PortuGOAL

PortuGOAL Figure of the Week: Benfica's hat-trick hero Pizzi back to his best

Liga NOS is back for another season and with it PortuGOAL’s Figure of the Week feature. Each week we highlight the standout figure (player or manager) of the round’s action with the caveat that no individual be featured more than once throughout the campaign.

The opening weekend featured a number of entertaining, high-scoring fixtures with each of the “big three” getting off to winning starts, while promoted sides Nacional and Santa Clara tasted defeat on their return to the top flight. Picking the first outstanding player is a tricky prospect: Porto’s Yacine Brahimi was at his electric best, closely followed by his two goal team-mate Vincent Aboubakar in a 5-0 win over Chaves, while Sporting’s Dutch hitman Bas Dost picked up where he left off last season with a brace against Moreirense.

However, Benfica’s midfield talisman Pizzi outshone them all with a first half hat-trick in Friday night’s 3-2 victory against Vitória Guimarães, he is the first Figure of the Week for 2018/19.

Big Three kick off new season with victories

With a sizeable 306 games to look forward to, it’s with a spread of renewed faith that we all welcomed back Primeira Liga football for the 2018/19 season.

Our first stop, a trip to the Estádio da Luz, saw Benfica hold onto an initial three-goal lead to defeat Vitória de Guimarães 3-2, as hat-trick hero Pizzi raked the headlines in Jonas’ absence. Last season’s champions, FC Porto, followed suit with five more goals for us all to feast on in a thumping 5-0 home win against Chaves on Saturday night.

Attentions then turned to Sporting in their clash away to Moreirense, with José Peseiro kicking off his second stint in charge of the Lions with a 3-1 win. PortuGOAL reports on how it all unfolded.

Week 1 round-up with video highlights

Nick J — Great game by Porto - hard to know who to single out but Brahimi, Sérgio Oliveira and Otavio looked sharp! Sergio's pass for the second goal was orgasmic and they defended as a team. Looks like there are options for the mister so Marega might be feeling the bench for a few games. I also watched t......

Portuguese title race preview: talent drain levels the playing field

There is no getting away from it: Portugal’s Primeira Liga has seen a brutal downgrading of its talent pool in recent seasons – and the trend continues apace. As the financial disparity between Portuguese football and the rest of Europe’s top leagues grows ever wider, Porto, Benfica and Sporting are all fighting a losing battle to hold on to their best players and now seem incapable of attracting exciting young prospects like before, let alone players with an established pedigree, give or take the odd veteran.

It is a different world to the one when the Portuguese top flight boasted superstars such as Ángel Di María, David Luiz, Radamel Falcao and Hulk, not to mention key Seleção players such as Fábio Coentrão, João Moutinho or João Mário.

A collective drop-off in quality, however, does not necessarily equate to a drop-off in excitement and competitiveness – perhaps precisely the opposite. Braga, for example, look well positioned to break the status quo of Portuguese football and make a sustained push for the title. PortuGOAL looks at the major coming and goings at Portugal’s top clubs ahead of this weekend’s 2018/19 Liga NOS kick-off.

Jerrold Hewson — so is Coutinho now going to play for Portugal or Brazil?...

Danny DaSilva — I'd like to hear Tom's preseason pick, since he nailed Croatia as his dark horse for WC2018....

Danny DaSilva — Braga will win a league title before Sporting ever does....

Portugal claim first Euro U19 title after thrilling final against Italy

Two years after Portugal’s greatest football triumph at Euro 2016, the country added another European title, this time at U19 level, beating Italy 4-3 in the final in Seinäjoki, Finland on Sunday.

It was their first Euro title at U19 level since the format was changed in 2001. Portugal lost in the final in 2003, 2014 and just last year to England. Pedro Correia’s 109th minute goal came seconds after Italy had tied the match 3-3. Remarkably, it came at the exact moment of the match as Éder’s Euro 2016-winning goal in Paris.

PortuGoal looks back at two unforgettable weeks in Finland.

Paulo — Also missing Diogo Leite....

johnieooooo — Mike - you forgot the best one of all.....Dalot....

mike — And to think that there were 4-5 players missing because they are playing with first team so far this preseason. Rafael camacho -18 liverpool...has been superb Joao felix -18 benfica future superstar Gedson -19 benfica been good for benfica..playing alot of minutes Rafael leao - 19 sporting/man cit......

Will Cristiano Ronaldo help Juventus end Champions League drought?

After Cristiano Ronaldo played a fundamental role in winning four Champions League titles in the last five years for Real Madrid, the Portugal captain is expected to emerge as Juventus’ guiding light in their quest for UCL victory.

Since winning the trophy in 1996, Juventus has played five finals but failed to win a single one including twice in the last four years. The Italian side lost the 2017 final and last year’s quarter-final to Ronaldo’s individual brilliance.

Conquistador

A tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo's extraordinary time at Real Madrid

Having realized his childhood dream to play for Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo will not be finishing his storied career in the Spanish capital. While many other articles have chosen only to tease out the reasons why he left, PortuGOAL.net would like to establish the true significance of Ronaldo's time in Madrid. A time in which he surely became so much more than any pundit or fan would have thought him capable.

Nathan Motz recounts the conquering tale of Cristiano Ronaldo from a different perspective as Portugal's talisman departs on a new adventure with Juventus.

SupremoGino — This is a phenomenal read..thoroughly enjoyed it. @Chris It will be funny to see what unfolds at Real Madrid. Can't imagine Lopetegui having them play tiki-taka. At least they won't be blaming Ronaldo once that clown show arrives.....

Chris — Great great article Nathan. Agreed on so many points. Also agree with Jon on all but one thing; Pele. Pele is the most overrated player in history for me. Yes he has 3 world cups but he was injured and barely played 1 game in 1962. In ‘58 he scored less than half the goals (6) of the man who w......

jon/usa — Brilliant read, Nathan! Cristiano Ronaldo is unquestionably one of the greatest footballers of all time. In my opinion, he and Messi are already up on the Mt. Rushmore of footballing gods alongside Pele and Maradona. He is the greatest goal-scorer the world has ever seen, and his ability to adapt an......

Portugal’s World Cup assessed

Was Portugal’s performance at World Cup 2018 underwhelming, in line with expectations, unlucky, or as the kids today like to say, just “meh”? The post-tournament reaction (or lack of it) would seem to indicate the last option.

There have been no recriminations flying around the media, no headlines demanding radical reform, not even a call for a period of introspection. Indeed, the silence has been deafening in terms of any formal reaction from the Portuguese Football Federation, coach Fernando Santos or the players regarding the campaign of the European Champions in Russia.

PortuGOAL assesses the Seleção’s showing at World Cup 2018 and looks for pointers for the future.

Phil — All good points but I feel Santos has to take some significant blame as deciding to take out Cédric for the round of 16 proved to be a huge mistake he was very much involved in a negative way for both goals allowed. Also should have played Dias in one of the group stage games and tried starting Gel......

Jeremy — That is a pretty accurate assessment of where the selecao is at the moment. They had a largely below par tournament I would contend, because of two things: an alarming drop off in form of key players that were crucial to the success in 2016. Andre Gomes has had a nightmare at Barcelona after a big m......

Tomas Sheehan — simple quaresma fonte alvez moutinho am who else all the oldies need to step down... pepe i would like to stay hes just as good as Ronaldo is for the team for now...

Portugal Man of the Match vs Uruguay: Bernardo Silva

Portugal’s World Cup adventure came to a premature end last night after a narrow 2-1 loss to Uruguay in the last 16. The exit is an obvious disappointment for Seleção fans everywhere, but just as frustrating was the team’s failure to fulfil their potential to perform with what looked a strong group of players coming into the tournament.

One such player who did not live up to expectations in Russia was Bernardo Silva, failing to settle into Fernando Santos’ system throughout the group stage. However, the Manchester City winger was Portugal’s standout performer in Sochi, showing renewed confidence and positivity on the ball even if it was ultimately not enough to help his team through to the quarter-finals.

Filipe da Silva — Ok, just one comment for the record. Seeing a few comments that the team is set up entirely to get the best out of Ronaldo and I would say that it has been the complete opposite since 2014 when Santos took over. Ronaldo does not enjoy to play as a centre forward and at his club where they have world......

Jose DA Costa — Forca85......Great Job!! Love your post. Allot of Portugal fan believe they know more about our national team than our coach who helped Portugal win us our first major trophy!! My favourite is when they are all here screaming for Santos to play all these young players and get rid of Quaresma, Ronald......

Roger — Santos won us a title, so it would be harsh to sack him before 2020. However, let's look at the mistakes he made (and that a lot of us predicted) 1. Taking Guerreiro - He was clearly unfit to play and he isn't a LB. He cost us a couple goals. 2. Taking Joao Mario - out of form, out of match pract......

Portugal player ratings versus Uruguay

Portugal’s World Cup campaign came to an end in Sochi tonight as they were beaten by a brilliant brace from Uruguayan centre-forward Edinson Cavani.

An improved performance perhaps deserved better. Pepe was again excellent, and a tactical switch by Fernando Santos at half time perhaps points the way for Portugal going forward, Bernardo Silva proving far more effective when moved into the middle, and looking Portugal’s most likely route back into the game.

On the downside Gonçalo Guedes and Ricardo Pereira had nights to forget, while two stars of Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph two years ago, João Mário and Raphaël Guerreiro, completed a below-par World Cup with another disappointing match.

Ivo — While I’ve been wanting to see Pereira play for some time, I don’t think bringing him into the squad for the first time in a knockout game was a good choice by Santos. He should’ve given him some run against Iran or Morocco or better yet more friendly time and try to gauge his performance that......

Cavani double knocks Portugal out of the World Cup

Uruguay 2-1 Portugal

Portugal have been eliminated by Uruguay in the World Cup's Round of 16, courtesy of an Edinson Cavani brace in a 2-1 loss at the Fisht Stadium.

The European champions fell behind to Cavani's strike as early as the 7th minute, but Pepe's equaliser in the second half promised to provide a different kind of night for the Portuguese public.

Uruguay pulled ahead once more, however, this time in decisive fashion, as Cavani's match-winner in the 62nd minute moved his nation into the Quarter-finals at Portugal's expense.

not1but11 — I am not going to crap on Santos but I think his project is over. I thank him for euro2016 but his time has passed and it is time to pass the keys over to a more progressive Portuguese coach. Hopefully someone who is younger than 60. Technically he is responsible for the loss because of his team sel......

Rosario7 — Strangely at peace with the loss. We played like the Portugal I know and love (and hate since they aren't clinical but at least they kept going and trying). I kept believing they would pull it off until the last minute of injury time and when they didn't, I just felt an "aw well". It wasn't meant to......

George — What a frustrating World Cup from Portugal. I still don't know what to make of it all, and I suppose that's the worst feeling to have after exiting a tournament. I was planning on watching the team throughout and beating my chest with pride win or lose because I was sure that we'd at least put on a ......