announces his final 23, it was expected he would feature for at least 45 minutes. After all, if Queiroz opted to pick him at this stage, it was because he believed the FC Porto winger could add something different to the side.

However, the decision to bring him in with just 30 minutes to be played is puzzling and disappointing as Varela didn’t naturally show as much as he could have. Can we ask why?

4) It failed to test our full-backs

It's a fact that one of our major shortcomings is the lack of a proper left-back. Malaga’s Duda has been playing there, but there are still question marks regarding that adaptation. It's one thing to play against weaker opponents, but what would have happened if Duda was facing Leo Messi, David Silva or Robinho?

Furthermore, it's now confirmed that Bosingwa will miss the World Cup due to a knee injury, which raises questions about the right-back role as well. Paulo Ferreira and Miguel have already peaked and they have both struggled for fitness this season. Are they up to the task? Guess we’ll have to wait until June to find that out...

5) It failed to build empathy between the team and the supporters

Portuguese people are never afraid to speak their mind and they unveiled a new song for the Selecção in the last minutes of the match. As the Portuguese players slowed down their tempo and stopped pushing for more goals, the crowd started booing and went even further by roaring “Olé” every time China successfully completed a pass.

It may have been unfair on the players, but one has to understand the supporters’ point of view. They witnessed their team playing miserably throughout much of the World Cup qualifiers and all they wanted to see on Wednesday was a good performance and a few goals to kiss and make up.

It wasn’t meant to be, though, as the subpar performance failed to bring the supporters closer to the players. If Queiroz actually “gotta feeling”, then it's almost certain that Wednesday night was not a good night…

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The week: Super Sporting hammer hapless Porto

2010-03-05T10:30:00Z

Round 21 results Fri Feb 26 Leiria 0-1 Guimarães Sat Feb 27 Naval 2-1 Marítimo, Braga 3-1 Olhanense, Leixões 0-4 Benfica Sun Feb 28 Paços Ferreira 5-3 Setúbal, Académica 0-1 Rio Ave, Sporting 3-0 Porto Tue Mar 2 Nacional 1-0 Belenenses

If The Portugeezer were creating a PR kit to promote Liga Sagres, this past week would provide a lot of material.

It was one of the most exciting in quite some time: lots of goals, some surprising results and very few controversies, which is how football should always be.

Sporting v Porto was the most anticipated match of the round and the only suitable word to describe what happened at Estádio José Alvalade XXI is "Un-freakin’-believable!"

How on Earth did Sporting recover from their dismal run of seven winless matches to beat Everton and Porto with such ease?

With the 5-2 Portuguese Cup battering by the Dragons still fresh in their memory, Sporting were hoping to get their pride back while inflicting a title blow to their opponents – and they couldn’t have wished for a better start when Yannick Djaló broke the deadlock in the sixth minute.

Such an early goal stunned the reigning champions, who were unable to cause any trouble for the home side in the first 25 minutes.

Porto would gradually recover and started creating some chances on their own, but it would be Sporting who scored again just before half-time when Russian starlet Marat Izmailov tricked Raul Meireles and struck an accurate shot into the bottom right corner.

Whatever Jesualdo Ferreira told his players at half-time didn’t work because two minutes after the break the Lions settled the final score. Miguel Veloso was quick to pounce on Porto’s apathy to add the final gloss to the scoreline.

It was a big victory for Sporting and hopefully they found some inner peace with that impressive result.

Extinguished Dragons troop off with tails between legs

The Portugeezer would like to reserve some praise for Marat Izmailov. The Russian midfielder was very close to return to Lokomotiv Moskow the previous week, but he stayed put and was one of the star performers against Porto.

Not only did he score a good goal, but he was a threat for large periods of the match. Izmailov may not be as good as Andrei Arshavin, but he’s certainly an underrated talent that can shine at the highest level.

Both Braga and Benfica were naturally happy to see the Dragons lose, especially as they had already claimed their three points the day before.

Braga entertained Olhanense at home and, despite an early hiccup, overcame the plucky Algarvian side with a 3-1 success to keep the pressure at the top.

Benfica went to Leixões' Estádio do Mar and racked up another big win – 4-0. With Airton and Éder Luis in the starting XI, the Eagles looked very comfortable and could have scored more.

They’ll play against Paços de Ferreira at home with their morale at a season high...

On the up

Vitória Guimarães staked their claim for a Europa League berth after snatching a 1-0 win at surprise package Leiria. They currently sit in fifth place and are just two points behind Sporting.

Paços de Ferreira won a 5-3 thriller against Setúbal and claimed their second consecutive win to cement their place in the top half of the league. By playing good football and managing on a tight budget, they are an example that other “smaller” clubs should follow...

Going down

Nobody saw it coming, but Porto dropped three crucial points in the title race and played like a Sunday League team. The Dragons were miles from being the side that trashed Braga the week before and succumbed to a heavy defeat at Sporting.

Trailing Benfica by nine points and Braga by eight, can they still be crowned champions?

Goal of the round

Angel di Maria capped off an electric individual performance at Leixões with a hat-trick.

The talented forward completed the 4-0 rout when he received the ball from Maxi Pereira and unleashed an unstoppable shot that left the keeper stranded. Impressive stuff from the much sought-after Argentinian!

Talking points

Can Carlos Carvalhal stay at Sporting next season? Even though he’s unlikely to win any silverware, the Lions' last two matches were impressive and should they continue to perform, he might just have a chance of renewing his contract...

Belenenses and Leixões lost once again and look odds-on to be playing Liga Vitalis football next season. Belenenses are hosting Sporting while Leixões travel to Leiria: can they get a result?

Game over or game on for both Porto and Jesualdo?

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Are Sporting a big club or not?

2010-03-01T19:00:00Z

Brilliant. Surprising. Undisputed. Three adjectives that could briefly and accurately describe Sporting CP’s Europa League performance against Everton last Thursday.

With the tie delicately poised after the Scouse side claimed a narrow 2-1 win in the first leg, Sporting needed to show something special in order to advance to the last 16.

After all, while this Everton side had defeated Chelsea and Manchester United, the Lions hadn’t won in seven consecutive matches.

But with the odds stacked against them, Sporting produced their best performance of the season and gave their supporters a reason to smile with a resounding 3-0 success, courtesy of goals from Miguel Veloso, Pedro Mendes and Matías Fernández.

They're all in there somewhere. Probably

Everton had no arguments to prevent Sporting's midfield – probably their strongest department – from dictating play and controlling the flow of the match. Mendes, Veloso, Moutinho and Izmailov are very talented players and when they’re fired up, they can propel their team to a good result.

Even if only for one night, the Lions were able to forget the fact they were recently trashed by both their arch rivals to reign supreme and earn the plaudits.

Considering how difficult this season has been for the club, this victory should be celebrated and used as a platform to build the future, but it shouldn’t be enough to distort reality.

To simply see this season in a different light after one good night borders on delusion.

After the match, Carlos Carvalhal hailed his side as one of the Europe’s finest and didn’t waste any time stoking the fire ahead of the league match against Porto by saying that their objective “is and will always be the victory”.

‘Confidence’ some may argue, but those words contradict the speech given just one day before when he denied that the Toffees clash was all or nothing.

Sporting have already been knocked out from both domestic cups and trail leaders Benfica by 20 points so their only incentive to look forward this season was the Europa League.

Accepting a hypothetical defeat in a crucial match is accepting the lack of success at the club and disrespecting the supporters and directors who wanted to see more ambition after the departure of Paulo Bento.

"It's about time we won..."

The club have tied to use humble quotes to justify humble results, but when people started to accept the fact that Sporting were unable to compete financially with Benfica and Porto they broke with their traditionally conservative transfer policy and splashed €11.5M in January.

It should be easy enough to decide. Either Sporting are a genuine title contender that has to meet high expectations, or they should simply settle for a Europa League place and a squad full of academy products.

Just don’t change your position after a great or dreadful result.

Having said that, congratulations to the club and bring on Atlético Madrid!

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Brave Braga lose top spot as Porto hit top form

2010-02-25T11:30:00Z

The Portugeezer may have been away for a short spiritual retreat, but Portuguese football didn’t stop. So let's recap what has happened over these past 10 days.

Highlights from Liga Sagres

Benfica were made to sweat by basement boys Belenenses before sealing an expected victory. The Eagles only got a narrow 1-0 win through the inevitable Oscar Cardozo goal, but at this stage the three points are the important aim.

What else is there to say about Sporting? The Lions' indifferent run continued against Paços de Ferreira and Olhanense with two 0-0 draws. Most of their players and staff are probably waiting for the end of the season – and Carvalhal's spell at the club.

Porto dropped two points in the title race as they were unexpectedly held by Leixões. The strugglers' boss Fernando Castro Santos was happy to see his team park the bus and withstand heavy pressure to guarantee a goalless draw.

The Dragons would redeem themselves the following match as they trashed Braga 5-1 in a one-sided contest that showed once again why Porto should never be counted out.

They dominated Domingos Paciência’s side, who had conceded just eight goals before that match. A sign that the title race will go down to the wire?

At the other end of the table, things look pretty grim for Belenenses who lost at home against Académica and look closer and closer to the drop. Olhanense, Setúbal and Leixões are struggling to pull away from the relegation places, and one of the three will be join Belenenses in the Liga Vitalis next season.

European action

Sporting were first in action, and their 2-1 loss at Everton leaves everything to play for. Despite their domestic woes the Lions played well, without getting the upper hand.

Remembering that English teams usually find it hard to play in Portugal, and that the Europa League is Sporting's only chance to salvage something from this season, they might just be able to advance to the last 16.

Porto should send some fine Porto wine to Lukasz Fabianski, whose two schoolboy blunders cost Arsenal the first leg of the Champions League last 16.

Silvestre Varela, who tormented the Gunners' full-backs with mazy runs down the wings, scored the first when his low cross was somehow bundled in by the Polish goalkeeper.

Veteran Sol Campbell soon levelled for the Londoners, but Porto got the winner with another WTF moment. Campbell and Fabianski forgot to communicate and the goalkeeper picked up the defender's backpass.

If they were surprised to concede an indirect free kick, they were stunned when Rúben Micael quickly passed to Falcao, who scored past the hapless Fabianski. The move will hardly give them the Fair Play award, but they’ll be more pleased with the win.

Benfica are already through to the Europa League last 16, having followed up at 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin with a 4-0 demolition this Tuesday. They’ll probably play Marseille in a mouth-watering clash between two former giants itching to get to back to their old winning ways.

Talking points

*Hulk's heavy four-month suspension sounds even more exaggerated given that Benfica were only handed a €1500 fine. The Brazilian forward is already halfway through his suspension, but he will be only return for the last three matches of the Portuguese League.

The whole process raises many questions about the ability of the governing bodies of Portuguese football and unfortunately is tainting a season that has seen some good football. Will the champions be acknowledged by everyone?

*Benfica’s decision to bring forward their match against União de Leiria proved a very wise decision. The Eagles flew to Berlin last Thursday; had they played at the weekend they would only have a 48-hour gap between their league match and Tuesday's return against Hertha.

As it was, they were able to get proper rest – and ran the Germans ragged in the second half. Do you agree with their decision?

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Sporting plummet as Braga show their strength

2010-02-12T22:30:00Z

ROUND 18 RESULTS: Sat Feb 6 Sporting 1-2 Académica, Setúbal 1-1 Benfica Sun Feb 7 Olhanense 1-0 Nacional, Marítimo 1-0 União de Leiria, Rio Ave 2-0 Leixões, Guimarães 1-2 Paços Ferreira, Porto 3-0 Naval Mon Feb 8 Belenenses 1-3 Braga

Sporting's game against Académica was intended to prove that the heavy loss to Porto was just a bad day at the office.

Instead, it showed that the 2009/10 season is one to forget.

Credit to Académica for playing a good game and winning three invaluable points.

The jury may still be out for Florent Sinama-Pongolle, but the Frenchman is yet to convince The Portugeezer he’s better than academy product Carlos Saleiro, let alone the Lions' spearhead.

For Carvalhal’s sake, the €6.5 million signing better start scoring...

Before facing Setúbal on Sunday, Benfica had played União de Leiria in midweek to give them more preparation time for the Europa League – and presumably to put more pressure on Braga.

They had few problems in beating Leiria 3-0, but Setúbal was a different story.

It was a good TV match: lots of action at both ends and a fair result.

The Eagles have every reason to feel disappointed with dropping two points, but Setúbal forwards Hélder Barbosa and Keita were worthy opponents for the Benfica defenders.

Curiously, two own-goals settled the tie with David Luiz registering a one-of-a-kind moment.

As Setúbal were pushing for a leveller, the highly-rated defender botched an easy clearance and scored a bizarre own goal.

Hilarious or atrocious? You decide...

Oops-a-daisy... watch it here or click the pic

Porto and Braga didn’t miss the opportunity to cut the gap with Benfica and enjoyed two comfortable victories.

Braga went to bottom-placed Belenenses and recorded a resounding 3-1 win despite playing with 10 men for more than an hour.

Without Vandinho and Mossoró, Braga showed off their strength in depth as Luis Aguiar and Matheus were directly involved in the goals.

Porto cruised against Naval in a match that looked more like a warm-up exercise for the Dragons than an actual challenge.

Goals from Tomás Costa, Falcao and Varela built the final score and they’ll be looking to heap more pressure on their title rivals.

On the up

Porto and Paços de Ferreira.

Ever since Rúben Micael arrived, the Dragons look a different team: assured and with a meaner edge.

This is the best Porto of the season and it couldn’t have shown up at better stage.

Paços de Ferreira built on their home win against Académica as they stunned Guimarães away.

They're now up to eighth and preparing to host Sporting – now only five points ahead of them in fourth – in what will be a very intriguing match.

Going down

As if things weren’t already bad for Sporting, they fell to yet another loss at home.

Still reeling from defeat at Porto, the Lions were powerless to prevent an organized Académica side from winning.

Where do they go now?

Goal of the round

This one is a toss-up. It could be Paços de Ferreira defender Ozéia making many dead-ball specialists blush when he curled in a long-range free-kick against Guimarães.

Or it could be Wason Rentería – who returned to Braga in January – scoring his team's third at Belenenses to cap another solid performance.

After stealing the ball from a defender, the Colombian ran into the box and finished with a delightful chip somewhat reminiscent of Davor Suker at Euro 96.

Talking points

* Are Braga the best team in Liga Sagres? Vandinho and Mossoró weren’t able to play but Matheus, Luis Aguiar and Rentería shone for the club.

* In the fourth and final European spot but chased by half a dozen teams within five points of them, could Sporting miss out on Europe? Or are they “too big to fail?”

* Can Belenenses pull off a 'Great Escape'? The odds are against them, but there are definitely worst squads in terms of talent. What do you think?

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Dragons roast Lions - plus more tunnel funny stuff

2010-02-08T16:00:00Z

When Porto hosted Sporting in the Portuguese Cup quarter-finals, both teams wanted to prove a point.

The Dragons had emphatically won at Nacional while Sporting were dealt a major title blow at Braga, but most people were expecting a close, hard-fought contest.

However, football is an unpredictable animal - and Porto crushed every ounce of pride and self-esteem that the Lions might have had.

Rolando put the hosts in front from a corner and although three minutes later Sporting levelled with their first shot on goal - an amazing long-range effort from Russian Marat Izmailov - it was Porto who pressed on and in-form Radamel Falcao scored twice to give the Dragons a comfortable half-time lead.

Now, The Portugeezer doesn’t know what Sporting manager Carvalhal told his pupils in the dressing room but one thing is certain: it didn’t work.

The Sporting manager brought on new guy Florent Sinama-Pongolle and his impact was about the same as the guy selling peanuts on the stands.

Porto scored two more through Varela and Mariano Gonzaléz, the latter a breathtaking screamer.

Home fans took the opportunity to rub salt in Sporting’s wounds by chanting “Olé” every time a successful pass was made and even gave them an ironic applause when Liédson scored a goal in injury time.

Sporting are now out of contention and, like Juande Ramos watching his Real Madrid side beaten 6-2 at home by Barcelona, this heavy loss may be looked back on as the moment that sealed Carvalhal's fate at the club.

One word of appreciation for Rúben Micael: the former Nacional midfielder was everywhere, opening up the Sporting defence and dictating play like Lucho González used to do not long ago.

With Carlos Queiroz closely following the match in the stands, Micael seemed to be demanding a ticket to the 2010 World Cup. And he certainly deserves it...

Tunnels of love

Tunnels are quickly becoming the next big fad in Portugal - perhaps led by the debate, now finally dying down, over the scuffle between Hulk and Sapunaru and the stewards during the match between Porto and Benfica.

BLOG, Fri Jan 29: Punches, prostitutes, payments and phonetaps

Just as that one fades away, now Braga are rocked by hefty suspensions for Márcio Mossoró and Vandinho over their alleged behaviour in the tunnel in the November 1 match against Benfica.

The Portugeezer doesn’t have exclusive footage that may prove that the Braga players deserve their suspensions (three matches for Mossoró, a full three MONTHS for Vandinho), but the whole process seems anything but clear.

First of all, the match occurred three months ago. At the time, André Leone and Óscar Cardozo were both suspended and no club sought further punishment.

And weirdly, this happened just after the deadline for registering new players, thus preventing Braga from signing suitable replacements.

Once again, a controversial row somehow related to Benfica is ruled in favour of the Eagles.

Even if you’re a die-hard fan of the club, that surely smells funny.

Thankfully, Braga had already brought in the likes of Olberdam and Luís Aguiar, which may just be enough to cope without the mercurial duo.

Still, if there’s a lesson to be learnt from these ongoing disputes, it’s that tunnels are quickly overtaking fields as the most exciting part of a stadium and therefore require cameras.

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Sporting out of the title race as Braga show credentials

2010-02-04T16:30:00Z

Round 17 Results: Fri Jan 29 Braga 1-0 Sporting Sat Jan 30 Naval 1-0 Belenenses, União de Leiria 2-0 Olhanense, Nacional 0-4 Porto, Benfica 3-1 Vitória Guimarães Sun Jan 31 Vitória Setúbal 2-2 Rio Ave, Paços Ferreira 2-1 Académica Mon Feb 1 Leixões 1-2 Marítimo

In a weekend filled with intriguing match-ups, Braga-Sporting was undoubtedly the main event.

With seven wins in a row, the Lions were hoping to take something away from this match, but Braga's 1-0 win wiped away any lingering doubts that they are genuine title contenders.

The better side over the 90 minutes, the Arsenalistas controlled the game for large periods.

Paulo César scored the only goal of the match in the first half and Braga’s rock-solid defence kept the Lions at bay.

Hail César: "And are you gonna believe us...?"

Porto went to the island of Madeira expecting a tricky affair against Nacional, but came away with a resounding 4-0 win.

It all started when full-back Álvaro Pereira made the most of contact in the box; the referee awarded a penalty and a red card for Alex Bruno.

Varela scored from the spot and the floodgates opened, with goals from Radamel Falcao (twice) and Varela again making an emphatic statement: They’re back!

Rúben Micael, debuting for Porto in the League, produced an impressive performance that will certainly make the Dragons' supporters believe that every trophy is still winnable.

Benfica hosted Guimarães trying to avenge their Cup defeat and keep the pressure on leaders Braga.

Guimarães impressed once again with their quick, counter-attacking style posing problems, but would fall short this time – eventually.

The Eagles scored first when Pablo Aimar dribbled past a defender and beat goalkeeper Nilson, but Guimarães leveled when ex-Benfica playmaker Nuno Assis finished a good team move.

In the second half, Carlos Martins justified Jorge Jesus's decision to replace Brazilian Ramires in the starting XI, scoring two good long-range goals to hand the Eagles another important three points.

"See?!" Carlos Martins makes his point

On the up

It’s hard to be on the rise when you’re pretty much up there, but Braga passed yet another stern test and showed why they should be taken very seriously.

They handled a fired-up Sporting side like a top European team, opening a 15-point gap between the two teams.

Going down

Leixões and Académica.

Leixões could have escaped the relegation places at home to Marítimo, but even though they scored the first goal, they would eventually be undone by the Islanders.

Académica thought they were about to grab three vital points at Paços de Ferreira but two late goals from the hosts stunned the Students, who are now just two points outside the relegation zone.

To make matters worse, they travel to Sporting next weekend.

Goal of the round

If there was a match that summed up Carlos Martins’ career so far, it was this one against Guimarães.

The fiery midfielder scored two good goals but would also get sent off, showing once again that every time he does something good, he messes up just a few moments later!

Still, his second goal is good by any standard.

Finding himself with plenty of room to move forward, Martins took a few steps before delivering an unstoppable screamer.

No chance for the Guimarães goalkeeper… or any other.

Talking points

*Are Sporting out of the title race? Can they salvage anything this season?

*Rúben Micael made the transition to Porto with apparent ease. Is he the Lucho-type of player that Porto needed all along?

*Braga can OFFICIALLY be regarded as title contenders. They boast strength in depth and are high on confidence. Can they be stopped?

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Punches, prostitutes, payments & phonetaps

2010-01-29T14:00:00Z

The Portuguese League has always enjoyed its share of controversy: corruption suspicions, never-ending accusations of biased refereeing and puzzling decision-making by its governing bodies.

This season had been mildly quiet with just a few complaints regarding the number of questionable penalties awarded to Benfica.

However, it all fell apart like a house of cards after Sporting defeated minnows Mafra in a 4-3 thriller.

I mean, when a Chinese player is the man of the match by scoring a hat-trick you just know something isn’t quite right.

After the match, Sá Pinto - now the former sporting director of the Lions – tried the hairdryer treatment and blasted goalkeeper Rui Patrício for his incredible blunder in Mafra’s second goal.

Liédson defended his team-mate and Pinto confronted him to demand respect.

But the naturalised Brazilian striker didn’t back down and Pinto, perhaps remembering the day he went psycho on then-national coach Artur Jorge, punched him.

The blunder that launched a fistfight - WATCH IT HERE

The news broke the following morning and in the afternoon Sá Pinto resigned to avoid an escalation of the problem.

Still, a mere two months since he assumed the position at the club, it is fair to assume that his future as a football director is already over.

Meanwhile, the ongoing saga involving incidents at Estádio da Luz in the match between Porto and Benfica has now reached a whole new level.

As the facts slowly come to light, reports seem to indicate that while both Hulk and Sapunaru assaulted some stewards in the tunnel, it also says that those same stewards provoked the Porto players.

Assuming the reports are reliable and not skewed by external factors, it would only be fair that both parties get punished, but curiously that’s where the major problem lies.

While the players may eventually get six-month suspensions, Benfica are just as responsible for ensuring the order and discipline at the stadium but can get away with a fine.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that both clubs are stoking the fire and playing the blame game.

A final decision needs to be reached before February 23, but in the meantime the two players can’t give their contribution to the team.

Big, big thumbs down to the whole process.

Sapunaru & Hulk: You won't like them when they're angry, etc

Wait, amigos, because there’s more.

Somehow Pinto da Costa’s wiretaps related to the “Golden Whistle” operation were leaked to YouTube.

There, you can hear the Porto supremo talking to several people – including Deco, former League president Valentim Loureiro and former president of the referees’ board Pinto de Sousa.

Most of the phone calls are simply uncensored but regular interactions between people who work in the same industry, but there is one exception; one phone call more than hints that prostitutes were offered to a referee.

Which naturally brings out the question: Are there more off-field shenanigans that people should be aware of?

If that wasn’t enough, it was also reported that football agent Jorge Teixeira, on behalf of SC Braga, approached three Leixões players with a €50,000 incentive should the team manage to get a result against Benfica.

That’s not corruption per se, but it’s punishable by fine under the rules of the league.

How embarrassing is this? The Portuguese League may have finally stolen the headlines this past week, but unfortunately it wasn’t for the right reasons.

The Portugeezer can’t help but shake his head at these sad developments as it seems that once again a big dark cloud is looming over our heads.

Will Hermínio Loureiro – current league president – do something to stop the bleeding or will he remain a passive onlooker?

Stay tuned because next week will likely bring juicy developments...

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Why Baia's better than Shilton (and many others)

2010-01-26T14:30:00Z

Last week the International Federation of Football History and Statistics released its All-Time World Goalkeeping Ranking – although in this instance "all-time" means from 1987 to 2009.

Time isn't the only quibble.

Portugal’s most acclaimed goalkeeper Vítor Baía claimed 18th place, level with legendary Englishman Peter Shilton.

Not bad, some may say, but it is certainly not the place he rightfully deserved.

The decision to award someone as the best player in a certain position is rarely unanimous, but when making that decision we can go down two major routes:

1) Have a spirited, never-ending discussion about a player’s skill, raw talent, versatility and ability to handle pressure in big matches;
2) Focus on numbers, i.e., titles, number of goals, international caps and other tangible key performance indicators.

Given the nature (and indeed name) of the IFFHS, The Portugeezer expects that these rankings are based on the second option.

But regardless of the criteria one opts to use, Baía would always be considered a top goalkeeper.

The former FC Porto and Barcelona goalkeeper won the three major European competitions (UEFA Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and Champions League) and is currently the player with most titles won in the world with a total of 32.

He amassed 80 international caps and was often hailed as the best Portuguese goalkeeper in history.

For the record, The Portugeezer agrees that Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas are currently the best goalkeepers in the world, but looking at that list there are certainly some goalkeepers who don’t deserve to be ahead of Baía.

The IFFHS's Top 20 (well, 21)

Sticking to the rational, tangible arguments, allow me to start with perhaps an unfortunate target: Michel ***’Homme.

Still highly regarded in Portugal after five seasons at Benfica, the Belgian custodian was undoubtedly a talented goalkeeper but what major tournaments did he win?

Just a Cup Winners’ Cup and a European Supercup with KV Mechelen!

No matter how good he was – and he was that good – that’s nothing compared to Baía’s world-record trophy cabinet.

It is also hard to accept former Argentinian Sergio Goycochea’s position.

OK, so he happened to be the Albiceleste's Italia 90 talisman with his penalty heroics and collected a couple of Copa Americas, but his record at club level is far from eyecatching.

Would you honestly name ‘El Goyco’ one of the greats?

The other one I’d like to mention here is José Luis Chilavert.

For outspoken charisma and ability to score free-kicks, the Paraguayan is second to none, but the Portugeezer thinks sixth place is a bit high – even with a Copa Libertadores, an Intercontinental Cup and four Argentinian championships.

Still, it would have been interesting to see him perform at a top European club to more accurately gauge his skills.

Two major trophies, one major fashion mistake

Baía can only have two regrets in his football career: the severe knee injuries that hampered his Barcelona career and being overlooked by Luiz Felipe Scolari despite being considered the best goalkeeper by UEFA in 2004 (a year in which Baía ranked eighth, according to IFFHS).

It's not the first time The Portugeezer is left baffled by an IFFHS ranking, but the most important question is whether they should be taken seriously.

It’s for the reader to decide, but maybe this save or this one will remind you of how great Baía was...

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Porto stumble as Sporting build momentum

2010-01-22T17:30:00Z

Round 16 Results: Sun Jan 17: Belenenses 1-3 Leixões , Rio Ave 0-2 União Leiria, Académica 0-2 Braga, Marítimo 0-5 Benfica; Sat Jan 16: Olhanense 1-0 Naval, Vitória Guimarães 2-2 Vitória Setúbal, Porto 1-1 Paços Ferreira, Sporting 3-2 Nacional

Unlike the previous round of fixtures, this was an enticing weekend filled with interesting match-ups and goals.

We’re now entering the last two weeks of January and many teams were again given food for thought as to whether or not to delve into the market.

On Saturday, Sporting and Nacional – both with 24 points before the match – contested an action-packed five-goal thriller.

Rúben Micael put the Islanders in front with a header, but there was little time to celebrate as Miguel Veloso scored just a minute later.

In the second half, Liédson came off the bench – he had been injured for a month – and scored two spectacular goals that tipped the scales in favour of the Lions.

Edgar would grab a late goal to ensure a dramatic finish, but in the end the Lions would prevail with a deserved 3-2 win.

They looked more comfortable and confident on the pitch, as if they still believe it’s not over. Too little too late though?

Académica hosted Braga with a good chance of denting the leaders’ momentum.

After all, under André Villas-Boas, they had won every game at home without conceding a single goal.

But the Arsenalistas didn’t crack under pressure and edged out the Students 2-0 thanks to goals from Meyong and Matheus.

The fairytale goes on and there are no signs of it ending anytime soon!

Benfica may have hammered Marítimo, but the scoreline is rather deceiving.

In the first 30 minutes, the Eagles struggled to create an opportunity as the home team were in control of the match.

Against the run of play, the in-form Saviola scored - his seventh in seven matches - and two minutes later, Di María was fouled on the left and Olberdam protested too much, with the referee giving the Marítimo midfielder his marching orders.

Don't hurt him: Maritimo get stuck into Di Maria

It was a harsh decision and a key moment. With their numerical superiority (doubled when Marítimo had another man sent off in the second half), Benfica cruised and built another big result.

Though they will have no complaints, it would have been interesting to see how they would have coped without that dodgy call.

On the up

União de Leiria went to Rio Ave to settle which team was the real surprise package of the league.

And cementing their status as European hopefuls, Leiria grabbed an impressive 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Cássio and Ronny and are now in sixth place with 23 points.

Not bad for a team who only returned to top flight this season!

Going down

Belenenses and Porto.

In a match between the bottom duo, Belenenses hosted Leixões and were looking to grab a morale-boosting win against their fellow relegation candidates.

It wasn’t meant to be though as their weaknesses were exposed and they suffered a heavy defeat. There’s still time to beat the drop, but the future is grim for the Blues.

Porto hosted Paços de Ferreira and surprisingly repeated the result of their first encounter back in August.

The Dragons dominated but an inspired performance from the Paços goalkeeper combined with many squandered chances kept the scoreline goalless.

...that is, until the 75th minute when Paços hit the home side on the break and stunned the home support.

Radamel Falcao rescued a draw, but the two points dropped may come back to haunt Porto, who now trail Benfica and Braga by six points and they need to regroup fast if they want to catch them before the Champions League distractions begin again when Arsenal visit on February 17.

"Stop him!" Paços surround scorer Falcao

Goal of the round

It’s a toss-up between two great strikes from Castro and Liédson.

The Olhanense midfielder gave his team a crucial win – the first since September! – with a long-range curling shot that gave Naval keeper no chance. The goal alone should be enough to lift the Algarvians’ spirits.

As mentioned above, Liédson returned to hand victory to Sporting.

His first goal was pure predatory instinct, but the second one was a bit more than that.

After a good initiative from the Lions, Miguel Veloso crossed and The Slender One hit a superb volley that would make any world-class striker proud.

Talking points

Porto have acquired Nacional’s Rúben Micael for a bargain fee of €3 million (for 60 percent of his sporting rights). Is he the missing piece in the Dragons jigsaw?

A Maniche type of player, Micael certainly deserves to be playing at a higher level and this move will also increase his chances of playing in South Africa. What do you think?

The next fixture (in two weeks) will see Braga entertain Sporting at home.

Can Sporting build on their better performances and claim a win to keep their title hopes alive?

Braga have added depth to their squad by bringing in five reinforcements so far: Tiago Pinto, Rafael Bastos, Miguel Garcia, Rentería and Luis Aguiar.

Are they now well enough equipped to continue their assault on the title?

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The Portugeezer's Midseason Awards

2010-01-20T10:00:00Z

Liga Sagres is halfway through and it has certainly witnessed some entertaining moments ranging from injury-time winners to Premier League-style goal-fests.

And so, it's now time for The Portugeezer to give the awards to the best and the worst of the league so far.

The Barcelona award for Best Team: SC Braga
Run Braga, run... for the title!

If you'd asked 10 people at the beginning of the season which team would become the 2009/10 Portuguese champions, they would all have told you it would be one of Os Três Grandes – Porto, Sporting or Benfica.

(After all, that's been the case for 73 of the Portuguese League's 75 seasons).

But Braga are currently the leaders – and have managed to defeat each of the famed trio.

They enjoyed a terrific first half of the season and have quietly made wise deals in the January transfer window, bringing back Rentería and Luis Aguiar.

It remains to be seen whether they can maintain their current form, but for now let’s congratulate them for giving people another reason to watch Portuguese football.

The José Mourinho award for Best Manager: Domingos Paciência (Braga)
Hey guys, guess who’s No.1?

Braga had a fine 2008/09 season, and when manager Jorge Jesus went to Benfica it seemed it would be difficult for his successor to top his feats at the club.

Truth is that Paciência already surpassed those expectations by turning Braga into title contenders.

At just 41, Paciência looks like he can become post-Mourinho Portugal's most promising manager.

Can he last the distance and shock the football world by claiming the title?

The Luís Figo award for Best Player: Javier Saviola (Benfica)
A rabbit is always waiting to pounce

A lot of people raised their eyebrows when Benfica splashed €5 million for a past-his-prime Saviola.

Against all odds, the pint-sized Argentinian, who had barely featured in three lost seasons at Barcelona and Real Madrid, rediscovered his old form and has become one of the star performers of the league with his dazzling performances.

Saviola has already netted eight goals in the Portuguese Liga and four in the Europa League, but he offers more than just goals with his ability to open up defences and assist his striking partner Cardozo.

Can ‘The Rabbit’ still make it to the World Cup?

It's highly doubtful, but regardless of that, he will be happy to be take the plaudits once again.

The Aly Cissohko award for Best Signing: Silvestre Varela (Porto)
Cheaper than a bag of crisps, Varela has been a revelation

The ‘Portuguese Drogba’, as he was once dubbed, has come a long way since his Sporting days.

Varela went from being an up-and-coming starlet to a has-been, but last season became his breakthrough season as he starred for cash-strapped Estrela da Amadora.

His potential didn’t go unnoticed and he moved to FC Porto on a free transfer.

Today, the Dragons look a more menacing team when he’s on the field, but what’s more frightening is the fact that both Varela and his team-mates are still to fire on all cylinders.

As far as value-for-money and potential go, there’s nobody near the 24-year-old – and if he leaves the club in the future, expect another huge transfer fee.

The Javier Balboa award for Biggest Disappointment: Felipe Caicedo (Sporting CP) and Keirrison (Benfica)
If only they could hit a cow’s backside with a banjo...

Hard to declare an undisputed winner, because either one of them would be a deserving recipient of this rather unflattering award.

Hailed as the ideal partner for Liédson, Ecuadorian international Caicedo arrived from Manchester City with high expectations and a hefty buy-out clause of €10 million.

Slow, sluggish and deemed surplus to requirements, he had his loan deal cut short and in all honesty Sporting fans have no reason to miss him.

Keirrison arrived on loan from Barcelona who had signed him for €14 million in the summer.

He was introduced as prolific striker and one tipped to shine for Brazil, but he barely featured and when he did he looked like a fish out of water.

The fact Benfica have just acquired two forwards is a sign that his future may lie elsewhere.

...and that’s it for now. Stay tuned for the second half of the season – because, as former Vitória Guimarães president Pimenta Machado once said, “in football, what is held as true today will be regarded as a lie tomorrow.”

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Impressive Arsenalistas and a rampant Rabbit

2010-01-15T17:00:00Z

The first round of 2010 – which also signals the end of the first half of the season – didn’t bring many surprises, with the rain that has been hitting Portugal contributing for a lukewarm weekend.

Still, after a three-week break, it would be interesting to see how teams from both ends of the table would react – and for most of them it was like Christmas and New Year never happened.

Braga were the first team to enter the field playing against fourth-placed Nacional – and if people were expecting an even match between the league's top dark horses, they would be disappointed.

Braga scored in the fourth minute with a header from club captain Vandinho and had several chances to score before André Leone killed off the game in the second half (see picture).

"Goodnight..."

No matter how many times it is said, the Arsenalistas continue to impress everyone and it won’t be easy to dislodge them from the top.

Sporting played Leixões on Saturday without the injured Liédson and with new signing Florent Sinama-Pongolle on the bench. Despite dominating for most of the match, the Lions were only able to grab the three points in the 84th minute thanks to a header from centre-back Tonel.

A tough win, but one that gives them hopes for the remainder of the season.

After gaining a morale-boosting win against FC Porto in the previous fixture, Benfica went to Rio Ave knowing they would be handed a stern test against one of the surprise packages of the season.

It was a relatively even match, without many goalscoring opportunities, but the Eagles would prevail in the end with yet another goal from in-form forward Javier Saviola.

El Conejo has scored in the last six matches and is looking sharper each week. Again the Eagles didn’t soar like they did at the beginning of the season, but they were able to take the three difficult points home – which will certainly please manager Jorge Jesus.

"What's up, Doc?"

In the most thrilling match of the weekend, Porto were made to sweat by a plucky União de Leiria side and were probably relieved when the referee blew for the end of the match. No doubt they were the best team, but Leiria twice fought back and wasted a penalty with just two minutes from time.

Therefore, even though Radamel Falcao scored two goals, the man of the match has to be Hélton due to his crucial penalty save – a moment that may later this year be remembered as a championship-decider.

On the up

Académica. André Villas-Boas is still to lose a game at home and saw his pupils beat Naval comfortably. They've managed to turn their home turf into a fortress and now lie a very respectable 10th with 16 points.

High on confidence and with less pressure to perform, can they claim a top-half finish?

Going down

Marítimo have lost their last three league matches and are gradually slipping down the table. The Islanders have been very inconsistent this season and they’ll entertain Benfica this weekend. Can they get back on track?

Goal of the round

Not many goals this round – a meagre 14 – and thus less chance of witnessing a jaw-dropper. Still, Javier Saviola’s takes the cake as he scored the goal that gave Benfica an invaluable win.

After a corner, Rio Ave’s defence tried to clear the ball away, but living up to his moniker, the Rabbit was quick to pounce and beat the goalkeeper with an unorthodox shot. See it here

Talking points

* Rentería is back at Braga. The Colombian failed to impress at Atlético Mineiro and now returns to a club where he did well. The Portugeezer previously stated before that Braga could have some trouble up front with just Meyong as a prolific striker and this is a good move for both parties. Is it a sign of Braga’s intentions?

* Porto again struggled to produce a commanding performance and there are no signs Jesualdo Ferreira is delving into the market. But should the Dragons make one or two signings to improve their squad and increase their chances of claiming a fifth consecutive domestic title?

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The Portuguese Liga team of the decade

2010-01-08T11:00:00Z

As a new decade begins, and in response to Riccardo Rossi's Serie Aaaaargh! Team of the Noughties, The Portugeezer looks back to put together the best team in the Portuguese league over the last 10 years.

And when thinking about the decade just gone, it's impossible to overlook the fact the FC Porto enjoyed a very successful time, winning six out of 10 domestic leagues and claiming both the UEFA Cup and the Champions League.

Therefore, although there’s still room for players of other teams, it’s only natural and rightful that the vast majority of The Portugeezer’s XI wears blue and white.

Unveiling what would have been a fearsome team...

Goalkeeper: Vítor Baía was arguably the best Portuguese goalkeeper ever. The player with most titles won in the world (a stunning total of 32!), he was class on and off the field. Shame Scolari didn’t hand him the chance of winning yet another title!

Right-back: Jose Bosingwa has certainly come a long way since joining FC Porto in 2003. A liability at first, he would eventually become one of the best full-backs in the world with his now-renowned mazy runs down the right.

Central defender: Ricardo Carvalho was one the most reliable defenders The Portugeezer has seen in his life. His superb positioning and composure are the main reasons why people here weren’t surprised when Chelsea paid €25m to secure his services.

Central defender: Pepe arrived at Porto in 2004 and though it took him a while to settle, he would become a stalwart at the club. Very different in style from Carvalho, his speed, strength and ability to win aerial challenges make him a very complete defender.

Left-back: Léo (Leonardo Lourenço Bastos) moved to Benfica from Brazilian side Santos in 2005 at the age of 30. It was his first and only European adventure, but he adapted very quickly and established himself as a fan favourite.

As wily as a fox, he was able to use his small size (he was less than 5ft 7in) to his advantage and impressed pundits with both his defensive and offensive skills.

The defence, L to R: Bosingwa, Carvalho, Pepe, li'l Leo

Holding midfielder: Costinha, aka “The Minister,” was the guardian that held the key to Porto’s rock-solid defence.

More than a mere tough tackler, Costinha was very effective at set-pieces and scored some crucial goals for the Dragons, including the injury-time strike at Old Trafford that brought a certain manager to widespread English attention.

Central midfielder: Maniche is today far past his prime, but on his day was an industrious, all-round midfielder that could play for any team. He would tackle, assist, score from distance and run the entire match. What else could you ask for, apart from a Nespresso?

Attacking midfielder: Deco is a player of a special, unique breed. The Brazilian-born schemer was blessed with an unusual ability to read the game and dribble past his opponents, a lethal combination that made the difference in many, many games.

No wonder Barcelona fans would later call him Decodificador – The Decoder).

Middlemen: Costinha, Maniche and Deco

Right-winger: Ricardo Quaresma arrived at Porto in 2004 and didn’t take too long to endear himself to the club supporters with his mesmerising skills and trademark ‘Trivela’ (swerve with the outside of the boot).

In his prime, Quaresma would tear apart any defence and smile afterwards, which was why he was one of the most sought-after talents in Europe not long ago.

Left-winger/Support striker: Lisandro Lopéz was one of the most underrated players in Europe. The Argentinian possesses a tremendous work-rate, above-average technique and goalscoring prowess.

If you think Tévez is the Argentinian Rooney, think again because Lisandro is definitely not inferior to Carlitos.

Striker: Liédson. Who else? “The Slender One” is now in his seventh season at Sporting and is their marquee player. A very clever striker in the box, his more than 100 goals at the club are proof of his innate ability to score.

Glory boys: Quaresma, Lopez and Liedson

Subs: Hélton, Bruno Alves, Nuno Valente, Katsouranis, Lucho, Simão, Jardel

Manager: José Mourinho. The man who came, saw and conquered. Survived his wicked first experience at Benfica, turned União de Leiria into a threat and well... won everything at FC Porto (with the exception of the European Super Cup, if you want to be picky).

What do you think? Who would you select for your team? Let the debate begin...

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New Year's revelations in the transfer market

2010-01-06T09:30:00Z

FFT.com's Portugal correspondent Sérgio Santos on the most hectic transfer market in Europe...

People say that with a new year there’s a new beginning and 2010 is already witnessing a lot of activity in the Portuguese League.

The January transfer window may have only opened on the 1st, but at the moment Liga Sagres leads Europe in money invested with an aggregate amount of €17.5m.

Naturally there will be a couple of big money transfers in England and Spain, but nevertheless it is quite an accomplishment.

Whether that means Portuguese clubs are quick to spot a good deal or that bad management is rife in the country is something we’ll have to wait and see.

Perhaps equally surprising is the fact that the Portuguese team leading that investment is Sporting CP with €9.7m.

How ironic it is that the club that used to whine about their “smaller budget” and question the source of the millions spent by the other two 'big' clubs is now mimicking that duo.

Even when Sporting club president Bettencourt hinted in December that there would be money available for transfers, few would expect the club to pursue such an aggressive player in the market.

Mozambican defender Mexer was the first signing, costing around €160,000; the Lions would later raid leaders Braga to bring, as previously mentioned, João Pereira.

The right-back established himself as one of the best full-backs in Liga Sagres and is now given an opportunity to shine at one of the three historical clubs.

Sporting paid €3M for his services, but given that the wings are an area manager Carlos Carvalhal is keen to strengthen, the transfer may come off as cheap.

The big-money move of this window is without a doubt former Liverpool and Atlético Madrid hitman Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

The French player failed to make an impact at Madrid (with Forlán and Aguero, it would always be difficult for any player), but at 25 he’s still young and can share the goalscoring burden with star striker Liédson.

A new start for FloSiPo

Like the Javier Saviola transfer though, the hefty €6.5m spent is more of a gamble than an investment with a guaranteed return.

Having already played in the more competitive English and Spanish leagues, will Sinama-Pongolle have the motivation to be a hit at Sporting?

These three transfers may not signal the end of the club’s spending spree, as Carvalhal warned that the club would continue to monitor the transfer market.

Braga centre-back Alberto Rodríguez, Nacional midfielder Rúben Micael and Valencia left-back Asier Del Horno are rumoured to be next targets for this new Sporting.

It's quite a shift in policy for the usually quiet club and one thing is certain: this newfound ambition quashes the argument that Sporting cannot financially compete with the other main title contenders.

Which means they have run out of excuses: win or lose, Bettencourt and Carvalhal are the engineers of the outcome.

As mentioned in a previous post, Benfica built on their summer spending spree by bringing in three players – all from Brazil and, therefore, eligible for the Europa League – for a total of €7.3m.

Flamengo's 19-year-old Airton (pictured) was signed in an attempt to increase competition for the holding midfielder role.

Under-20 international Alan Kardec, a striker in the similar mould of Cardozo (big, strong and mostly a poacher), was signed as a replacement for Keirrison, who is expected to move to Spanish side Zaragoza.

Prepare for an Air-ial bombardment

‘K11’ was one of the biggest letdowns of the season and with no chance of dislodging Cardozo and Saviola from the starting XI, his departure benefits all the parties involved.

Éder Luis, the last one to arrive, moved from Atlético Mineiro and is an attacking midfielder-***-forward with an apparent goalscoring prowess.

Regardless of the trio’s ability, one has to question the club strategy here.

In the forward department, Benfica already possess Cardozo, Saviola, Wéldon and Nuno Gomes.

With Kardec and Luis, that makes six players without even considering crippled Pedro Mantorras, soon-to-depart Keirrison and the fact that Di Maria or even Aimar can play as forwards, albeit in a deeper role.

It’s an awful lot of strikers for a team that usually plays with just two. Either some tensions will arise or another striker is due to leave.

As for the much-debated left-back position, well... the club don’t see it as a priority!

Unlike the Lisbon duo, Braga and Porto have been quiet, opting to focus on their current squad.

The Arsenalistas moved quickly to replace João Pereira by signing Olhanense right-back Miguel Garcia for just €50,000.

Garcia has a lot of experience, having already played at Sporting earlier in his career, and is a clever, ready-made piece of business.

It will also be interesting to see whether Braga are able to strengthen their squad in order to boost their chances of claiming the title.

Miguel Garcia: "Ooh! It's him off the telly!"

Porto must be quite happy with their players, as there’s barely any transfer talk involving the club.

Manager Jesualdo Ferreira will nevertheless be pleased to have another striker at his disposal, as Orlando Sá returns after a seven-month injury lay-off.

If the Dragons are to go into the market, expect them to buy just one player, probably an attacking midfielder – but they're traditionally not big fans of the January transfer window.

It's still very early, but the first signs already predict an exciting second-half of the season.

Stay tuned and have a great 2010... with The Portugeezer!

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Why Everton are a better bet than Arsenal

2009-12-22T09:00:00Z

With Porto playing Arsenal, Sporting playing Everton and Benfica battling Berlin, The Portugeezer looks at his compatriots' chances in the European knockouts...

The Champions League and Europa League draws were neither generous nor harsh towards the three remaining Portuguese teams, who each have a decent chance of progression.

Which may not be good news for Englishmen...

Porto vs Arsenal

While Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid were the teams to avoid and Bordeaux, Fiorentina and Sevilla were the most attractive opponents, Porto got Arsenal in what will be a 50/50 match than can go either way – according to none other than Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners may be privately relishing facing a team they so easily hammered last season, but they should not count their chickens yet.

The Dragons were unusually lacklustre that night and would eventually prove that the 4-0 result in London was a one-off by defeating the English side at home.

Tres Grande: RvP puts Arsenal's third past Porto

It's a surprise that top clubs still underestimate Porto.

The Dragons have been in the Champions League as much as almost any other team and they won the competition in 2004.

With so much accumulated experience and an ever-present winning mentality – remember they've won the domestic title six times in the last seven seasons – Porto are not to be taken lightly.

Arsenal can be one of the best teams in the world with their displays of free-flowing football, but their weaknesses are also well-documented: lack of strength-in-depth and continuous reliance on young players who, despite their undoubted ability, lack consistency.

They lost Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City and Robin van Persie to injury, and unless Wenger is ready to go to the market in January, they seem to be running low on ammunition.

Prediction:

Both teams are dominant at home and on their day can beat just about anyone. It will be a close, close contest and the tie will be decided by the form of the teams come February.

At the moment, Arsenal look marginally the favourites if only because they’ll play the second leg at home. Still, anything can happen.

Benfica vs Hertha Berlin

Two of Portugal's Tres Grandes could help each other out by sharing scouting notes: Benfica and Sporting will play against teams from each other's group.

In truth, Benfica may not need the assistance.

Based on what little Hertha showed against Sporting, and taking into account the fact they are currently bottom of the German league with just six points in 17 games, the Eagles go into this tie as the odds-on favourites.

Berlin troop off after bombing in Lisbon

Last year the two teams met in Berlin for the UEFA Cup and the match ended a 1-1 draw.

This year, though, Hertha don’t have striking duo Andriy Voronin and Marko Pantelic – and Benfica look a much more menacing team.

Prediction:

Benfica will book a last-16 tie against Marseille - who play against Danish side FC København.

Provided they don’t press the self-destruct button, there’s no other possible outcome from this match.

Sporting vs Everton

This one will be one hell of a match for Sporting.

Yes, Everton got schooled by Benfica (0-7 on aggregate in the group), but the Toffees were missing some of their first-choice players.

Toffees chewed by Benfica

David Moyes once again proved his business savvy by completing the loan capture of Landon Donovan, but the Scotsman will be mostly pleased to have his entire squad available.

Mikel Arteta is due to return from injury in February and the Spanish wizard might be the key man for Everton.

Both teams have been struggling this season and should the situation continue, they may be forced to focus on their respective leagues, which would take some glamour from this tie.

Fortunately, February is still some way off and there’s still time to build enough momentum.

Prediction:

Sporting will lose this one. They have yet to impress this season and what they’ve shown so far is not enough to overcome the Toffees.

They will make some adjustments in January which can boost their chances, but they need to improve to take this one.

Best non-news of the week

According to Record, Benfica manager Jorge Jesus instructed the club to sign Bayern Munich outcast Luca Toni.

So the Italian striker would be on his way to become a Benfica player – if it wasn’t for his huge wage.

And the fact that he has market value in Italy, Spain and England. And the fact he still wants to play at the highest level...

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Matchday 13: Title race going down to the wire

2009-12-17T13:00:00Z

Round 13 Results: Mon Dec 14: Belenenses 0-1 Vitória Guimarães.Sun Dec 13: Académica 2-0 Leixões, Marítimo 0-1 Rio Ave, Braga 0-0 Naval, FC Porto 2-0 Vitória Setúbal. Sat Dec 12: Sporting 0-1 União de Leiria, Olhanense 2-2 Benfica. Fri Dec 11: Paços Ferreira 2-1 Nacional

What was supposed to be just another day at the office for the top teams soon transformed into an emotional rollercoaster that shook things up at the top of the table.

The first half of the season is almost over and next week we’ll have the mouth-watering clash between Benfica and Porto.

But before we get carried away with 'O Clássico', let’s see what happened last weekend.

On Saturday, Sporting hosted União de Leiria and were surprisingly defeated 1-0.

Two weeks before against Benfica they looked like they could turn things around, but once again they were pretty much the same side that struggled under Paulo Bento: disjointed and lacking both creativity and passion.

Leiria’s goal came from a corner in the 27th minute, but it could have been worse as the away side had one goal disallowed.

The Lions now sit in a disappointing seventh place with just 18 points. The result provides Carlos Carvalhal more food for thought as he will be looking to make some adjustments to the squad in January.

Mozambican defender Mexer is on his way to the club, but rumour has it that he will be loaned out for the remainder of the season.

With Carvalhal only certain to stay till the end of the season, though, The Portugeezer wonders what the rationale behind such a signing was.

Benfica went to the Algarve to play against an Olhanense side supposedly downbeat after a series of poor results.

The Eagles were naturally favourites and were looking to make a statement before the next match, but The Portugeezer has to tip its hat to the Olhanense players, because they fought hard and were unlucky not to get all three points.

It was a thrilling game that ended 2-2 draw and saw three players being sent-off.

Veteran forward Nuno Gomes saved Benfica’s blushes in injury-time, but the club lost Di Maria (sent-off), Fábio Coentrão (fifth yellow card) and almost certainly Ramires (twisted knee).

Could they have picked a better time to lose key players?

On the other hand, Olhanense can take plenty of positives from the match and, provided they show this attitude week in week out, they can beat the drop.

Braga failed to capitalize on Benfica’s slip up by being held to a goalless home draw against Naval.

Naval adopted a similar strategy to the one used against the Eagles three rounds ago as they were happy to 'park the bus' and collect a single point from the match.

Such a negative approach frustrated the Arsenalistas who dropped points at home for the first time this season.

Still, Domingos Paciência's side continues to set the pace at the top of the league and will hope to benefit from the meeting between their title rivals next week.

On Sunday, FC Porto had the last laugh as they beat Setúbal 2-0 at home, courtesy of goals from Ernesto Farías and Silvestre Varela.

Setúbal, arguably one of the worst teams in the league, had no arguments against the Dragons who cruised to a comfortable victory.

Porto now trails Benfica and Braga by just one point, making this weekend's fixture much more interesting.

On the up

FC Porto and Académica.

FC Porto now look much closer to their ruthless selves and are closer to reclaim their usual top spot as Benfica and Braga.

They crushed Atlético Madrid 3-0 in their last Champions League fixture and are high on confidence ahead of facing Benfica this Sunday.

Académica have won their last three matches at home and since André Villas-Boas took of club they look a completely different side.

They are now out of the relegation zone with 13 points and will look to climb to the top half of the table.

Next up they have a stern test at Nacional, but if they perform like they have done recently they have every chance of getting something from the match.

Going down

Benfica and Sporting.

The Eagles churned out their worst performance of the season and looked like the side that so-often disappoints their supporters almost every year.

They appear to be losing steam, but next Sunday they will have the opportunity to redeem themselves against FC Porto.

If they win, they’ll open up a four-point gap over the Dragons and will regain momentum. However, should they lose they will hand the psychological edge to their arch-rivals.

Sporting lost at home and the title is just a mirage. More than the bad results and the poor performances, it is the sense that things are not going to change any time soon that is a worry.

Carvalhal and Bettencourt will try to pull off some good deals in January, but regardless of who arrives or leaves, they should prepare for next season and not resort to panic-buying.

Goal of the round

Académica midfielder Emídio Rafael scored a good goal to open the scoring against Leixões.

Rafael beautifully nutmegged a Leixões defender, before firing in a well-placed shot that gave the keeper no chance.

Talking points

Without Di Maria, Coentrão and, presumably, Ramires, are Benfica favourites for the clash against FC Porto?

Are Sporting in real danger of losing a Europa League place?

Do Olhanense possess too much quality to go down?

And with the transfer window about to re-open, what will the top trio do to ensure they are better equipped to clinch the title?

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Benfica: Where does the money come from?

2009-12-15T14:30:00Z

When Benfica supremo Luis Filipe Vieira announced in October that the club would not only retain its major players but also invest during the January transfer window, he sent two signals to the footballing world:

i) That the current squad is not good enough to achieve the club’s ambitious goals
ii) That the club's financial health is good

Interestingly, neither of the above statements are true.

Benfica have the best crop of players in 15 years with a mix of established players (Aimar, Cardozo and Luisão) and up-and-coming starlets (David Luiz, Di Maria and Ramires) and boast strength in depth to compete on all fronts.

While that alone does not guarantee silverware, it certainly helps to create a winning formula.

Because Vieira is known to suffer from ‘Foot-in-the-Mouth’ syndrome, nobody took his words very seriously.

Yet last week, according to the Portuguese press, Benfica agreed a €5 million fee for Flamengo defensive midfielder Airton and are close to tieing up a deal for U20 Brazilian striker Alan Kardec.

Like Arsène Wenger, I am usually against recruiting reinforcements in January; the market is inflated (because good players are not allowed to leave on the cheap in the middle of the season) and there is the risk that new signings fail to meet expectations or disrupt the dressing room.

But even if keeping the faith with the current crop is the right thing to do, most people would understand if the Eagles were in the market for a new left-back, their weakest link at present.

Instead, they are about to sign a defensive midfielder and are looking to bring in another striker.

It would be unfair to comment on Airton as I have not seen him play, but even if he happens to be a cracking player, what impact will he make this season?

Unless manager Jorge Jesus changes formation, he will find it difficult to dislodge Javi Garcia from the starting XI.

Still, regardless of the decision at sporting level, the real question here is whether Benfica can afford these investments or any others.

Hitting the net profit?

Several blogs ago, I mentioned I was sceptical about Benfica’s balance sheet due to the hefty amounts of money being spent without the support of a solid revenue structure.

It wasn’t, therefore, a big surprise when it was reported that the club is technically bankrupt (i.e. having negative equity capital).

That is not a new situation in Portugal, but being €12 million in the red should at least be a warning sign to the management of any organisation.

Benfica invested around €25 million in the summer and should the Airton deal go through that figure will rise to €30 million.

The question people are now asking is: how can they invest so much without selling their most-prized assets and without playing Champions League football?

The answer is sadly very simple: by borrowing against future revenues.

Here are two examples of the strategy adopted by the club.

Some months ago, Benfica agreed a 12-year sponsorship deal with Sagres, a well-known Portuguese beer brand that also lends its name to the league.

The amount per year was rumoured to be huge, but how can we know whether the Benfica brand won’t be worth more in three-four years?

We can’t, and that’s why such lengthy deals are usually struck, not to get more money, but to get money faster.

More recently, the club decided to create the Benfica Stars Fund.

Basically, like in any other investment fund, people put their money in some assets – in this case the Benfica players – they deem attractive with hopes of getting a profit at a later stage.

In other words, the club ‘sells’ fractions of its own players at the expense of future sales.

Again, they get the money faster, but they might get a lower amount.

Here’s the most interesting bit.

The day Benfica managed to raise €22 million from their Stars Fund was, by sheer coincidence, the same day they had to pay that same amount in old debt.

Now what does that tell you?

Learning from past mistakes

Gambling on Champions League football to pay loans was the main reason why Leeds United – once one of the most exciting teams in the football world – fell into a downward spiral that ultimately condemned them to League One.

Leeds faced a common situation in other businesses: their actual growth rate exceeded the sustainable growth rate and the club needed to pay its huge debt.

In football, performances can affect the whole business side of a club.

If a team is playing badly, its players lose value, less people will go to the stadium and merchandising sales will be lower.

If the Eagles fail to reach the Champions League this year, not only will they lose out on UEFA's millions but they will also miss out on deals for players who wish to showcase their skills in European football's elite competition.

For the sake of their future, Benfica better keep on delivering.

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Dragons emerge as title fight tightens

2009-12-09T12:00:00Z

ROUND 12 RESULTS Mon Dec 7 Vitória Setúbal 0-2 Sporting, União de Leiria 1-2 Nacional Sun Dec 6 Marítimo 5-2 Olhanense, Benfica 4-0 Académica Sat Dec 5 Naval 1-0 Paços de Ferreira, Rio Ave 0-0 Belenenses, Leixões 1-1 Braga Fri Dec 4 Vitória Guimarães 1-4 FC Porto

We're fast approaching the end of the first half of the season and the picture is becoming clearer at both ends of the table. Let’s recap what happened at the weekend.

On Friday, Vitória de Guimarães hosted FC Porto. Mid-table but buoyed by a series of good results, the home side was looking to upset the Dragons.

But Porto were in no mood to let their title rivals get further away and started the match in dominant fashion.

Goals from Varela and Falcao gave Porto a comfortable advantage, and although a goal from Andrezinho just before the break could have complicated matters, the Dragons would score two more in what was a very polished performance from Jesualdo Ferreira’s men.

On Saturday, leaders Braga went to Leixões hoping to claim three more points and keep their distance over Benfica (two points behind with a home game on Sunday) and Porto (also two behind after their win at Guimarães).

But it didn't work out as they might have planned.

The relegation-haunted Matosinhos club held the title-chasers to a 1-1 draw, but it could have been worse.

Goalkeeper Eduardo made a mess from Moisés’ backpass and the own-goal gifted Leixões the lead (You'll be seeing that in this week's Video Stars - chuckling Ed.), but Alan would rescue a point for the Arsenalistas in the 88th minute.

On Sunday, there were two goal-fests. Marítimo trashed Olhanense 5-2 at home; the sorry Algarvian side twice came from behind but eventually collapsed to the Islanders.

Marítimo now sit comfortably in fifth while Olhanense raised their alert level after another loss.

Benfica returned to their free-scoring ways with a 4-0 win over Académica, but the Estudantes (Students) were thought-provoking opponents for long periods in the match.

Despite a fifth-minute Óscar Cardozo opener, Académica were undeterred and their passing game posed problems for Benfica until Javier Saviola’s wonder-goal.

In the second half, two goals down on a rain-sodden pitch, Académica couldn't get back in the game and Cardozo added gloss with two more goals. The Paraguayan now boasts an impressive tally of 14 in the league.

Newish Sporting boss Carlos Carvalhal was anxious to hear star man Liédson declare last week that he was finding it difficult to adapt to the new formation, going as far as to suggest the team would benefit if he was dropped.

But Liédson was in the line-up on Monday when Sporting visited Setúbal and the “Slender One” scored two goals to put a smile back on the faces of the Lions’ faithful.

There’s still a lot of work to be done but they’re also aware they have already hit rock bottom, which means the only way is up.

On the up

The Portugeezer has said many times that FC Porto haven’t been their usual ruthless selves this season.

Fernando Belluschi is struggling to fill the void left by Lucho González, and Hulk still isn't firing on all cylinders despite his Brazil call-up.

The Dragons have yet to breathe fire but they only trail joint leaders Braga and Benfica by three points, while having qualified with ease for Champions League last 16.

After such a resounding win at Guimarães, the Dragons are definitely on the up and will set their sights on reclaiming the first place they've ended up in for five of the last six seasons.

Going down

Surprise, surprise, it’s Olhanense! There’s no shame in losing at Marítimo, but it is a problem when a manager admits his team morale is very low.

They’ll host Benfica next week and should they fail to put in a good performance, the axe is likely to fall on Jorge Costa. He has done wonders for the club, but life goes on for both club and manager.

Talking points

Forgotten Benfica striker Ariza Makukula said this week he still harbours some hopes of going to South Africa.

The former Bolton hit-man has scored 12 goals in 12 games for Turkish outfit Kayserispor. With the Seleção das Quinas needing more options upf ront, can Makukula still force his way to Carlos Queiroz's side?

Valencia legend Miguel Ángel Angulo left Sporting after a mere 97 days at the club. He amassed more than 300 appearances for the Spanish side, but was only able to record 177 minutes in the Portuguese League.

With Liédson asking for better support in the attack, what will Sporting do in the January transfer window?

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Group G is for Gruelling, not death

2009-12-08T11:00:00Z

Sometimes, prayers can be answered. After saying Portugal would benefit from a ‘Group of Death’ draw, The Portugeezer watched as Carlos Queiroz's man were paired with Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea.

According to a FIFA poll more than half of respondents think group G is the toughest, but let's not label it the Group of Death. Group D is perhaps the most balanced group because all the four teams – Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana – have legitimate aspirations to reach the last 16.

Nevertheless, few would argue that Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast may be able produce some of the most scintillating matches of the first round.

Brazil

Brazil are perennial favourites. They have been the only team to have played in every World Cup and have won the competition five times. They also won the 2009 Confederations Cup and look a more consistent side under Dunga.

The Brazilian manager was quick to stoke the fire ahead of the match between the two Portuguese-speaking teams by sensationally claiming the match would be a contest between Brazil A and Brazil B! OK, so we happen to have three Brazilian-born players in our squad and we are also known for our technical ability (though to a lesser degree than the Brazilians).

Still, it's one of those expressions that will surely be brought up again come the time of the match. Dunga probably remembers the 6-2 humiliation his team inflicted on the Portuguese last year, but even considering the well-documented shortcomings, it will hardly be a similar match.

"Nice floodlight." "Yeah." "Where?"

That much-maligned night, everything went bad from the beginning and the Brazilians ran riot. In June, however, it will be a much closer contest for two main reasons: Portugal will have something to prove – and the Brazil players aren't as good as they were in 2002 or 2006.

Sure, they have been playing better as a whole, but they don’t instil as much fear as they did when they had Ronaldinho, Ronaldo or even Adriano in their prime. Portuguese centre-backs are better than their Brazilian counterparts and if we're able to shut down Káká and Diego in the middle, then we might just have a chance.

Ivory Coast

Of course, the approach to that match against Brazil – which will be Portugal's final group game, just like in the 1966 World Cup – will largely depend on the outcome of the first two matches, especially the opening match against a tricky Ivory Coast.

The old cliché is that despite their powerful and free-flowing football, African sides are weak at the back and lack experience – but that’s not the case with the Elephants. Emmanuel Eboué, Arthur Boka, Guy Demel and Kolo Touré all play in top European leagues and provide a reliable back-line.

Elephants: Memorable

But there’s plenty of firepower upfront with star man Didier Drogba, Abdul Kader-Keita, Bakari Koné and Salomon Kalou among others. And let’s not forget the industrious duo Yaya Touré and Didier Zokora, both capable of running the entire match. It will be a very, very tough match and one that may decide which team accompanies Brazil to the next round.

North Korea

It will be 44 years since North Korea last played in a World Cup, and while they would love to replicate their 1966 heroics when they knocked out Italy and almost shocked Portugal in one of the most thrilling matches in the World Cup history, they have already achieved their main goal.

"Guess who?"

There’s not much information on the team, but they played against Zambia last month and lost 4-1.

Everyone would be surprised if they managed to claim a single point, let alone qualify for the next round.

The final countdown

At the 2002 World Cup, Portugal were handed a relatively easy draw alongside United States, South Korea and Poland – and returned home empty-handed. This time though, not only is the group stronger, but should Portugal go through to the next round, there’s a big chance they will meet Spain.

So basically, there’s no way to avoid confrontations with the big sharks! For better or worse, Portugal will have to sweat blood to get something at the biggest sporting event in the world. The Portugeezer can only hope so...

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Why Portugal would benefit from Group of Death draw

2009-12-04T11:30:00Z

All eyes will be on South Africa today to see what the 2010 World Cup draw holds in store for the 32 qualified teams.

The official announcement of the seedings confirmed that we’re in for some intriguing match-ups.

Portugal knew they wouldn’t be seeded – and they didn’t deserve to after a below-par campaign – but the first question that popped into The Portugeezer's mind immediately after seeing the final setup was:

Who was the genius behind such a seeding system?

Pot 1 (Seeded teams): South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Italy, Germany, Argentina and England.
Pot 2 (AFC, OFC, CONCACAF): Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Mexico and Honduras.
Pot 3 (CAF, CONMEBOL): Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay.
Pot 4 (UEFA): France, PORTUGAL, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Denmark and Slovakia.

Unlike the 2006 World Cup where both the FIFA world rankings and past World Cup performances were used to determine the seeding, this time only the world rankings from October 2009 were used in the calculation.

Is it fair that France, runners-up in 2006, aren’t in Pot 1 instead of England or Netherlands?

Some people say it doesn’t matter which teams you play against at the World Cup, because if you harbour title ambitions you should be able to beat any side.

Therefore, it serves no purpose to draw worst-case or best-case scenarios based on how strong or weak the opponents are on paper.

However, group stages can also provide the building blocks of a winning team.

The victory against France in the 2002 World Cup certainly helped Senegal to reach the quarter-finals and enjoy an unforgettable tournament.

Taking into account how the Selecção das Quinas work, a strong group would bring out the best in Portugal at this stage.

Forget about Carlos Queiroz's statement about Portugal being genuine contenders. They aren’t and the Portuguese public are aware of that.

But that’s no reason for failing to put in a good performance. and being up against the odds would actually help them.

With that in mind, The Portugeezer will share with you the group it would like to see Portugal draw.

England

Knowing the recent history between the two teams, to be in the same group as England would be anything but unexpected.

They beat them at Euro 2000 (an amazing 3-2 comeback), at Euro 2004 (a pulsating penalty shootout) and again at World Cup 2006 (yet another penalty shootout).

No doubt Portugal were lucky, but psychologically they like to play against them. And if they do, they will, once again, be the underdogs.

Under Fabio Capello, the Three Lions have a meaner edge and are more confident than ever, but nonetheless it would be a pleasure to watch another classic match between Portugal and England.

USA

This one is about settling old scores. At the 2002 World Cup in South Korea/Japan, the Americans dealt a major blow in Portugal’s quest to advance to the next round when they beat them 3-2.

This would be the ideal opportunity to make up for that match and enjoy the sweet taste of revenge.

The United States managed to stun the almighty Spaniards in the Confederations Cup semi-final (and took a 2-0 lead against Brazil in the final) and it would be interesting to see how the match would unfold eight years on.

Côte d’Ivoire

The surprise-package of the World Cup will emerge from Pot 3.

Ghana, for instance, has a lot of young talent, including some graduates from the U20 World Cup winning side.

Paraguay and Chile, who enjoyed a comfortable qualification in the CONMEBOL zone, are also curious prospects when considering how tricky South American teams usually are.

However, the team The Portugeezer is expecting the most from is Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

The Elephants combine the best of Africa – physical attributes – and Europe – technical skills and tactical awareness - and could be the dark horses of the tournament.

After all, any team that possesses the likes of Didier Drogba, the Touré brothers, Emmanuel Eboué, Didier Zokora and Salomon Kalou must be a strong side.

Playing against them would be a joy to watch and a real test of Portugal’s resolve.

UEFA Competitions

Despite the buzz of the World Cup, Portuguese clubs have continued to push for a place in the knock-out stages of the UEFA competitions.

FC Porto played last week against Chelsea in a lukewarm Champions League match between two teams that had already sealed qualification.

Porto lost 0-1 and now know they’ll face one of the group winners in the last 16.

They have bigger problems in the league, so they won’t be fazed by the prospect of having to play against one of Europe’s finest.

Benfica, Sporting and Nacional went by the book and guaranteed their already-predicted fates in the Europa League.

Benfica went to ice-cold Belarus to play against BATE Borisov. The Eagles didn’t wow but managed to beat the home side with goals from Javier Saviola and Fábio Coentrão.

Nacional went to Bremen knowing that only a miracle could keep their qualification hopes on life support.

Well... it didn’t happen. They were hammered 4-1 by the Germans and will hope to have a proper send-off at Madeira when they host Austria Vienna in their final match.

Sporting knew that a draw would be enough to clinch first place in the group, and that's exactly what they got when left-back Leandro Grimi scored in injury-time as the Lions recorded a 1-1 draw against Heerenveen.

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Derby and moan as Lisbon lacks fizzle

2009-12-02T10:00:00Z

Round 11 Results: Mon Nov 30 Sporting Braga 2-0 União de Leiria Sun Nov 29 Académica 3-0 Vitória Setúbal, Paços de Ferreira 1-1 Leixões, Belenenses 2-2 Marítimo, FC Porto 2-1 Rio Ave Sat Nov 28 Nacional 1-1 Naval, Sporting 0-0 Benfica Fri Nov 27 Olhanense 0-2 Vitória Guimarães

Folks, who doesn't enjoy a good derby match?

A football battle between two old rivals is guaranteed to give the spectator more than what he gets in a regular match.

There’s the pre-game trash-talking, there’s the unlikely hero who scores in the last minute, there’s the refereeing blunder that will be discussed over and over and, of course, there’s the sheer pleasure of rubbing the victory in the faces of the rival fans.

Like many other people, The Portugeezer was curious to see how Sporting and Benfica would perform in what had been dubbed the second “big match” of the season.

In one corner, there were the Lions; boosted by the arrival of a new manager, they needed to win not only to keep their faint title hopes alive but also to gain a psychological edge over their old foes.

In the other corner, the wounded Eagles wanted to remain atop of the league and prove that the home defeat to Vitória Guimarães in the Cup was a mere fluke.

Having said that, let’s see how Sporting vs Benfica fared according to the basic items of a great derby formula:

Goals? Zero.
Red cards? None.
Opportunities? A handful, at most.
Controversies? None.

OK… thinking again, maybe not every derby is the epitome of awesomeness!

Sporting vs Benfica certainly wasn’t and ended with a 0-0 bore draw, a result that raised some questions over the credentials of both sides.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: it was a below-average event between two sides that were afraid to win.

But that gave SC Braga and FC Porto reasons to smile because neither team wasted the opportunity to benefit from the draw between the Lisbon rivals.

The Dragons left it late but they managed to overcome a plucky Rio Ave with a hard-fought 2-1 win.

They continue to stutter, but are nevertheless just three points behind Benfica. That will make the December 20 game between both teams much more interesting.

Braga hosted União de Leiria on Monday and recorded a comfortable 2-0 win.

The Arsenalistas continue to impress and while many pundits expect them to drop points at some stage, they seem happy to defy the odds.

On the up

Académica were impressive this week after hammering Setúbal 3-0. They’re now out of the relegation zone and will hope to build on that.

Buoyed by their Cup win against Benfica, Vitória de Guimarães travelled to Algarve to beat Olhanense.

Since Paulo Sérgio arrived at the club, they look a completely different side and are playing attractive football at the moment.

Going down

Olhanense lost once again and they are now second from bottom. For a side that promised so much in the first few games, they now look a Liga Vitalis side. That surely isn’t a good omen for them…

Talking points

Trailing Braga by 13 points, Benfica by 11 and Porto by eight, can Sporting still be considered title contenders this season?

Is Jorge Costa’s time at Olhanense coming to an end? The former Porto centre-back was the one to steer the Algarvian side to Liga Sagres, but everybody knows that, unlike museums, managers don’t live on past achievements.

After watching his side overcoming União de Leiria, Domingos Paciência declared that “Braga are the best team in the league”.

And you know what? He’s right, they have been. However, such loud and clear boasting may put opponents on alert and invite undesired pressure.

Nevertheless, if you’re a stats junkie you’ll be pleased to know that when you compare Braga’s performance so far to the one of the championship-winning Boavista side, the Arsenalistas have been better.

Goal of the round

There weren’t many spectacular goals this weekend, though Tiago Targino’s against Olhanense was a good one.

The midfielder is enjoying his recent performances and is finally fulfilling the potential shown earlier in his career.

After terrorising Benfica defenders with his mazy runs on the wings, Targino bagged an assist and a goal. Well done!

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The biggest derby of the weekend

2009-11-27T09:30:00Z

Amigos, this weekend will bring you one of the biggest matches in the footballing world.

And I'm not talking about Liverpool vs Everton, Arsenal vs Chelsea, Aberdeen vs Rangers or even Barcelona vs Real Madrid.

I'm talking about the mouth-watering clash between Sporting CP and SL Benfica.

Forget about the spotlight-hogging El Clásico between Barça and Real that will be shown on cinemas around Spain, because the Lisbon derby has all the ingredients that appeal to the real fan.

And it goes with beer, not popcorn.

The big one

Sporting vs Benfica

Looking at the table, pretty much everyone would say the Eagles are red-hot favourites.

They are joint leaders with 25 points while a disappointing Sporting have managed just 14 points.

Should Benfica win, they’ll have twice the points of their rivals, an incredibly unusual situation that would practically dent any title hopes the Lions still harbour.

The thing is that unlike other matches, derbies between fierce rivals have unique characteristics.

In these matches, morale, form and the overall quality of the squad are not as decisive as they usually are since the opportunity to defeat a familiar foe offers an instant psychological boost.

Often, the team in the worst position wins the derby.

Carlos Carvalhal faces his first league game as Sporting manager without any major concerns regarding team selection.

The absence of injured Russian midfielder Marat Izmailov is the biggest blow, but Sporting have plenty of good options in that department.

After crashing out of the Portuguese Cup, Benfica will be looking to get back on track and will welcome back star striker Óscar Cardozo after a two-match suspension.

Javier Saviola is a major doubt and that may give an opportunity to Brazilian forward Wéldon.

Keirrison could also play a role, but after failing to make any sort of impact against Guimararães, it is hard to believe coach Jesus will hand him another chance.

It's puzzling that a €14 million signing tipped to have a bright future can flop as hard as he’s doing, but at the moment he’s no better than Pedro Mantorras.

It will be decided in midfield.

Benfica lack balance in the middle of the park and Sporting are stronger: with Veloso, Moutinho and Matías Fernandéz, Sporting have a mix of creativity, passing range and ball control.

With the 'new coach' wildcard, The Portugeezer gives the upper hand to the Lions.

They know that a win here will provide them a much-need fillip and they’ll sweat blood to impress their new coach and defeat the Eagles.

Liédson will score and frustrate Benfica once again.

Prediction: Sporting 2-1 Benfica

The remaining games

Olhanense vs Guimarães

Guimarães have been on the rise lately with wins against Braga and Benfica.

Manager Paulo Sérgio seems to have injected confidence to the side and they’ll be hoping to pile more misery on their Algarvian opponents, who haven’t won a game since 14th of September.

Prediction: Away win

Nacional vs Naval

Both teams barely managed to survive in the Portuguese Cup. The Islanders currently sit in fourth place and are usually strong at home, which should be enough to see of their opponents.

Prediction: Home win

Académica vs Setúbal

In a match between two relegation contenders, the home factor may just be the key in the final result.

Despite having lost in the Portuguese Cup, Académica had played well in the previous matches and will hope to leapfrog Setúbal in the table.

Prediction: Home win

Paços de Ferreira vs Leixões

Paços de Ferreira are the only team in the league not to have won at home... but Leixões have failed to claim a single point away.

Having improved in the last few matches, Paços will register their first win in front of their suffering supporters.

Prediction: Home win (at last!)

Belenenses vs Marítimo

Seven out of Marítimo’s 15 points came against the Big Three.

The Islanders seem to be up to tough tasks, though it’s a whole different story when they play against smaller opposition.

Belenenses are badly in need of a result, but will find it hard to get the three points.

Prediction: A lively draw

FC Porto vs Rio Ave

Porto will be entertaining Rio Ave knowing beforehand that they benefit from the outcome of the match between Benfica and Sporting.

Yes, they lost against Chelsea on Wednesday in a very even match, but will return to winning ways against one of the surprise packages of the season.

Rio Ave have been playing above expectations... but they’re still no match for the Dragons.

Prediction: Comfortable win for Porto.

Braga vs União de Leiria

Braga play against Leiria on Monday and looking at how they performed in the cup last weekend, there’s hardly a single person that would bet against them.

The Arsenalistas have a perfect record at home and will continue to be the competition pace-setters.

Prediction: Walk in the park for Braga

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Cup time: Gallant Guimaraes vanquish Goliath Benfica

2009-11-26T16:55:00Z

Everyone loves to watch David vs Goliath match-ups, especially those that have the underdog claiming a surprising win at the end. Round 4 of the Portuguese Cup was far from spectacular, but it witnessed some upsets as three top-flight sides crashed out of the competition.

In what was perhaps the most anticipated match of the round, Benfica hosted Vitória Guimarães and, despite being the hot favourites for the match, were stunned by a resilient and well-organized away side.

In many ways, this match was similar to the one Benfica had played two weeks before against Naval: the Eagles had more possession and created more opportunities, but the goals just wouldn’t come.

It has been claimed that Benfica can’t win a match if their opponents score first, and opponents seem to have found a strategy to beat them.

Under Jorge Jesus, the Eagles are a feared team that often commits four or five players in each attacking move. Opponents have realised that trying to beat them at their own game can be like playing Russian roulette.

So what are they doing now? They weather the initial storm and try to frustrate the overeager Eagles; later in the game, Jesus will most probably bring on more strikers to push for victory – and that’s the perfect time to hit them.

Those gung-ho changes affect Benfica's balance and leave them vulnerable to quick counters. It’s a double-edged sword: sometimes it will get them a result, but other times it will cost them.

The match between Sporting and Pescadores da Caparica (literally Fishermen from Caparica) signalled the start of the Carlos Carvalhal era for the Lisbon giants.

The Portugeezer: Carvalhal unveiled as Sporting manager

Things could have been calamitous as the fourth-tier minnows were in front at half time. But Pescadores were unable to hold on and Sporting scored four without reply through Miguel Veloso (twice), Moutinho and Liédson.

Last week when Portugal played the crucial second-leg play-off match against Bosnia, the Portuguese Federation were quick to criticise the pitch conditions at Zenica. However, they were less proactive about the Oliveirense vs Porto match. The pitch at Oliveirense had looked unplayable for a couple of days, but the match was only postponed a few minutes before kick-off.

They should have seen that coming – it would have been easier to find crocodiles in such swampland than play football. The Dragons have every right to feel aggrieved as they spent 20 days with no competition. Bad, bad call from the federation.

Braga showed yet again why they’re table-toppers, with a commanding 3-0 win over Setúbal. The Arsenalistas remain impressive and will be hoping to claim some silverware this season.

Naval and Gil Vicente get the nod for the most entertaining match of the round. Two up with only a couple of minutes remaining, Gil Vicente thought they had won the game. But two injury-time goals from Naval forced the game into extra-time where the home side managed to get a third goal and complete a dramatic comeback.

Nacional and Paços de Ferreira only just squeezed through the next round, both teams requiring penalties to see off Fátima and Tirsense respectively.

Académica and União de Leiria didn’t enjoy the same luck in the penalty lottery: they were the other two Liga Sagres sides to bow out of the competition. Académica were defeated at home by Liga Vitalis (second-tier) side Beira-Mar after a 1-1 draw, while União Leiria were knocked-out by Freamunde after a 2-2 draw.

In other matches involving Liga Sagres teams, Belenenses won 1-0 at Olhanense’s conquerors Valenciano and Rio Ave defeated Azores side Santa Clara at home 1-0.

Goal of the round
Not many great goals this round, but Braga’s second goal from Márcio Mossoró is a good one to watch. A screamer from the pint-sized midfielder that killed off Setúbal!

Food for thought
With Benfica already out of the competition and both Sporting CP and Porto looking sluggish, can anyone predict the winner of the 2009/2010 edition of the Portuguese Cup?

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Carvalhal unveiled as Sporting manager

2009-11-25T14:00:00Z

In a rather surprising turn of events, Carlos Carvalhal has been appointed as the new manager of the Lions.

Carvalhal – who was sacked from CS Marítimo earlier this season after a poor run of results – succeeds Paulo Bento and will have the tough task of putting Sporting back on track.

Everything seemed to hint that André Villas Boas would be at the helm of the club, but Sporting were unable to reach an agreement with Académica and ultimately had to look elsewhere.

President Eduardo Bettencourt had suggested his preference was a young, Portuguese manager, and in the 43-year-old he has found just that.

Hit or miss?

Despite his relatively young age, Carvalhal already possesses a lot of experience in the top flight, having managed several Liga Sagres sides.

He first rose to prominence when he led Leixões – then a third-tier side – to the Portuguese Cup final and would later work at Setúbal, Belenenses, Braga and Marítimo with mild success.

The new Lions manager can also boast having a piece of silverware in his trophy cabinet: a Carlsberg Cup with Setúbal in the 2007/08 season.

The major problem with this signing is not Carvalhal per se, but what the move signals to both the club's supporters and players.

First of all, Carvalhal has only signed until the end of the season (with the club having the option of an extra season).

Secondly, it is a tad strange that the club decided to make the first official announcement at almost 3am.

And last but not the least, he was not the first choice, which is even worse considering that the first option was a rookie manger with just four games under his belt.

All the points above seem to indicate that there’s no real confidence or enthusiasm towards the new manager.

To me, that’s like dating a girl you’re not sure you want to date!

While it has been debated whether the club should make a final push for the title this season or plan ahead for the next one, the club strategy is not very clear.

On one hand, if they wanted to prepare for a serious assault in the 2010/11 season, then Carvalhal should have signed for one and a half seasons.

But if Champions League football is the one thing that will trigger the one-season extension in the contract, then I believe the club should have brought in a manager with more credentials.

For now, Sporting supporters are waiting to see how the team will react on the field so that they are able to answer an already-nagging question: is Carvalhal an improvement on Paulo Bento?

Two weeks ago few would have said so.

The first test

Carvalhal won 4-1 on his debut against minnows Pescadores da Caparica in the Portuguese Cup, but his first real test will be this weekend when Sporting host fierce rivals Benfica.

Should the Lions lose, they will be trailing the Eagles by 14 points, which would virtually end any title hopes they may have.

Likewise, Carvalhal will instantly endear himself to the Sporting faithful if he claims a commanding win in the derby.

So, in just one match, the new Sporting manager can become a hero or a zero.

For the sake of his career, let’s hope he doesn’t fall at the first hurdle.

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Goodbye Bosnia, hello South Africa!

2009-11-19T11:00:00Z

Portugal finally reached the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa after seeing off Bosnia-Herzegovina with a 2-0 aggregate success.

The Bosnians were looking to record what would have been an incredible win, and with that in mind their supporters welcomed the Portuguese in a way that is certainly reminiscent of an old Nike commercial.

The Portuguese national anthem was played under a chorus of jeers and every time a Portuguese player touched the ball, the whole stadium booed.

The home side already knew they would have to cope without three players who had picked up yellow cards in Lisbon, but they received more bad news on Tuesday when it was confirmed star midfielder Misimovic would miss the match through injury.

Still, buoyed by the fierce home support and the chance to claim a World Cup berth, Bosnia attempted to control the match in the first minutes.

After withstanding that initial pressure, Portugal proved to be the more organised side and didn’t allow Bosnia to create genuine opportunities at goal.

The match had two distinct halves: the first as a rather bland, poor affair.

Both teams appeared anxious and the dreadful pitch conditions didn’t help either as they favoured long aerial balls instead of the short possession play that suits the Portuguese team better.

The second half, though, saw the gulf in class between the two teams widen.

Portugal sent a first warning sign when Nani almost scored after evading a defender in the box, but they didn’t have to wait too long for the goal to arrive.

In the 56th minute after a quick break down the left, Nani held the ball up on the edge of the area and assisted Porto midfielder Raúl Meireles, who slotted the ball past the Bosnian goalkeeper.

The goal virtually sealed qualification as the Balkan side needed three goals, and the home side seemed to accept that fact as they stopped to look threatening.

Portugal created more opportunities to add extra gloss, but the scoreline wouldn’t change.

Man of the match: Bruno Alves

In a match where an early home goal could have dealt a huge blow to the Selecção, Alves was a brick wall that blocked everything.

He won almost every aerial challenge and injected confidence and steel to the backline. A vintage performance from the centre back.

Honourable mentions go to Raúl Meireles – who scored the goal and was involved in the major Portuguese opportunities – and Ricardo Carvalho, who partnered Alves and ensured Dzeko & co remain quiet.

Portugal did what they’re supposed to... just in a more dramatic fashion!

Final remarks

I have to say Bosnia were a disappointment. They had played well in Lisbon – some could even say Portugal got lucky that night – but failed to create any real danger in this match.

Sure, Misimovic was sorely missed, but having just three or four talented players is also not enough to make a good team.

Their defence is simply too error prone and on Wednesday their midfield was not up to the task.

Still, Bosnia-Herzegovina enjoyed an amazing run and can look forward to the next challenges with a grin on their faces.

As for Portugal, it is now time to celebrate. The victory masks the problems faced during qualification and all the headaches Carlos Queiroz is going to have in the future.

Though the Portuguese media will say otherwise, allow me to be the one to say it clearly: we are not World Cup contenders.

The Selecção is not a balanced squad and hasn’t played well for some time.

Nevertheless, it’s a great feeling to be in South Africa and until the draw on December 4 that’s all that matters.

Congratulations to Uruguay, Algeria, Slovenia, Greece and France (even though I feel sorry for the brave Irish).

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Half time: Advantage Portugal

2009-11-18T12:00:00Z

Well, Portugal did manage to win and without conceding a goal, but a 1-0 victory means everything is still to play for.

With both sides fancying their chances to reach the World Cup, the only thing certain is that the play-off will be settled, one way or the other, on Wednesday.

Being the favourites on paper, Portugal went on the offensive from the beginning at the weekend but most of their attacks didn’t create clear-cut opportunities and were easily countered by the Bosnian side.

However, in the 32th minute, following a cross from Nani, Bruno Alves scored the only goal of the match with a simple header at the far post.

Some hoped this goal would open the floodgates, but the Bosnian team didn’t panic.

As a matter of fact, they were unfortunate not to draw level just two minutes from the break, as Senijad Ibricic hit the woodwork after a corner-kick.

In the second half, Portugal enjoyed 15 minutes of supremacy, where they created several good chances.

On one of those occasions, Liédson, who worked his socks off, did superbly to evade a defender but then smashed his effort wide.

With the Portuguese team struggling to find a killer second goal, Queiroz decided it was time to make a move. And that’s exactly when Portugal lost control of the match.

Nani, who despite his usual below-average decision making was very lively in the first 45 minutes, was replaced by Benfica left winger Fábio Coentrão. A puzzling decision for three main reasons:

• Portugal were enjoying their best period in the game
• It was Coentrão’s debut;
• Nani was the one to leave - the Manchester United winger was certainly not at his best, but his pace can always cause problems. As Portugal were dominating at that stage, Queiroz should have switched to a more attacking-minded formation.

And the truth is that Coentrão, a revelation this term for Benfica, barely did a thing.

The 89th minute witnessed an incredible moment that froze Estádio da Luz as in-demand striker Edin Dzeko met a cross with a powerful header that hit the woodwork for the second time in the game.

The ball rebounded to yet another Bosnian player who then hit the post, much to the relief of every Portuguese in the stadium.

In the end, the Selecção may have had more attacks and more shots on goal, but they also had a bit of luck on their side.

Man of the match: Pepe

Personally, I don’t agree with the decision of deploying Pepe as a holding midfielder, but he may change my opinion if he keeps putting performances like this one.

Whether he was stopping Bosnian players or initiating Portugal offensive moves, the Real Madrid defender marshalled the midfield and was one of the few bright spots for Portuguese side.

Wednesday prediction

The two teams meet again tonight in Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina to see who progresses to the biggest sporting event in the world.

The Balkan side have lost four regulars as defender Spahic and midfielders Rahimic and Muratovic were all yellow carded and therefore won’t be able to help their team on their amazing quest to South Africa.

While Wolfsburg midfielder Zvjezdan Misimović is injured.

It is a blow for them, but again they have nothing to lose. Especially with a crowd of 35,000 wild supporters behind their back.

After watching Saturday’s clash, it is clear that defence is Bosnia’s weakest link. If Portugal can use their wingers effectively, then they have a very good chance of going through.

On the other hand, Dzeko is actually THAT good and will have to be stopped. Hopefully Bruno Alves will be fit to play and keep the Wolfsburg striker quiet.

Overall, Bosnia will give us a hard time, but Portugal will get one goal and end the Bosnian dream.

Result: Bosnia 1 Portugal 1 (1-2 aggregate)

Key man: Liédson

There’s no doubt Bosnia is going to be more dangerous on Wednesday. They’ll be playing on home turf and after almost doing it three times, they know it is not impossible to score against Portugal.

However, the Selecção know that one goal might just be enough (as Bosnia would have to score three) and that’s why Liédson’s predatory instincts will be invaluable.

Should the “Slender One” be on fire, well... Portugal might just book their trip to South Africa.

Here’s extended highlights of Saturday’s match in case you haven’t seen it.

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The Portugeezer's perilous play-off preview

2009-11-13T11:30:00Z

On Saturday, Portugal begin their play-off against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

I won’t claim the Balkans were the team to avoid in the draw – that was Ireland – but they are still capable of giving the Selecção plenty of headaches.

The first match will be played at Benfica's Estádio da Luz and a roaring crowd will try to steer the home side forward with hopes of settling the play-off right away.

The squad

There were a few surprise inclusions in the Portuguese team. Chelsea goalkeeper Hilário and Benfica left winger Fábio Coentrão earned their first call-up, but perhaps the most puzzling decision was the one to bring in former FC Porto defender Ricardo Costa.

OK, so Costa happens to be playing in Wolfsburg with Dzeko and Misimovic, but with four centre-backs already in the squad and after being exiled from the Portugal squad for more than three years, it begs the question: is Costa there just to provide inside information about the Bosnian duo?

And if so, wouldn’t a phone call have been enough?

Putting things into perspective, would you bring Pávon into the Spain squad just because he used to play with Zidane? I don’t think so...

With Ronaldo, Quaresma and Danny all missing, Fábio Coentrão will provide cover on the wings and, like Duda, can also be deployed as a left-back.

He’s been impressing for Benfica and now has the opportunity to play for the national team.

Tiago and Raúl Meireles are lucky to make the squad as both Hugo Viana and Rúben Micael have been on-form as of late.

Tiago hasn’t featured for Juventus as much as he’d like this season and Meireles has so far been dreadful for FC Porto.

But with experience playing a big role at this level, not many will complain about that decision.

Club vs country

Much ink has been spilt about the Cristiano Ronaldo controversy. Was he or was he not injured?

Who would win the no-holds-barred battle for Ronaldo’s love: Real Madrid or Portugal?

While Queiroz didn’t handle the whole situation in the best way – he seemed to forget he was once on the other side of the fence back in the day at Manchester United – in the end everything was resolved.

And it was as simple as the Portuguese doctors checking the player's condition and deciding he wasn’t indeed fit to play.

Now, was all the razzmatazz necessary?

The opponents

As mentioned in a previous post, I believe Bosnia deserved to go through. They had a wonderful campaign in a group including Spain, Turkey and Belgium.

And had FIFA decided to forgo the uber-ridiculous play-off seeding system, they could even be in a better position to secure a ticket to South Africa.

Not that they’ll give up that easily. Edin Dzeko, Vedad Ibisevic and Zvjezdan Misimovic are the star performers and, in all honesty, could all play a role for Portugal.

Together, the trio represent a more than respectable frontline and they’ll be looking to take a decent result back to their home turf.

Miroslav Blazevic – who took Croatia to third place at France '98 – has done a terrific job with the side and will hope to extend the fairy-tale run.

But can they pull off what would be an incredible upset?

Portugeezer's Prediction

Even without many of the squad's wingers, Portugal still boast a lot of firepower and Bosnia’s Achilles heel is the defence.

The striking forces bear comparison, but the Portugal team has world-class defenders and that might just prove the difference between the two sides.

With a fully-packed Estádio da Luz cheering for the Selecção, I don’t see Portugal losing at home in such a critical match. I'll go for 2-0.

Despite all the below-average performances put by the Portuguese team during qualification, they’ll still win on Saturday.

This result will, however, keep Bosnian dreams alive.

Key man: Deco

Even when Ronaldo is on the pitch it is the Brazilian-born schemer who stands out and orchestrates the offence.

His technique, class and experience will be invaluable to complete the Bosnian job.

Off-topic

Former Benfica goalkeeper and German international Robert Enke passed away on Tuesday when he jumped in front of a train.

Many people in the game expressed their shock and disbelief at the tragic death of a man they regarded as an example to follow.

I too couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness and I''d like to express my condolences to the family.

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Who's next for this Sporting life?

2009-11-12T11:00:00Z

In a moment that has been flash-forwarded countless times, Paulo Bento has resigned as Sporting CP manager.

Even though Bento had the backing of club president Eduardo Bettencourt, the pressure was insurmountable and the dreadful performance against Ventspils put the final nail in the coffin.

While many predicted this outcome a long time ago, it will still be strange to see another manager at the helm of the club.

Maybe because ‘stability’ is a word that Portuguese clubs take lightly.

But Bento wasn’t the sole casualty. In a surprising series of events sporting director Pedro Barbosa and board member Ribeiro Telles also submitted their resignation, leaving a huge void to be filled in the upcoming days.

It's usually said that the darkest hour is just before dawn and the Lions will hope so, as interim manager Leonel Pontes couldn’t muster more than a 2-2 draw at Rio Ave on Sunday.

Amid the chaos, Bettencourt vowed to put the club back on track and promised a new manager before the next match in two weeks.

Naturally, there are a lot of rumours about who will become the next Sporting CP manager and The Portugeezer now discusses some of the names that have been mooted in the press.

Manuel Machado

The current CD Nacional manager is one of the frontrunners for the job. He possesses a solid résumé, having previously coached Guimarães, Académica and Braga with relative success.

His path is somewhat similar to the one of Benfica manager Jorge Jesus, and he may now be handed the opportunity to shine at the highest level.

And if Sporting are looking at realistic Portuguese options, there aren’t many better than Machado.

However, regardless of how good the odds look right now, I don’t believe he’ll become the next Sporting manager for three reasons.

Firstly, club supporters are demanding immediate results. Because Machado is still viewed as a small club manager and does not enjoy worldwide reputation, he would be given less time to deliver, which would weaken his position from the very beginning.

Secondly, Sporting players desperately need a leader. They are like sheep without a proper shepherd to guide them. While Machado is a good tactician, Sporting need someone with a blunter approach.

And finally, a few years ago Nacional played hard-to-get when negotiating the transfers of Paulo Assunção and Adriano Louzada. The players ended up at FC Porto, angering those at Sporting. Could they get Machado on the cheap this time? Highly unlikely.

André Villas Boas

OK, this one was a bit of a surprise. The former Mourinho assistant started his managerial career three (!) games ago and while he’s enjoyed a positive start, it would be insane to sign him right away.

Just because ‘Il Speciale’ was able to forge a Rocky Balboa-esque rise to fame and glory, it doesn’t mean everyone else can.

Not to mention how ironic it would be to sign a very inexperienced manager when that was one of the arguments against Paulo Bento.

Co Adriaanse

The Portugeezer's choice. Dutch tactician Co Adriaanse would be the right person to steer the club forward.

He obviously knows the league after guiding FC Porto to a championship; he’s bold – he used to play in an unusual 3-3-4 gung-ho formation; and he’s able to tame big egos - Ricardo Quaresma performed quite well under his tutelage!

Adriaanse is also not afraid of throwing youngsters into the field, which would fit with the club policy of nurturing players through its renowned academy.

He’s currently without a club (having left Red Bull Salzburg after winning the Austrian league) and would instantly provide what the Lions need: discipline and a meaner edge.

The others

There are some dark horses: Manuel Cajuda and Manuel José. The former is currently coaching Sharjah FC in the United Arab Emirates and may have already peaked.

The latter is the head coach of the Angolan national team and despite all the success enjoyed in Egypt with Al-Ahly, he’s not highly regarded in Portugal after a disastrous stint at Benfica.

Not to mention the fact Angola will host the African Cup of Nations in 2010 and he’ll hope to make history with the team.

This week Bettencourt will most likely unveil a new manager and, hopefully for Sporting, he can turn the club’s fortunes around.

The league would certainly appreciate that.

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An emotional rollercoaster of a matchday

2009-11-10T15:30:00Z

RESULTS: Mon Nov 9: Benfica 1-0 Naval 1º de Maio Sun Nov 8: Leixões 2-4 Nacional , Marítimo 1-0 Porto , Rio Ave 2-2 Sporting Lisbon , União de Leiria 1-1 Académica Sat Nov 7: Vitória Guimarães 1-0 Sporting Braga , Vitória Setúbal 0-0 Olhanense Fri Nov 6: Belenenses 0-3 Paços de Ferreira

OK, so matchday 10 of the Portuguese League didn’t produce any 5-5 thrillers.

But the round had the ingredients of a good footballing recipe: drama, controversy and upsets.

Liga Sagres will now go on a break for two weekends – this weekend we’ll have international matches and the one after is reserved for the Portuguese Cup – and many teams will take that opportunity to regroup and return stronger.

Let’s start with the intense match between historical rivals Guimarães and Braga.

This derby is the kind of match where form matters little: each team just wants to inflict as much damage on the other as it can.

Guimarães were the best side in the first 45 minutes and took the lead with an amazing goal by French midfielder Yves Desmarets.

After the break, the league leaders tried to salvage something from the match, but were ultimately unable to do so.

This was Braga’s first loss in 10 games and their reaction will tell us about their real credentials.

Should they bounce back and continue to produce solid performances, they can definitely be labelled title contenders.

As Rocky Balboa said: “It ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” The ball is now in Braga’s court.

Rookie manager André Villas Boas continued his encouraging career start as Académica almost claimed a ‘smash-and-grab’ win at surprise package Leiria.

The away side thought they'd won when they broke the deadlock in the 89th minute, but Leiria were still able to score in injury time to share the spoils.

In a match between two sides that want to avoid relegation at any cost, Setúbal played Olhanense to a dull 0-0 draw – a result that won’t please either team, in a match that didn't please any viewer.

In another match between strugglers, Paços de Ferreira claimed a convincing 3-0 win at Belenenses.

This surprising victory will give Paços a much-needed lift and something to build on.

You know, Sporting almost had it. Two up at half-time, it looked like they would return to winning ways.

Rio Ave, however, produced an amazing comeback in the second half to snatch a 2-2 draw.

It could have been even worse for Sporting: centre-back Daniel Carriço was sent off with 25 minutes still to play.

This fortnight's break will help the Lions to lick their wounds, as a new manager will hope to inject confidence into a very disheartened team.

Which team lost to Marítimo? It surely wasn’t the FC Porto we’re all used to watching.

There’s no denying it: Porto are struggling at the moment. They have yet to gel as a team and even their star performers have been unable to make a difference.

They're also missing someone who can dictate play in the midfield. Lucho González was very effective in that role and Fernando Belluschi still needs to prove he can replace ‘El Comandante’.

The former Olympiakos player has shown a few glimpses of his talent, but doesn’t seem to have earned the trust of Jesualdo Ferreira, who opted for Colombian midfielder Freddy Guarín.

Marítimo won 1-0 – like Braga, they're undefeated against the Big Three – with an own goal from Rolando.

But not all is gloom and doom for the Dragons, through to the Champions League knock-outs and ready to watch Sporting play against Benfica next round.

Still, trailing both Braga and Benfica by five points is enough reason to see some supporters voicing their concern about recent performances.

The match between Leixões and Nacional was marred by controversy. The hosts had two players sent off and two penalties awarded against them.

Those decisions naturally tipped the scales in favour of the islanders, who won 4-2 with a hat-trick from Edgar.

Benfica dominated Naval from the off but, without Paraguayan hitman Óscar Cardozo, seemed to lack a cutting edge.

Peiser made a string of eye-catching saves but Benfica pushed on and Javi Garcia got the winner in the 88th minute.

(Until then, the match had been spookily like the 2005 game against Boavista which effectively ended Benfica’s title chances. Watching that old relic again, it's impossible not to smile and wonder how the hell Benfica failed to score.)

Talking points

Should Sporting use this season as a springboard for the future or should they reserve that judgement until after the next match against Benfica?
Will Braga feel the pressure to perform or was their loss just a minor hiccup on their quest for the title?

Open question

Ecuadorian forward Felipe Caicedo, on loan from Manchester City, missed an incredible sitter for the second week in a row.

With the game tied at 2-2, he had a great opportunity to score Sporting’s third goal when he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

From what he has shown so far, he'll be lucky to play in the Liga Sagres, let alone the Premier League.

The mooted €10 million fee to make the deal permanent seems like a joke now – I wouldn’t want him for free!

What do you think?

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European Matchday 4: Well done Portugal

2009-11-06T11:00:00Z

Matchday 4 of the European competitions is over and the rubble is starting to settle.

Again, the Portuguese teams did well in the main. FC Porto guaranteed qualification for the Champions League knock-out stages and it's almost certain that Benfica (who did the double over Everton) and Sporting will advance to the next phase of the Europa League.

Unfortunately, Nacional’s fairytale campaign is about to end...

Champions League Group D: APOEL 0-1 Porto

Porto were already in a strong position and in Cyprus they did enough to claim all three points without exactly impressing.

With all due respect to APOEL, the gulf in quality and experience between the two teams is so big that the Dragons didn’t even have to get into fifth gear to win both matches.

After a brief dry spell, Colombian star Falcao grabbed the winning goal for the Dragons in the 84th minute to ensure the team will reach the last 16 for the sixth time in seven seasons.

Jesualdo Ferreira's men can now focus on domestic affairs.

Their form has been patchy and they currently trail Braga and Benfica, although only by five and two points respectively – and let's not forget they've also won the league six times in the last seven.

The next Champions League match against Chelsea will be interesting.

If they beat Carlo Ancelotti's side, they might top the group, which would be a massive confidence boost.

But even if they end up second, they’re familiar with the underdog role. In other words, they have nothing to lose and will surely enjoy the next Champions League group matches.

Europa League Group I: Everton 0-2 Benfica

After hope and expectation bordering on delusion and arrogance, Benfica were brought back down to Earth by last weekend’s defeat against SC Braga.

With the Eagles renowned for bottling under pressure, pundits were curious to see how the team would react.

Jorge Jesus opted to deploy David Luiz on the left and brought Sidnei back to the starting XI, probably to cope with Everton's more direct style.

Perhaps it was an unorthodox decision, but one that paid off as the back-line looked composed and capable of shutting the opposition down.

The first half was a close contest, with neither team willing to take many risks.

Everton started on top but the Eagles gradually gained control of the midfield and just minutes before the break, Cardozo hit the post with a header from a Fábio Coentrão cross.

After the break, Benfica realized they could do better than a draw.

Di Maria – quiet for most of the first half – lost his shyness and started to wreak havoc in the Toffees defence.

The Argentinian squandered a great chance created by Cardozo, but redeemed himself by creating the opening goal for Saviola.

Substitute Pablo Aimar marshaled Benfica’s midfield to control possession and Cardozo's goal killed the match off.

With a professional performance, the Eagles lead the group and should finish top.

Europa League Group D: Sporting 1-1 Ventspils 1

Should Paulo Bento call it a day? (Edit: He did on Friday). That was the debate after Sunday's sluggish 1-1 home draw with Maritimo.

The last thing the coach needed was another sluggish 1-1 home draw with a team Sporting should regard as beneath them.

A win against Latvian side Ventspils would have instantly clinched qualification, but Sporting showed no ideas or passion.

Psychologically, the Lions are at rock bottom and the players don’t look like they are able to overcome that situation on their own.

Bento deserves sympathy but he has run out of excuses and might soon run out of time.

Isolated, jeered by the fans and trying to pretend he’s not on life support, he simply has to win the next game – especially because there’s international football the following weekend.

Nevertheless, as far as the Europa League goes, Sporting have virtually sealed qualification and only a shock of seismic proportions would prevent them from getting to the next phase of the competition.

The question may be whether Bento is still around.

(Postscript: Within an hour of this blog going live, Bento resigned. We're not saying the two are linked - Ed.)

NEWS: Bento quits as Sporting coach

Europa League Group L: Nacional 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

If Europa League matches lasted 75 minutes, Nacional would already have qualified for the Round of 32.

But for some odd reason those 15 minutes like to punish the Islanders.

It was deja vu all over again as Nacional failed to hold on to a positive result in the last minutes. Here’s a breakdown of what happened in their matches:

Werder Bremen (h): Nacional equalised on 75', Bremen scored on 84’ to win 3-2
Austria Vienna (a): Vienna equalised on 76’ to claim a 1-1 draw
Athletic Bilbao (a): Having been behind, the Basque side scored on 86’ to win 2-1

This time, it was Joseba Etxeberria’s turn to deal another blow to the Islanders in the 84th minute.

Nacional may rue their luck, but they're simply inexperienced at this level.

They’re a good team with a good manager and a solid structure, but to be able to swim in the ocean with the big fish you need more.

They didn’t possess the mental strength to deserve that luck, but hopefully they’ll learn the lesson and will bounce back in the league.

This result all but decides their fate and only a win against Austria Vienna would give them a sense of achievement and restore some of their pride.

But just in case, better to ask the referee to stop the match at the 75th minute!

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Braga get bragging rights, Sporting's Bento gets bent

2009-11-03T15:30:00Z

ROUND 9 RESULTS

Monday Nov 2: Académica 2-0 Vitória Guimarães
Sunday Nov 1: Olhanense 0-1 Rio Ave , Paços de Ferreira 0-1 União de Leiria , Nacional 2-1 Vitória Setúbal , Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Marítimo
Saturday Oct 31: Naval 1º de Maio 1-0 Leixões , Sporting Braga 2- 0 Benfica
Friday Oct 30: Porto 1-1 Belenenses

Braga vs Benfica was an entertaining match between the only two clubs unbeaten in the league.

Braga won 2-0 and although it was a pretty even contest for the majority of the 90 minutes, the Minhotos were the more astute side and fully deserved their victory.

Hugo Viana gave the hosts an early lead after curling in a free-kick from a difficult angle, which put Benfica in the unusual position of having to chase the game.

And as the players walked off at half-time, both teams were involved in a skirmish.

Cardozo and André Leone were sent off, leaving both teams reduced to 10 men.

Benfica were on top in the first 20 minutes of the second half but didn't score; Braga were able to weather the storm and regain control of the match.

In the 78th minute, Paulo César killed the match off after a good initiative on the right wing from Matheus.

In all honesty, it was time for Jorge Jesus side to eat some humble pie and realise that there won’t be 4-0 thrashings week in, week out.

If you want to win a championship, you need to win ugly and the Eagles lacked creativity and heart in this game.

Braga, on the other hand, have a lot to smile about, sitting top of the table having already defeated the so-called 'Big Three'.

And after another good individual performance, is Viana set to return to the Selecção?

The result that surprised me the most was definitely FC Porto against Belenenses.

As against Académica, the Dragons were uninspired and weren’t able to produce many opportunities in the first half.

Belenenses took advantage of all that apathy when Lima ran down the left wing to slot the ball past Helton just after the break.

From that moment on, Porto woke up and Ernesto Farías would eventually score to settle the final score.

Though Porto can rue their bad luck – Falcao missed a sitter, Bruno Alves hit the woodwork and there was even a debatable disallowed goal – they can only blame themselves.

They don’t look like the ruthless FC Porto we are used to seeing, but it is still too early to panic and they're still up there.

Paulo Bento must be feeling like a man who’s walking through the valley of the shadows: once again his side failed to win.

Sporting hosted Marítimo and despite being the better side, they couldn’t see off his opposition.

Chilean star Matías Fernández put Sporting in front with a well-taken shot, but Manú levelled eight minutes later with what will probably be the best goal of his career.

Sporting supporters are now demanding Bento’s head, and even though President Eduardo Bettencourt claimed Bento would stay forever, it’s just a matter of time till he succumbs to the pressure.

Especially when a group of angry (or mental) supporters attracts the riot police by trying to force their way into the club’s facilities.

The Lions now trail Braga by 12 points and the gap is starting to look too big to ignore. Will the axe fall?

On the up

Académica registered their first win this season with a 2-0 win against Guimarães on Monday.

They're still at the bottom with just six points, but they can now look forward to better times.

Rio Ave and Leiria grabbed 1-0 away wins and are now officially the 'surprise packages' of the league.

Currently fourth and sixth respectively, they look odds-on to remain in the top flight – their primary target.

Going down

Definitely Olhanense. The Algarvian side had a frustrating week.

On Wednesday, they lost against Liga Vitalis side Estoril Praia in the Carlsberg Cup (our equivalent of England's Carling Cup) and now have no chance of advancing to the next round of the competition.

And if that wasn’t enough, they lost against Rio Ave at home and fell into the drop zone.

That would be good if we’re talking about a paratrooper squad, but unfortunately, we aren’t...

Talking points

Braga proved they can be up there bullying the usual title contenders.

Will they keep up the good work or will they bottle under pressure and “Aston Villa into oblivion?"

After tasting the sour flavour of defeat, will Benfica regain momentum when they travel Everton on Thursday?

Surely the Toffees won’t be so sweet this time...

Is Paulo Bento alone? The still-Sporting manager is walking a tightrope at the moment and the only way he can escape his difficult sitation is by winning the next two games against Ventspils and Rio Ave.

If he manages to do that, he may pull off a much-needed morale-boosting win against eternal rivals Benfica, which would put him back on good terms with the Sporting faithful.

Goal of the round

There were some beauties this round. Matías Fernandez and Hugo Viana scored very good goals and deserve podium places.

But the one from Marítimo’s Manú was a knockout.

The former Benfica forward didn’t ask for permission when he hit a scorcher from far out. No chance for the goalkeeper.

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The Big Braga-Benfica Bunfight Weekend Preview

2009-10-31T11:00:00Z

Round 9 of the Portuguese League is about to start and looking at the battles that will take place over the country, it will provide some interesting insights.

Are Braga genuine title contenders? Do Benfica have what it takes to win against tougher opponents? Can Paulo Bento last forever? Will Porto be the ones laughing in the end?

Those are some of the questions that will begin to be answered this weekend. The Portugeezer will now offer his predictions.

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Braga vs Benfica

Table-topping Benfica are about to enter a cycle of more difficult matches, starting on Saturday against the impressive SC Braga.

The game has all the ingredients to be an instant classic: a rivalry between both coaches, two teams trying to remain atop the league and a packed stadium that will ensure a great atmosphere.

Even though both teams play in red and white, their contrasting styles will be another point of interest.

The Eagles boast the best attack in the league with a whopping 30-goal tally, while Braga possess the best defence with only four goals conceded.

Is defence the best form of attack or is attack the best form of defence? We’re about to find that out!

There are no major worries in terms of injuries or suspensions in both teams, though Pablo Aimar is lucky to be eligible for this match.

The Argentinian fantasista dived against Nacional, earning the penalty which resulted in Benfica’s third goal.

It’s a fact that a 6-1 trashing somewhat smoothed the talking, but let's hope for a fair game on Saturday where the sole protagonists are the players.

Prediction: 1-1 – Benfica’s relentless march halted by Braga's mean defence

Porto vs Belenenses

Porto are at home for the second week in a row, this time welcoming Belenenses, a team that has been anything but impressive this season.

The Dragons struggled to beat Académica last weekend, but they have too many weapons in their arsenal for Belenenses to handle.

After receiving his first call-up for the Brazilian national team, Hulk’s morale will reach an all-time high and the forward will give a hard time to the opposition.

Prediction: 3-0 – No contest as Porto get a comfortable win

Sporting vs Marítimo

Sporting were unlucky not to get the three points against Vitória Guimarães and Paulo Bento's position seems to be under threat again.

President Eduardo Bettencourt may gain some enemies among the Lions’ faithful by sticking with the manager, but I actually think he’s making the right decision.

It's sad to think Bento "celebrated" four years as Sporting manager last week but still remains an ugly duckling figure.

Yes, they're already trailing Braga and Benfica by 10 points, but the last thing the club needs is another revolution.

As for Bento himself, he’s a bit like Terminator: he may get shot a couple of times, but he’ll always be back with the same style and demeanor.

Prediction: 2-1 – Marítimo are always a tough team to beat, but like other times in the past, Sporting will grab a win and Bento will be thankful for yet another balloon of oxygen

Naval vs Leixões

Eighth-placed Leixões travel to 11th-placed Naval and judging from their past performances, there won’t be a lot of goals in this match.

Leixões are yet to earn a single point away and they will continue that way.

Prediction: Home win

Olhanense vs Rio Ave

The Algarvian side’s bright start quickly faded away and they will now host Rio Ave, who currently sit in sixth.

Rio Ave have already claimed four draws; why change now?

Prediction: Bore draw

Nacional vs Setúbal

Nacional’s season has been hampered by their Europa League run.

The Islanders don’t have the strength in depth to cope with both competitions and that is one of the reasons for their stuttering start of the season.

Still, considering they play at home and Setúbal has the worst defence in the league, I would be very surprised if they don’t win the game.

Prediction: Home win

Académica vs Guimarães

From eight games so far, Académica have claimed three points.

Though they played well against FC Porto, the Portugueezer doubts they'll double the tally this weekend.

Prediction: A draw

Paços de Ferreira vs União Leiria

Unlike previous seasons, Paços de Ferreira’s home form has been poor and they have yet to win a game in front of their supporters.

União Leiria have had an encouraging start to the season and star striker Carlão may just be the man to give them another three points.

Prediction: A surprising away win

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Portugal's fab four on the European front

2009-10-28T13:30:00Z

The latest European round produced a decent showing from the four Portuguese teams.

None of the results were particularly shocking, but Benfica still managed an eye-catching result that might put Europa League contenders on alert.

Stay tuned for the next matchday, because it might just decide the fate of Porto, Benfica, Sporting, Nacional.

Porto 2-1 APOEL (Champions League Group D)

Champions League? You're having a laugh. Halfway through the game, those present could be forgiven for wishing for pillows.

It really was that boring. The Dragons looked uninspired, but the Cypriots were simply happy to park the bus if that meant earning a single point – puzzling, considering that it wasn't a knockout match and smaller teams have nothing to lose.

As it was, APOEL managed to take the lead without actually having attempted a single shot.

After a poor clearance from Álvaro Pereira, a cross from an APOEL midfielder deflected off the luckless Pereira into his own net. Shocking perhaps, but there was still a lot of time.

Unsurprisingly, Porto leveled after a botched backpass from the Cypriots. Falcao was quick to serve Hulk and the Brazilian made no mistake with a well-struck shot.

Just three minutes after the break, Porto were awarded a penalty and it was despatched, again by the Incredible Hulk (whose morale has skyrocketed since being called up by Dunga).

APOEL failed to produce any reaction after the second goal and the home side continued to control the game.

The win was completely deserved and should Porto win again next time out in Nicosia – surely within their ability – they can start thinking about the knock-out rounds.

Ventspils 1-2 Sporting (Europa League Group D)

The Lions went to Latvia and came away with a 2-1 win.

Miguel Veloso scored directly from a corner kick and although Ventspils drew level, João Moutinho's spectacular long-ranger clinched the three points.

No surprise really: The Portugeezer has already said that only a cataclysm would prevent Sporting from finishing top.

And Sporting lead the group with nine points, five more than chasing Heerenveen and seven more than third-placed Ventspils.

One more win in the return against the Latvians would make the Lions one of the first teams through to the knock-out stages; they might focus on getting their act together domestically.

Benfica 5-0 Everton (Europa League Group I)

Yes, Everton were missing key players like Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Phil Jagielka and Joseph Yobo.

Nevertheless, the Toffees are usually an organised side, and it was a big surprise to see them manhandled.

It was quite a night for the Eagles, reminiscent of the club’s golden age, and Jesus will no doubt be happy to have seen his team bounce back from their disappointing loss at AEK Athens.

Javier Saviola opened the scoring on 14 minutes, but the damage was done by three goals in a six-minute killing spree just after half-time.

The inevitable Óscar 'Mr Duracell' Cardozo bagged a brace before Luisão ended any Everton hopes and 'El Conejo' Saviola added the final gloss.

But the man of the match didn't even score.

Finally starting to fulfill his potential, Argentinian winger Ángel di Maria has been much more dangerous and consistent this season. Against Everton, he was simply unplayable.

A word of advice to Jesus and his pupils. It will be a different game at Goodison Park as David Moyes' side aim to regain their pride.

But a good result in Liverpool would keep Benfica top and in a prime position to qualify with two further games to play against AEK and BATE.

Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Nacional (Europa League Group L)

Déjà vu anyone? Nacional again started well and managed to get a surprise lead after yet another goal from Rúben Micael.

But although the islanders fought hard against the Basques, they were unable to hold off their foes – just like against Werder Bremen and Austria Vienna.

Hosting the Germans, they had fought back from two goals down to level before losing in the 85th minute; in Austria they gave the home side a 76th-minute equaliser.

This time, the evergreen Joseba Etxeberria leveled on 67 minutes and Fernando Llorente scored in the 86th.

Although Manuel Machado couldn't have asked for more from his troops, Nacional currently sit at the bottom, with one point from three games.

With Werder on seven points and Athletic on six, the islanders have to win their home games against Athletic (next) and Austria Vienna (last) to have any chance of extending their European fairytale.

Even though the odds don’t look too good, most fans in Portugal will hope to see Nacional putting their heart and soul into their games once more.

Who knows what may happen then?

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A cupful of joy

2009-10-22T13:00:00Z

The midweek attention may have been on continental competition but in this blog we're looking at last weekend's Portuguese Cup Third Round – the stage at which the top-flight sharks join the competition.

The Portuguese Cup (also known today as Taça de Portugal Millennium) is a pleasing competition for the three main reasons we all love old-fashioned cup competitions: it sets up interesting David vs Goliath matches, occasionally witnesses huge upsets, and puts smaller clubs on the map.

Football pundits often discuss the lack of competitiveness in Portuguese football, how clubs can't cope with the financial demands of a professional sport and what should be done to fix that.

This is a big topic we'll return to later, but let's hope the two governing bodies of Portuguese football – the Federation and the “League” took notes last weekend, because the domestic cup was very encouraging.

People actually went to the stadiums to support their team, ensuring a warm atmosphere and offering one of the most beautiful angles of our football.

Round Highlights

Valenciano and Santa Clara claimed the Cup's first scalps by dumping out Olhanense and Marítimo respectively. Valenciano needed penalties but surely won’t mind the wait for a historic win over the Algarvians.

And in a game that pitted a team from Azores against a team from Madeira, Santa Clara – who only missed promotion to the top flight in the last game of last season – were simply stronger and beat a Marítimo side that is looking more and more disappointing.

No such trouble for Benfica and FC Porto, given easy ties against II Divisão (third-tier) sides Monsanto and Sertanense.

The Eagles won 6-0, the Dragons 4-0 – but if the results weren't unexpected, the attendances were a pleasant surprise.

Monsanto vs Benfica was broadcast live on national TV but there were still 10,000 in the ground at Torres Novas – a larger, neutral venue.

Of these, around a thousand were from Monsanto – which might not sound much, but it's the entire population of the tiny village!

Meanwhile, FC Porto commendably sold tickets at ridiculously cheap prices – one Euro per ticket, while Porto’s season ticket holders could watch it for free.

Surely the Sertanense players will never forget the day they played at Estádio do Dragão with 30,000 people watching – even if it is the third time in a row they've faced Porto in the Cup!

Sporting hosted Liga Vitalis (second-tier) side Penafiel and despite being their usual stuttering self, the Lions eased to a comfortable 3-0 win in front of 14,000 people. Liédson was again crucial, scoring the opener.

Both Braga and Nacional had to work hard to make it through. Nacional had to come from behind to overcome a resilient Varzim side.

One down at half-time, the islanders clinched their victory with two wonder goals: Ruben Micael equalised with a volley before Slovenian international Pecnik clinched it with a well-taken free-kick.

Braga only beat Liga Vitalis side SC Covilhã with Matheus breaking the deadlock in injury time with a goal worthy of Robin van Persie.

But they remain unbeaten and look confident – interesting considering the leaders host second-placed Benfica on Halloween...

Food for thought

Should the Portuguese Federation learn from the success of this round and design a more unpredictable cup format?

It would be great to see a Portuguese Cup where every club plays from the very first round.

Such a move wouldn't only help smaller clubs – it would attract more people to the stadiums and spark more rivalries. What do you think?

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Working out the play-off contenders

2009-10-12T14:00:00Z

To have a chance of reaching the World Cup finals, Portugal knew they had to win against Hungary on Saturday.

And guess what? They did so comfortably, 3-0, with a polished performance against a team that in all honesty is from a lower tier.

The 50,000 fans in Benfica’s Estádio da Luz saw goals from Simão Sabrosa (twice) and Liédson.

The buoyant mood was reflected in the strong applause for the naturalised Brazilian striker, known for his goals against Benfica, when he was substituted.

Also warmly received was Pedro Mendes. The Rangers midfielder replaced the suspended Pepe against Hungary and was one of the best players on the pitch – in what was only his third Portugal game.

Highly regarded at Porto, Tottenham and Portsmouth, Mendes must be one of the most underrated players in Europe.

An industrious and experienced midfielder, with good range of passing and capable of tackling and shooting, Mendes would be an astute inclusion in a squad which needs another defensive midfielder.

But while the players deserve praise, two other people also contributed to the nationwide post-match celebration: Jakob Poulsen and Sepp Blatter.

Poulsen scored what was probably the most popular Danish goal in Portugal ever.

Elsewhere in Group 1, the Aarhus midfielder’s long-range effort was enough to send Sweden to the defeat so vital to the Selecção's qualification hopes.

And with the Scandinavian derby over before Portugal’s game started, Carlos Queiroz’s played at a different time, Portugal started their match knowing they controlled their own destiny.

So despite many disappointing performances, Portugal are now odds-on for the play-off round, having one more point than Sweden with one match remaining – in Portugal’s case, at home to Malta, who have yet to score a goal in this group.

And so (probably) to the play-offs. Blatter is also heralded because two weeks ago FIFA, in a puzzling and unfair move, announced that countries in the draw would be seeded according to their world ranking.

Given that teams are already slotted into their qualifying groups according to past performances, it's harsh punishment for lower-ranked teams like Bosnia & Herzegovina or Republic of Ireland to be given an extra hurdle.

Even if this helps the Portuguese cause, a draw with no restrictions would have been the right choice.

About the play-off draw

There are nine groups in the European qualifying zone and only the eight best runners-up will be eligible for the draw.

Of these, seven groups are already sure to send a representative, even if the runners-up haven't been confirmed.

Group 1 is almost certain to take the other place unless Portugal lose to Malta, Albania win in Sweden AND Denmark beat Hungary, in which case Norway will be the extremely lucky recipients.

(In case you think it's unfair that Norway were in a group with fewer fixtures, results against the sixth-placed teams are removed from the comparison. Norway still lag behind.)

This means that fans are already trying to work out whether Portugal will be seeded in the play-off draw.

Already certain to finish second in their groups, and thus feature in the play-offs, are Russia, France, Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Republic of Ireland.

Among those jockeying for the six remaining places are, in order of FIFA ranking: Croatia, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Israel, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The four highest-ranked teams will be seeded. Russia and France are above Portugal and the chances are that either Switzerland or Greece – they are from the same group – will join that duo.

That leaves Croatia as Portugal’s rival for the last remaining seeded place – and the Croatians are currently in third, a point behind Ukraine, who play Andorra on Wednesday.

So it looks bleak for Slaven Bilic, and good for Carlos Queiroz.

So, assuming everything goes as expected, Portugal will be seeded and play against either Bosnia & Herzegovina, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia/Slovenia or Ukraine.

None of them will be an easy task and the Selecção will need to be at its best to book a flight to South Africa, but it's preferable to playing 2006 finalists France or Guus Hiddink's Russia, who until Saturday were only a point behind a rampant Germany.

And for the chance to avoid Russia, we can thank Sepp Blatter.

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Breaking through the glass ceiling

2009-10-03T07:00:00Z

Guess who's the only team to achieve a perfect haul of 18 points from the first six games in Liga Sagres.

No, not them. No, not them either. Or them.

That fact that SC Braga top the league is even more surprising when one takes into account the fact that the Arsenalistas already played two of the Big Three – Sporting away and Porto at home.

They're certainly high on confidence and while it might still be too early to label them as ‘title contenders’, it's impossible to overlook their encouraging performance.

Interestingly, Braga didn’t enjoy the best start to the 2009/10 campaign, being knocked out of the new Europa League by Swedish outfit Elfsborg.

They had high expectations after reaching the last 16 of the competition last season and with their current squad they should have done better.

However, they were quick to recover from such an early bump by putting in several good performances in the league. So let's analyse their squad.

Starting XI: Eduardo; João Pereira, Moisés, Alberto Rodriguez, Evaldo; Mossoró, Hugo Viana, Vandinho; Alan, Meyong, Paulo César.

Goalkeeper

After a breakthrough season on loan at Vitória de Setúbal in 2007/2008, Eduardo returned to Braga to claim a starting place in the team and his consistent performances were rewarded by Carlos Queiroz: the 27-year-old is now Portugal's No.1.

Defence

Braga’s defence is better than Sporting’s. João Pereira may still have his concentration lapses every now and then, but he has improved since leaving Benfica a couple of years ago and looks much more assured in the right-back position.

It was a big surprise that nobody tried to sign Alberto Rodríguez in the summer. Ever since his arrival, the Peruvian international has been a rock-solid presence in the backline, lending his experience and maturity to the side. If he reproduces his past performances, then he’s a top candidate to leave next season.

Lately, however, Rodríguez has been injured and against FC Porto, André Leone partnered Moisés in the centre. The duo kept the Dragons’ attack at bay and Rodríguez's return may give coach Domingos Paciência a selection headache.

Evaldo is another reliable performer for Braga. The Brazilian left-back is fast, strong and can cross. Having missed only one game last season, he’s an integral part of the back-line.

Midfield

Paciência has been using a three-man midfield consisted of club captain Vandinho, Hugo Viana and Mossoró. While none of them is a real holding midfielder, their combined workrate ensures there’s no lack of steel in the middle of the park.

Vandinho has been at the club since the 2004/05 season and is an all-round box-to-boxer; capable of tackling, dribbling and passing. He has been an ever-present for the Arsenalistas and worth scouts taking a look at, even at 31.

Hugo Viana’s career was going nowhere in Spain and the decision to return to Portugal was a good one. Viana is still a good player with a delightful range of passing and silky technique, but people expected too much from him.

Upon moving to Newcastle United in 2002 he was hailed as the “best young player in the world.” He will prove himself at Braga and maybe catch the eye of the national coach if he manages to play week in week out.

Mossoró resembles the Atom Ant in his size and movement. The pint-sized offensive midfielder never stops, constantly opening up spaces and linking up with the forwards. Against FC Porto he was among the stand-out performers.

Attack

The mercurial Albert Meyong is Braga’s main weapon up front. The prolific Cameroonian has a respectable record in the league, having been top scorer in 2005/06 and having played for Setúbal and Belenenses.

But while Meyong will no doubt net some goals, Braga lost on-loan star Wason Rentería and opted to loan out Austrian international Roland Linz.

They brought in FC Porto outcast Adriano Louzada, but it still remains to be seen whether the Brazilian forward can regain his form, after not playing a single game in the 2008/09 season.

They’ll have to rely on Paulo César, who – going by his goalscoring ratio – is perhaps the weakest link in Braga’s attack.

Alan – yes, Alan – has been receiving more attention lately after scoring the winning goals against FC Porto and Olhanense.

The Brazilian winger is one of those players that may be too good for the small teams but not good enough for the top teams – the Darren Huckerby of the Portuguese League.

His speed is enough to trouble most of Liga Sagres’ defences and he’s been playing with confidence. Watch his goal against Sporting CP, an early contender for goal of the season.

Talking point

Can they do it? Can Braga last the distance and join the elite group of teams that have won the league? It would be nice, but to do so they have to beware three main threats.

First, teams will pay attention to them and employ more negative tactics. You can't be a surprise package forever.

Second, Meyong and Vandinho are irreplaceable. It will be hard to replace them if they get injured or suffer burn-out.

And finally, as expectations rise, so will pressure – and some players won’t be able to cope with that.

Nevertheless, they will benefit from the fact they don’t have to worry about continental competition. That will keep their key performers fresh and increase their chances in the league.

It would be great for Portuguese football and for the club if they could break through the glass ceiling.

With such a magnificent stadium and a talented squad, let’s hope they keep up with their good job.

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The breakdown of Atlético’s breakdown

2009-09-30T11:30:00Z

INVASION! Ahead of the FC Porto vs Atletico Madrid game, Tim Stannard of FFT.com blog La Liga Loca crosses the border to describe the weirdness that is Atletico Madrid

The original mission the FourFourTwo bosses gave La Liga Loca was to deliver a careful, detailed and thoroughly thoughtful thesis of what Porto needed to do against Atlético Madrid to win Wednesday’s Champions League clash.

The initial two-word response – “Turn up” – was deemed somewhat lacking in depth by the prissy, picky editors.

So as a compromise, the blog has been given permission to pick up its journalistic AK47 and blast the Rojiblancos into iddy-biddy pieces while assessing their chances in the midweek clash.

As well as being a football club from one of Madrid's grottier barrios – although the stadium is a 20-minute stroll from lovely La Latina – Atlético Madrid forms an important part of the planet’s Gaian consciousness.

It is an ancient institution that, like the tides, has its own rhythm, its own ebbs and flows.

It’s the Kate Bush of la Liga. Incas called an earlier incarnation of the club "The great sh*t one in the sky."

This being the time when summer turns to autumn, the skies darken and the wind blows in from the north, causing instant complaints of “¡que frio!” from thin-skinned Madridileños, Atleti are going through a totally crap phase. (The second phase of the current annual cycle is due in February).

During this time, the club’s footballers make Ipswich Town look good and supporters suddenly remember that their two owners, Enrique Cerezo and Miguel Angel Gil, are a pair of dysfunctional goons and perform laps of the stadium in their masses to remind them of this.

But then Atlético pick up a few wins and all this is forgotten for the next four to five months.

Even by their lofty standards, Atlético’s current league campaign has been little short of a disaster so far, with the side lying third from bottom of the table and still without a win.

Their Champions League start was even worse, with a goalless home draw against APOEL Nicosia in the Vicente Calderón.

The heart of the problem lies, as always, with the defence.

Although APOEL player Nuno Morais scoffed that “Ujfalusi and Pablo are the Achilles heels of Atleti” he may as well have named any of the mugs currently gifting goals to sides the length and breadth of Spain.

The mischievous work of a Real Madrid-supporting master of the Dark Arts – and believe us, there are an awful lot of those about – is the only rational explanation as to why defenders who are perfectly fine playing for someone else turn into dunder-headed cloggers when turning out for Atleti.

All season, the Atleti defenders have been left bothered and bewildered by offside traps, long balls or one-twos.

As a collective, they are so hair-pullingly horrendous that many fans are looking back with fondness to the days when Johnny Heitinga was around.

Unfortunately, Atleti have been made even weaker at the back with their Spanish under-21 keeper Sergio Asenjo far from home and facing the likes of Tahiti in an international tournament – leaving rookie Roberto to pick the balls out of the back of the net. Nine times in the last three games, in fact.

The club’s current central midfield pairing of Paulo Assunçao and Cleber Santana would be fine for a mediocre, mid-table team, but not for one with top-four aspirations.

It's always useful if your midfielders know what to do with a ball, but this less than dazzling duo can neither prevent it going past them - opposition players are often waved through and handed a lollipop - nor offer much to facilitate its movement in a forward direction.

The so called Fantastic Front Four – so-called by La Liga Loca last season, anyway – has let itself go a little over the past year, with left-winger Simao becoming an annoyingly inconsistent player and a total bottler when it comes to mixing it with opposition fullbacks.

The only thing Maxi, on the other flank, has offered to the Rojiblanco cause over the past year has been an equaliser against Valencia on Saturday night and a series of scowls.

Diego Forlán and Kun Agüero are pretty much the only thing that Atlético have going for them.

And, once again, they will be asked to make up for the rest of the side’s inadequacies.

In last season’s Champions League knock-out clash against Porto, Atlético were torn a new one in the Vicente Calderón but escaped with a 2-2 draw, only to go out of the tournament after a goalless game in Portugal.

The same kind of treatment will be handed out again this time as Porto hurl hellfire and thunder at Atlético's backpedalling backline.

But despite the terrible defence, the mediocre midfield and the failing forwards, Atlético are still going to win. 3-0.

Because that’s exactly why Atleti are such a very special club and a genuine force of nature.

Read more from Tim at La Liga Loca – or read Sergio "The Portugeezer" Santos's guide on how to beat Porto

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The Curious Case of Freddy Adu

2009-09-23T15:47:00Z

Just like Brad Pitt’s life in the 2008 movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, Freddy Adu’s career seems to be moving backwards.

At the tender age of 14, the American forward was regarded as one of the most promising players the MLS and the football world have seen. His precocious talents didn’t go unnoticed and Nike rewarded him with a $1M endorsement deal.

Inter Milan and Manchester United were among a long list of suitors, but the interest never materialised. Perhaps it was still too soon for him.

Despite a lacklustre stint at Real Salt Lake City, Adu moved to Europe in July 2007 for $2m. His new club: Portuguese giants Benfica.

The early-years hype raised hopes of a phenomenal introduction to European football. But not only did Adu fail to make any impact, he also managed to raise a bigger question: is he even good enough to play at the highest level?

After a total of 129 minutes in the domestic league, his days at Estádio da Luz looked numbered and he was loaned to AS Monaco. However, hopes of a career revival foundered as he only made a handful of appearances at the French side.

This summer he requested a move to a smaller club from a second-tier league (Danish side Odense was rumoured to be interested in his services), but he has ended up staying in Portugal, on loan to Belenenses.

Freddy Adu may still be 20, but one has to question whether his career is already over. Finding the answer to why such a promising starlet wasn’t able to cut it isn’t easy. Was he a product of the media? Was he nurtured in the best way? Are youth squads in America and CONCACAF any good when compared to their European counterparts?

There have been rumours about his ‘real’ age, and even though it's odd that his height today is the same as it was six years ago, there’s no (f)actual evidence of age fraud.

However, the truth is that just as he has apparently stopped growing taller, so Adu has stopped developing as a football player; his decision-making hasn’t improved and his ability to bamboozle defenders has gone.

But even worse is the fact that nobody seems to be willing to give him a chance. That may apply to Belenenses, too: five games into the season, Adu still hasn't played for the the team.

Freddy Adu left the States in search for his “European dream”. He may well return empty-handed.

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Portuguese League: State of the Nation

2009-09-18T11:00:00Z

After four games, the Portuguese League is starting to take shape.

Not many would have predicted that SC Braga would be the only team to register a 100 percent record, but the ‘Arsenalistas’ seem to be on a roll.

Braga stunned Sporting in Lisbon and also beat CS Maritimo on the traditionally difficult trip to Madeira.

Coach Domingos Paciência is far from a favourite of The Portugeezer but he’s obviously getting things done.

Next week, they welcome champions FC Porto in what is expected to be a very interesting match.

Perhaps surprisingly, Benfica are gelling as a team.

After two below-average matches - a 1-1 draw at home to Marítimo and a narrow win at Guimarães – they suddenly switched into “steamroller mode,” trashing Setúbal 8-1 at home and before hammering Belenenses away 4-0.

A word of appreciation here for new signings Javi Garcia and Javier Saviola. Pretty much everyone knows they’d never feature in the new Real Madrid side and yet they are proving to be two very astute purchases.

Garcia is always in the right place to tackle opponents and rarely gives possession away. The Spaniard has also scored two goals from free kicks and he’s enjoying himself.

Saviola was never handled properly by Barcelona or Real Madrid. Rijkaard puzzlingly deemed him surplus to requirements, a switch to the capital didn’t work either and it was to general surprise that Benfica splashed €5 million on him – that’s good money for a player who has only played a handful of times in the last three years.

Nevertheless, Benfica coach Jesus managed to instill some confidence into ‘El Conejo’ and he’s improving with each game.

His all-around style complements the more static Cardozo and the team can only appreciate the duo’s contribution.

Porto continue to be their usual selves. With new players slotting into the club’s mentality, the fans have forgotten Lucho González and Lisandro Lopéz.

Radamel Falcao has already bagged for goals and free-transfer Silvestre Varela may be the steal of the season.

Like Benfica’s Eagles, Porto’s Dragons have 10 points and they look confident. The next game at Braga will be a good test to see how good this Porto side can be.

Sporting are still trying to find their rhythm. They started poorly with just a point from the first two games, but overcame those bad results with two consecutive wins.

Paulo Bento still can’t consider himself safe from the axe, but his next match is at home and Liédson is now looking sharp in front of goal.

Promoted teams União de Leiria and Olhanense seem to be coping well with top-flight life – both have yet to be defeated. Not bad for two sides that looked odds-on to go straight back to Liga Vitalis.

Six points from four matches is an encouraging sign and I am sure both managers are pleased with that haul.

Biggest surprise: Rio Ave
Having started in strong fashion, Rio Ave currently sit in fourth. Manager Carlos Brito knows the club well, having managed the side before and he usually does a solid job there – indeed, he seems to be the only person capable of steering the club forward.

But that sort of thing happens across football – teams seem to thrive under one manager, and dive under all others. Look at Portsmouth and Harry Redknapp.

And there are other parallels between Rio Ave and Pompey, such as a relatively low-capacity stadium (12,500) and geographical situation in the harbour city of Vila do Conde.

Biggest disappointment: Nacional
Despite The Portugeezer’s fulsome praise for their European heroics, Zenit St Petersburg’s conquerors have yet to reproduce such spirited performances in the league.

The fixtures haven’t favoured them – they had to play Sporting and Porto in the first two weekends, but no matter how you twist it, claiming two points in four matches is bad.

On Thursday night they battled back from two down before narrowly losing to last season’s UEFA Cup finalists Werder Bremen, and this weekend they’ll host Marítimo – and they couldn’t get a better morale-booster than a convincing win against their Madeiran neighbours.

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2009/10: A European Odyssey

2009-09-16T17:00:00Z

Even though it’s not the remake of Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking sci-fi movie, the race to the millions provided by continental competitions is still a very important event for every team.

The group stages are just getting under way but some clubs have already been through gruelling battles in the qualifiers.

And even though there were some casualties, the overall performance of the Portuguese teams has so far lived up to expectations.

Portugal started the 2009/10 season in a modest eighth place in the UEFA National League ranking, which guaranteed two places for the Champions League and four for the Europa League.

It's interesting to note that the Portuguese ranking exhibits a cyclical behaviour due to the huge gulf in quality between the Big Three and the other teams.

When we have fewer teams in the UEFA competitions, we score more points because those teams are the ones that possess international pedigree.

However, once we climb up the ranking and claim more European places, we are unable to keep that position.

Smaller teams usually end up being knocked out in the first two rounds and we quickly lose our hard-worked points, since they are divided by the number of teams.

QUALIFYING

While champions Porto went straight into the Champions League group stage, runners-up Sporting had to start in the Third Qualifying Round.

They very luckily squeaked past FC Twente on away goals to face Fiorentina in a play-off for the group stage.

History tells us that we usually have trouble beating Italian sides, and so it proved.

Sporting were better than the Viola over the 180 minutes, but suffered the same fate as Twente and went out on away goals. The Lions will now hope to roar in the Europa League.

Third-placed Benfica, seeded in the Europa League play-off draw, faced Ukrainian minnows Vorskla Poltava and tied it up in the first leg with an emphatic 4-0 home win.

Despite a very good run to the last 16 of last season's UEFA Cup, fifth-placed SC Braga went out early this term in surprising fashion against IF Elfsborg.

Despite good domestic form of three wins in three, the Archbishops weren’t able to confirm their status as favourites and were knocked out after losing both legs of the Third Qualifying Round against the organised Swedish side.

Much less was expected of Paços de Ferreira, the northern club with the 5,000-capacity stadium, who had finished 10th in the league but got into Europe by dint of losing the Portuguese Cup final to Porto.

They had to play two qualifying rounds and after squeaking through 1-0 on aggregate against Romanian side Zimbru Chisinau, they lost both legs to Israeli outfit Bnei Yehuda.

If those two sides were lacklustre, Portuguese pride would have to be preserved by CD Nacional – another side with a 5,000-capacity stadium, this time on the island of Madeira.

So when they drew 2008 UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg in the play-off match, many – The Portugeezer included – predicted a good old-fashioned battering.

With the odds heavily stacked against them, even after a 4-3 thriller on the island, they produced a spirited display and Rúben Micael scored with just a minute left to give the Islanders their key to the Europa League.

They did more than they were asked to and deserve every bit of praise.

Here’s a free tip to any scout that might be reading the blog: take a look at Nacional’s midfield trio – Micael, Leandro Salino and Luiz Alberto.

After all, the club has produced some good players – ask their old boy Cristiano Ronaldo.

THE GROUPS

So after the dust had settled, Portugal have three teams in the Europa League (Nacional, Benfica and Sporting) with Porto in the Champions League. So it's now time for the Portugeezer’s predictions!

FC Porto
Champions League Group D: Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, APOEL Nicosia
Prediction: 2nd

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo is currently living in a mighty state of denial after only mentioning Chelsea as big opposition in the group.

Evidently, he didn’t see last season’s Champions League last-16 matches between Atletico and Porto, which the Dragons dominated and were unlucky not to win by a big margin, rather going out on the away-goals rule.

The Spanish side may have world-class players, but they’re still not a world-class squad. Why? They lack the experience and the winning mentality at this level – something Porto acquired many years ago.

Second-seeds Porto will chase Chelsea for the top slot, but right now I have to give the upper hand to the English side due to their promising start under Carlo Ancelotti. [Ed's note – Sergio wrote this before Tuesday night, but Chelsea's narrow 1-0 Stamford Bridge win over Porto appears to prove his point...]

Sporting
Europa League Group D: Heerenveen, Hertha Berlin, Ventspils
Prediction: 1st

After that unlucky elimination from the Champions League play-offs by Fiorentina, Sporting have been handed perhaps the easiest group for any of the Portuguese teams.

Among the top seeds for the Europe League group-stage draw, their main rival for top slot is less likely to be Heerenveen (who qualified by winning the Dutch Cup) than Hertha Berlin.

And as the German side lost two very important pieces in the likes of Andriy Voronin (yes Liverpool supporters, that same Voronin!) and Marko Pantelic, that surely gives an edge to the Lions.

Benfica
Europa League Group I: Everton, AEK Athens, BATE Borisov
Prediction: 1st

Benfica have assembled a squad capable of advancing to the later stages of the competition and even though they usually stutter when playing away, there are no excuses for expecting an early exit.

Like Sporting, they were in the top-seed pot and can be happy with the teams drawn beneath them. Everton have one of the smallest squads in the Premier League and their main objective is achieving a top-six finish in the league, which is why they’ll finish second.

Like any Greek side, AEK will hope their fierce supporters push the team forward while Belarusian minnows BATE will be battling to upset the football odds.

Nacional
Europa League Group L: Werder Bremen, Austria Vienna, Athletic Bilbao
Prediction: 3rd

Unsurprisingly given their unseeded status, Nacional were handed the toughest draw.

The Germans – the best side in the competition, according to UEFA's coefficients – and Basques are way out of their league. As much as I would like to see them pulling an once-in-a-lifetime shocker, Nacional will almost inevitably bow out of the competition.

However, they can be a tough nut to crack in Madeira, while they shouldn't be overawed by Austria Vienna's 12,500-capacity stadium.

And that’s the reason for the 3rd place prediction, which would represent a respectable performance.

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Five reasons why Portugal will fail to qualify

2009-09-09T07:00:00Z

Winds of change are starting to blow through Portugal after the national team failed to win against group leaders Denmark.

The Selecção played well in Copenhagen, raining in 34 shots as Brazil-born Liedson marked his debut with a goal.

But it wasn’t enough to avoid a 1-1 draw that makes World Cup qualification "complicated," to borrow Diego Maradona's word.

It's more than that. Portugal are seven points behind Denmark; on Wednesday the leaders visit Albania, who have only beaten whipping-boys Malta.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Portugal visit second-placed Hungary. A loss would make automatic qualification impossible, and even the play-offs improbable.

Before the remaining matches are played, The Portugeezer looks at five things that need to change in the national team.

The manager

Carlos Queiroz is an overrated manager. There, I've said it. He’s one of the best assistant managers in the game and achieved good results at youth level.

But his record as manager leaves some question marks.

At Sporting CP, he failed to win the league with a star-studded team that included the likes of Figo, Balakov, Paulo Sousa, Valckx and Capucho.

Later, at Madrid, his main flaw as manager was exposed: he’s too soft and unable to manage big egos.

If you're looking for a way out...

Yes, he was a bit unlucky in Copenhagen, but a draw in Denmark would be considered a positive result in a normal situation. This isn't one.

This uninspiring campaign started some time ago and Queiroz needs to go. Give him control of our teams at youth level, as he’ll do wonders there, but keep him away from the senior squad.

The holding midfielder

Portugal are an unbalanced team. Pretty much everyone knows that.

We have many good wingers and we have the luxury of having three world-class centre-backs: Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves and Pepe.

It can be difficult to select the right partnership, but it's a mistake to accommodate all three by giving the Real Madrid defender a holding midfielder role.

Sure, he won’t compromise against mid-tier teams, but against world-class opponents he’ll struggle. Why? Because he’s not a holding midfielder!

And it’s not like we don’t have players who can fill that role either: Raúl Meireles, João Moutinho and Miguel Veloso can all play there.

Also, if you take into account Pepe’s speed and tackling skills, it would make more sense to use him as left-back, where we lack a real solution.

The captain

Cristiano Ronaldo, given the armband after Queiroz was appointed coach in summer 2008, is on top of the world after his staggering €96 million move to Real Madrid. But that doesn't make him the best choice to lead the team.

A captain must be someone who leads by example and is respected by his teammates. He has to push the team forward in tough situations and needs to keep his head cool most of the time.

Unfortunately, Ronaldo does not fulfill those criteria.

"D'you think it suits me?"

Figo was the best captain we've had recently and at the moment either Simão Sabrosa or Ricardo Carvalho would be most suitable options.

But of course that can only change with a new manager, otherwise it would look like CR9 was being singled out.

The naturalised players policy

Liédson may have scored the most important goal of this campaign as it kept our faint hopes alive. However, the decision to bring him into the team even more disagreeable than the ones of Pepe and Deco.

Never mind the fact he can score for fun at any level, and never mind the fact he’s currently the best (de facto) Portuguese striker.

Truth is, he’ll turn 32 this year. If Portugal fail to qualify for the World Cup, he’s hardly going to figure in Euro 2012.

"Oh, go on then"

Not long ago he wanted to play for Brazil, understandably. But Portugal is a clear second choice and this relationship is nothing more than a business partnership.

Where’s the love and the pride?

It feels like a short-term fix instead of a long-term plan, hindering younger players who could and can gain some experience at international level.

The attitude

Like England after their cruel elimination at the hands of Croatia, Portugal need some time to regroup. Our best squad was the one at Euro 2004 where we had the best chance to win a major tournament.

In that team were the last elements of the so-called Golden Generation (Figo, Rui Costa, Pauleta) and the new emerging talents (Ronaldo, Deco, Carvalho).

That squad was quite balanced - even with the problematic striker position - and the players wanted to show the world how good they were.

But now, the national side seems like a group of people pretending to be a team. The hunger and passion waned, and that has to change.

Maybe watching a tournament in the same way we mortals do – with a TV and a remote – will do them some good, even if it will be as painful for the Portuguese as Euro 2008 was for the English.

But as the saying goes, it ain’t over till it’s over and as you know football has reserved quite a few surprises over the years. Stay tuned!

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The Usual Suspects part three: Benfica

2009-08-30T11:00:00Z

Team Name: SL Benfica
Nickname: The Eagles

Introduction

The third of Portugal's Os Tres Grandes (The Big Three, or for our purposes, The Usual Suspects) is SL Benfica, perhaps the biggest club in Portugal with 171,000 paying members and a trophy cabinet that includes two European Cups and 31 domestic leagues.

That golden era of continental dominance may today be nothing more than a bittersweet memory, but Benfica will retain their permanent seat in the elite group that challenges for domestic honours.

Everton fans looking for information about Benfica – both sides are in Europa League Group I, along with AEK Athens and Belarusians BATE Borisov – will find a comparison close to home... just across Stanley Park, in fact.

Broadly speaking, Benfica are Portugal's Liverpool.

Both teams have legions of fans (not just in their home city), a rich history (including European Cup wins) and are routinely regarded as title contenders – despite a distinct lack of silverware in recent seasons.

Benfica still hold the record number of league titles (31) but have only topped the final table once in the last 16 years – and that win, in 2005, came with a points total so low that it wouldn't have even made second place in any previous campaign.

Meanwhile, FC Porto have chipped away at their pre-eminence, winning 11 titles in the same 16-year period, including six of the last seven league titles.

Does that sound like a certain rivalry from north-west England?

Eusebio in 1962, when Benfica retained the European Cup

Aware of the weight of history and expectation, Benfica usually set unrealistic targets that are bound to frustrate their supporters.

That puts an insurmountable pressure on players to perform, and it's not uncommon to witness many changes in the summer.

Last year Benfica finished third in the league – a big let-down. Fired by fourth-place failure (and thus UEFA Cup limbo) in 2007/08, the club had bought the likes of David Suazo, José Antonio Reyes and Pablo Aimar.

Everyone expected the club to at least finish in the top two, and thus qualify for the Champions League. But after a good start everything went down the drain. Once again.

For the third year in a row, the club has invested a significant amount of money to strengthen the squad.

Among its higher-profile signings are Ramires (€7.5m from Cruzeiro), Javi Garcia (€7m from Real Madrid) and Javier Saviola (€5m, also from Real Madrid).

The efforts to put Benfica back where they think they belong are understandable, but there's a risk.

In Portugal, football is hardly a sustainable activity; it's very difficult to make a profit without a player trade surplus.

Making hefty investments without the support of a solid organisational structure and a carefully thought-out business plan usually means you're borrowing against future revenues... the footballing version of Russian roulette.

The squad

This may be a refrain heard every summer, but Benfica's squad should challenge for domestic honours and advance to the later stages of European competition (this year, the Europa League).

Defence is the manager’s biggest headache, although it has improved since last year.

Left-back José Shaffer, signed this summer from Racing Club in his Argentinian homeland, has shown flashes of promise; capable of supporting the attack and delivering pinpoint crosses, he’s still a bit raw and needs to improve his marking.

Shaffer's arrival means Brazilian David Luiz, who filled in at left-back last season, can now move to his best position – centre-back.

Luiz has tons of potential and if well nurtured he will go far. Fellow Brazilian Sidnei, just 20 years old, is also a talented centre-back and enjoyable to watch.

However, their compatriot and fellow centre-back Luisão doesn’t deserve as much praise as he gets. He'll have one great game, then one strewn with errors that would make a Sunday League player blush.

Nevertheless, the 6ft 4in 27-year-old will play, since he’s one of the senior players at the club.

What? No silverware? The 2009 Amsterdam Tournament winners

Two years ago, no one would have guessed that Maxi Pereira would become a vital piece in Benfica’s backline.

Signed as a right-sided midfielder who could play in the middle if required, he played in both positions in his first season and didn’t make an impact.

Last year, however, he was converted to right-back – and today he’s probably the best in the league. He’s even more important considering Benfica lack a second right-back.

There are a lot of options in midfield. Spaniard Javi Garcia is a defensive midfielder in the Kostas Katsouranis style (that's a compliment). Strong and with good positioning, Garcia is still young and can only get better.

Signed in the summer, Brazil international Ramires is expected to be a fixture – despite an uninspiring start (apart from the crucial goal at Vitória Guimarães) which could be because he's not adapted to the league yet.

Pablo Aimar will be the creative spark in the midfield and the Argentinian’s class will be vital to the club, provided he remains injury-free.

Among the important squad players striving for a regular place are Carlos Martins, Hassan Yebda and Ruben Amorim – especially the latter, who took his game to a new level after arriving from CF Belenenses.

TALENTSPOTTER BLOG: One to watch - Angel di Maria

Manager Jorge Jesus revealed he likes to have five forwards at his disposal, and the board granted him that wish.

Paraguayan Óscar Cardozo, who scored 40 goals over the last two seasons, is a favourite: slow, but if properly fed, almost certain to score with an amazing left foot that can score from anywhere (except from the penalty spot...).

Cardozo: in the zone again

Cardozo's partner will initially be Javier Saviola, signed in the summer from Real Madrid for €5m. The diminutive Argentinian has started well and will hope to end the underachieving wandering that has marked his recent career.

However, don't be surprised if the Little Rabbit finds his place under threat from Brazilian youngster Keirrison.

Signed from Palmeiras this summer by Barcelona for €14m, and immediately loaned out to Benfica, the 20-year-old finished the 2008 season as the youngest-ever top scorer in the Brazilian league.

Extra strength in depth in added by 33-year-old veteran Nuno Gomes and Weldon, a 29-year-old Brazilian who signed in the summer after an impressive loan spell with Belenenses.

Meanwhile, injury-plagued Angolan striker Mantorras will be there to fire up Benfica’s faithful in the final minutes.

Probable starting XI: Quim; Maxi Pereira, Luisão, David Luiz, Shaffer; Javi Garcia, Ramires, Pablo Aimar; Di Maria, Saviola, Cardozo.

The coach: Jorge Jesus

With Quique Sanchez Flores having lasted barely a year in the hotseat, Jorge Jesus moved to Benfica after a solid season with SC Braga.

The seasoned coach has managed several mid-ranking clubs with relative success, but it remains to be seen whether he can become a big-time player.

Apparently unfazed by such challenge, he invited extra pressure by claiming his team would play twice as well as last year’s. Jesus may talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?

One to watch: Pablo Aimar

It seems ages ago that Europe watched Pablo Aimar oozing class in a Valencia shirt.

The Argentinian may be past his best – he turns 30 in November – but his vision, silky touches and creativity can make the difference at Benfica.

Last season he played as a supporting striker, which didn't fully suit a player who needs to have the ball to dictate his team’s movements – the maestro in Benfica’s orchestra.

Jesus seems to agree, declaring Pablito is better suited for a deeper role.

If the Eagles are to enjoy an above-average season, they’ll need a fully-fit and in-form Aimar – something that would be welcomed by Benfica supporters – and football in general.

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The Usual Suspects part one: Porto
The Usual Suspects part two: Sporting

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The Usual Suspects part two: Sporting

2009-08-25T09:00:00Z

Team Name: Sporting CP
Nickname: The Lions

Introduction

OK folks, time for Sporting CP, last season’s runners-up.

Though the summer has seen little activity off the field, the team has already had to overcome a plucky FC Twente side to qualify for the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League.

Sporting remind me of Harvey Dent in the Batman movie The Dark Knight as they have shown two distinct faces, two sides of the same coin.

I watched the second-leg against Twente and they looked dreadful.

The team lacked ideas and organisation and only a miracle in the last minute of extra-time prevented them from being knocked out at such an early stage.

The Champions League draw paired the Lions with Fiorentina. I was expecting them to struggle, but Sporting played much better and were unlucky not to have won.

A 2-2 draw at home may not be the best result against Italian sides, but if the team replicates the spirit displayed last week, they may just find their way into Europe’s premier competition.

The squad

The club has only made two signings in the shape of Matías Fernández from Villarreal and Felipe Caicedo from Manchester City, the latter on loan.

Veteran forward Derlei has left the club, as too has Leandro Romagnoli who returned to San Lorenzo.

One would think that the lure of the Champions League and the fresh chance to mount a title assault would make Sporting strengthen its weakest area – the defence – but surprisingly the club has opted to not make any changes there, and they will regret that decision.

The back four can look as good as Newcastle last season at times, and they will find it tough to play away against smaller teams that might catch them on the break.

For a World Cup winner, Anderson Polga is very error-prone and yet he is the most experienced center-back at the club.

Carriço is still learning his craft and, due to the lack of a solid left-back, Caneira is likely to be deployed there, especially against more experienced sides.

Pedro Silva and Abel are able to deal with domestic opponents, but will be exposed in continental competitions. I may sound a bit harsh, but there’s a reason why the team got hammered by Bayern Munich last season.

If on one hand I am very critical of Sporting’s backline, on the other I admit they have a lot of good options in midfield.

The 4-4-2 diamond formation is probably the one best suited for their midfielders (Moutinho, Veloso, Rochemback, Adrien Silva, Izmailov, Matías Fernández and Vukcevic), a mix of players who can control possession, dribble through the opposition, feed the front-line and shoot from distance.

That’s where their key to a good season lies.

Up front, Sporting will continue to rely on the talismanic Liédson, one of the best forwards Portugal has seen in recent years. He guarantees at least 15 goals and is bound to win them a handful of matches.

Another decision they may also rue is the one to ditch Derlei. His legs aren’t what they used to be, but 'the Ninja' would lend his experience and inject his never-say-die attitude to the team.

Caicedo looked a bit rusty against Twente, but he’ll probably get a chance to show what he’s capable of at Fiorentina.

There is also Hélder Postiga and Yannick Djaló, but I wouldn’t hold out much hope on them. Those two couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo to save their lives.

Probable starting XI: Rui Patrício; Abel, Polga, Daniel Carriço, Caneira; Veloso, Moutinho, Matiás Fernández, Vukcevic; Liedson, Caicedo

The coach

Paulo Bento is a polarising figure at the club. He arrived in the 2005/06 season, but has only managed to win two Portuguese Cups and one Supercup to date.

His disputes with Serbian goalkeeper Stojkovic, Vukcevic and Veloso didn’t strengthen his position either and many believe he may eventually be sacked this season.

Bento will look forward to prove his critics wrong, knowing that he was able to overcome similar predictions before.

One to watch: Miguel Veloso

I was going to tip Simon Vukcevic to shine this season. His flair and ability to open up defences are unique within the squad and he impresses me most of the time.

However, the way he got sent-off in the 2-2 draw against Fiorentina tells me Bento may not have the patience to give him many chances after their feud last year.

After scoring the team’s first goal, the Montenegrin felt the need to take off his shirt to celebrate, apparently forgetting he had already been given a yellow card, and was promptly shown another.

I know the rule is dumb, but Vukcevic’s actions were even dumber and could have serious repercussions in the outcome of the play-off.

Anyway, I have to hand Miguel Veloso the responsibility of making the difference, because he has the talent to make Sporting look much more of a threat.

Nevertheless, he is yet to fulfil his potential and I think this will be a make-or-break season for him.

It is true he possesses very good positioning and range of passing, but it is also a fact that he is slow and sometimes seems to lack the passion to excel.

Last season was a difficult one for him, but he scored a great goal against Fiorentina and he’s starting to show again why he was considered one of the hottest properties in Europe.

Sporting will need more of the same if they want to be regarded as serious title contenders.

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The usual suspects part one: Porto

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The Usual Suspects part one: Porto

2009-08-19T09:00:00Z

Team Name: FC Porto
Nickname: The Dragons

As promised, here I start a series of posts providing a more in-depth analysis of the title contenders in Portugal, the so-called ‘Big Three’.

Can an outsider challenge the elite trio? The simple answer is no. The gulf is so big it would be like crossing a titanic chasm.

But anyway, let’s begin with FC Porto.

Introduction

FC Porto may have drawn at Paços de Ferreira at the weekend, but they won’t be short on confidence.

Porto were crowned domestic champions last term for the fourth consecutive year. The team also claimed the Portuguese Cup and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, eventually losing to Manchester United after two closely-fought encounters.

However, the impressive performances didn’t go unnoticed, with Lucho González, Lisandro López and Aly Cissokho all leaving the club in the summer.

Like many times before, the Dragons didn’t panic-buy and among their 11 signings for the 2009/2010 season are Álvaro Pereira from CFR Cluj, Fernando Belluschi from Olympiakos and the much-coveted Colombian star Radamel Falcão from River Plate.

They also bagged several fringe players that add strength in depth to a squad that aims to do well in every competition.

The dominance enjoyed in recent years and the experience accumulated in the European competitions make Porto the favourites to clinch the Portuguese League, even if the team needs time to gel as a whole.

The squad

At the back, there is no doubt the club will be delighted to have kept hold of Bruno Alves, who has established himself as one of the most solid centre-backs in Europe.

Rolando displayed last year he can be a capable defender, and is likely to be first choice to partner Alves in the middle.

On the other hand, the wide-positions do appear shaky, and I remain unconvinced by Sapunaru and Fucile. I will reserve judgement on Álvaro Pereira until after he partakes in a handful of competitive games.

Lucho Gonzaléz was the brain in Porto’s midfield. His silky touches and ability to dictate tempo were invaluable to feed the front line and control possession.

His departure has left a big void and much will be expected from Belluschi.

While he didn’t set the world alight in Greece, Belluschi showed glimpses of his talent during pre-season and the Dragons will hope he maintains his momentum.

The remaining two men in the midfield trio will be Raúl Meireles and Fernando.

At just 22, the already-imposing Fernando can only improve, while Meireles will provide his ever-reliable service to the team.

I believe they’ll find it hard – if not impossible – to replace Lisandro López, a forward whose work-rate, technique and finishing did not often come in a single package.

Falcao appears to be a different type of striker and I suspect Lisandro’s output will be spread over the offensive trio, rather than being inherited by his direct replacement.

Probable starting XI: Hélton; Fucile, Bruno Alves, Rolando, Álvaro; Fernando, Raúl Meireles, Belluschi; Cristián Rodríguez, Hulk, Falcao

The coach

Jesualdo Ferreira arrived at FC Porto at the beginning of the 2006/2007 season and has managed to steer the club to three consecutive domestic league crowns.

After overcoming a few hiccups along the way, he now has the backing of the board and the supporters.

With the winning mentality already installed at the Estádio do Dragão, he has the tools to do the job.

One to watch: Hulk

The responsibility of scoring goals can be a huge burden for a striker. Fortunately for Porto, Hulk’s shoulders are quite large to withstand that pressure.

The powerful forward enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom after being signed from Tokyo Verdy.

Nobody expected much from this virtually unknown Brazilian with a funny nickname, but today defenders are no longer laughing.

Hulk has tremendous power and speed as well as a strong left foot, attributes that have already made Porto slap a €40 million price tag on him.

If he improves his decision-making, Hulk can be huge, literally, both in Europe and nationally for Brazil in years to come.

Only time will tell if he can make the grade, but this year expect the incredible Hulk to be tightly marked and tough tackled.

Like the superhero though, that’ll only make him angrier.

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Portuguese 101

2009-08-17T09:00:00Z

Before I delve any deeper into the Portuguese League, I thought it may be of use to give you all an overview of how football is organised here.

Currently, there are 4 main competitions:

Portuguese League (official name: Liga Sagres)
Portuguese Cup
League Cup (official name: Carlsberg Cup)
Supercup

From the 2006/2007 season on, there are just 16 teams competing in Liga Sagres and, due to that, only two teams are now relegated.

The League Cup was introduced in 2007 and it is only open for the 32 teams of the top two divisions, while the Portuguese Cup is open to the four levels of professional football, as well as the best teams from the regional championships (similar to the FA Cup and Carling Cup).

Ever since its inception in 1934/1935, the Portuguese League has been dominated by the 'Big Three' - Porto, Sporting and Benfica - and only twice have there been different champions: Belenenses in 1945/146 and Boavista in 2000/2001.

Some of you might remember Boavista famously earning a 1:1 draw at Anfield in the group stages of the Champions League, but those days are long gone.

A shadow of its former self, the financially-crippled club is hoping to be granted permission to start the new season... in the regional championship.

Another interesting fact is the high number of foreign players in Portugal.

Today, there are more foreigners than Portuguese nationals in Liga Sagres, with the vast majority being Brazilian.

The rationale is simple:

1) Portuguese and Brazilians share the same language which will make adaptation easier.

2) It is faster to get a talented player abroad than nurturing a home-grown player. That may compromise the future of some smaller clubs and affect the National team, but unfortunately, bad management is rife in Portugal.

Interestingly, contrary to what happens in countries like Spain or England, there isn’t a strong regional identity here.

90 percent of the people support one of the big three clubs, with the only real exception being Vitória Guimarães.

Therefore, attendances are high in those four clubs’ stadia and low in the others.

I’ll close this brief introduction by showing you how the different teams rank at the present time.

I am obviously just scratching the surface here, but you’ll get to know more as the blogs grows.

Tier 1 (title challengers): Porto, Sporting & Benfica
Tier 2 (European contenders): Braga, Marítimo, Nacional & Vitória Guimarães
Tier 3 (the rest): Belenenses, Paços Ferreira, Leiria, Académica, Naval, Rio Ave, Vitória Setúbal, Leixões & Olhanense.

Until next time...

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Bloga Bonito

2009-08-13T13:00:00Z

Hi folks, there's a new blog in town.

From Oporto to the world, 'The Portugeezer' will provide you with a genuine insight on the often-overlooked world of Portuguese football.

I won’t try to deny that Liga Sagres (the official name of the domestic league) belongs to the European second tier. Nonetheless, I am willing to bet there are many facts that might surprise you.

For instance, did you know that SL Benfica are the football club with the largest number of paying supporters worldwide with a total of 171,000?

Or that FC Porto, along with Barcelona and Manchester United, have been in the Champions League more times than any other team?

Or even that Sporting CP are responsible for nurturing the likes of Futre, Figo, Simão, Quaresma, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani?

Luis' look before the invention of hair gel

Maybe now I’ve grabbed your attention but there’s more, much more to come.

We’ll discuss Portuguese teams, players and competitions.

Naturally, more focus will be but on the so-called 'Big Three' – Porto, Benfica and Sporting – but whenever something interesting arises, I’ll be here to talk about it.

As the league is due to begin on August 16, the next posts will analyse the squads of the big three, the perennial title contenders.

If you have any questions you’d like to ask or any comment you’d like to make, please feel free to do so.

Catch you all later!