Champions League: Two-goal Fernandes demonstrates leadership with penalty gesture, as Ronaldo Golaço revives Juventus

Just another night in the Champions League for Portugal’s finest on Tuesday, after Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo found the net to inspire Manchester United and Juventus to home victories in the group stage.

Fernandes scored twice – the first a sensational effort from outside the area – as United avenged their defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir on the last matchday by beating the Turkish side 4-1 at Old Trafford, while Ronaldo’s superb long-range finish helped Juve come from behind to edge Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros 2-1 in Turin.

Portuguese Abroad goals round-up: Jota marks La Liga debut with goal; Bruno pen gives United win; Pedro Mendes on target in Ligue 1; Guerreiro, Simões find the net in Germany, Greece

Another highly fruitful weekend of Portuguese goals across Europe was typically dominated by big name scorers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota, but arguably the best feelgood story was youngster Jota Filipe scoring his first goal for Real Valladolid in Spain.

The on-loan Benfica forward’s goal in the win at Granada came after recently-capped Seleção defender Domingos Duarte had registered for the home side, while in France another Portugal stopper found the net as Pedro Mendes helped Montpellier to victory. Elsewhere, Bruno Fernandes was a fortunate match-winner for Manchester United and Raphaël Guerreiro was back on the scoresheet for Borussia Dortmund.

Irrepressible Jota already breaking records at Liverpool

Liverpool 3-0 Leicester City

Diogo Jota became the first player in Liverpool’s history to score in each of his opening four home matches in the English top flight, after getting on the scoresheet in the champions’ 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday evening.

The Portugal forward’s first-half header means he now has eight goals in all competitions for his new club following a close season move from Wolverhampton Wanderers, while the win for Liverpool sees them move up to second place in the Premier League.

Brilliant Ronaldo brace earns Juventus win [video]

Juventus 2-0 Cagliari

Cristiano Ronaldo picked up where he left off on his return to domestic action this weekend, scoring with two superb first-half finishes to give Juventus a win over Cagliari in Serie A.

Ronaldo has now scored in each of his first five league appearances this season, something the Portugal captain had only done once previously: with Real Madrid in the 2014/15 season.

luso-warrior — I make black masks with the FPF emblem on it if anyone is interested....

“A proper team” Mourinho delighted as Spurs beat Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Manchester City

Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur were back on top of the Premier League on Saturday evening after an impressive 2-0 victory over old rival Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the English capital.

Goals from Heung Min Son and Giovanni Lo Celso gave Spurs the three points and a 4^th straight league victory, with the possession stats (34-66%) and the shot count (4-22) leading many observers to declare the match a vintage Mourinho display in controlling the opposition and exploiting transitions.

Seleção podcast: No repeat of Nations League triumph / 2020 review

In episode 39 of the Seleção Podcast, host Danny Pinto and Tom Kundert of PortuGOAL.net review the disappointment of the loss to France which ended Portugal’s hopes of retaining their Nations League crown.

They also looked back at a very strange and busy 2020 and look ahead to an even busier 2021 for our beloved Seleção.

Two decades later, can Sporting win the Portuguese title?

In stark contrast to recent years, Sporting have made a flying start to the season while both Benfica and Porto have dropped unexpected points in the early rounds of the new campaign. As a result, Sporting are four points clear at the top of the table.

The new signings at Alvalade have settled quickly, coach Rúben Amorim has a tactical plan that is working, and the Lions – unlike Benfica, Porto and Braga – have no European football to distract them from carefully preparing for their next Liga match every week.

Are the ingredients in place for Sporting to end an 18-year wait for a championship triumph? PortuGOAL analyses Sporting’s title credentials.

John — I’m not a typical diehard Portuguese club supporter. I like Benfica, others can like whoever they want and I respect that. The ultras on both sides make me sick. Anyway, (if a fan can help me on this), as an outsider looking in, I feel like Sportings problem over the years is ownership making qu......

Angelo — I once dreamt a dream that Sporting won back the title. Then awoke to a mouse stealing away my last crumb of bread. As I sat there contemplating my misery, I realized that there's hope in dreams. For, I support Sporting. Not because I think Sporting is ever going to win, but to support Sporting.......

Angelo — I, myself, am a diehard Sportinguista. I have ridden Linha Verde many times to Campo Grande despite living in the US and having most of my family root for Benfica. Yet even I have to admit the futility of Sporting. "O e humble Sporting, may You rise from the ashes like a Phoenix" Now, back to what ......

Undefeated Sporting still not favoured to win the Primeira Liga

Sporting CP who sits unbeaten atop of the table and won both of their last league matches by four goals to nil, away versus Vitoria de Guimaraes and home to Tondela, but are only the third favourites to win the league at the end of the season according to Fivethirthyeight’s projected end of season standings based on simulations of the remaining matches.

Historically football analysis has been the domain of pundits and talking heads on TV, however there has been a strong trend the last decade towards analysing football performances in a quantitative way.

Portugal beat Netherlands 2-1 in final 2021 U21 Euro qualifier

Portugal beat Netherlands 2-1 as the 2021 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers came to a close in Portimão. Fábio Vieira scored both goals for Rui Jorge’s side who will gain plenty of confidence by beating a Dutch outfit that had proved unstoppable.

Thomas Pinto — Spot on Matthew with your assessment of Pedro Neto....

Two-goal Dias gets Portugal back on winning track

Croatia 2-3 Portugal

The Seleção rounded off their Nations League campaign with a 3-2 win against Croatia in Split, in a matched marked by a poor playing surface and defensive mistakes from both teams.

The home side took a first-half lead through Mateo Kovacic, but the game changed when Croatia’s Marko Rog picked up a second yellow card and was sent off shortly after the break. Two quick goals followed for Portugal through Dias and João Félix, but a fine strike by Kovacic seemed to have earned Croatia a draw.

Rúben Dias had other ideas. The Manchester City defender, who had never previously scored for his country, showed good awareness to notch his second goal of the game with a last-minute winner.

Angelo — We have a chance with Santos. God help us when he leaves. Kante scored after we over extended ourselves on the attack. We came out that second half aggressive and exposed. Santos knows what he is doing. I hope he isn't listening to any of your nonsense....

Nishanth Dsouza — Even I wasn't interested in watching this match after the loss against France. The team is pretty much work in progress. Players have a lot to learn, especially about the effectiveness and efficiency. Some impressive performance in the early stages of tournament, and the neutral fans kept hyping up ......

Sebs — Fonte and R.Semedo are two disasters waiting to happen. We can’t go into a tournament with these guys. Everyone has known for years the centerback position could come to bite us in the ass and yet Santos has done nothing to address it. March friendlies should be used to try new CBs. Pepe, Dias, D......