There were no major surprises as Seleção coach Fernando Santos today announced the players who will represent Portugal in the Final Four of the Nations League, to be disputed in Porto and Guimarães in a fortnight’s time.

Benfica’s teenage sensation João Félix makes the cut, there is a recall for veteran midfielder João Moutinho and Braga striker Dyego Sousa retains his place in the 23-man squad.

As for notable absentees, striker André Silva is dropped after suffering injuries and loss of form in the second half of the season at Sevilla, and Leicester’s player of the year Ricardo Pereira can consider himself unlucky to miss out, with Nélson Semedo chosen as the back-up right-back for João Cancelo. 

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  Jerrold Hewson — is Bruma injured?...
  jon/usa — I don't have any issues with the squad. André Silva and João Mário have been key players throughout the Santos era, but there are now better alternatives in their respective positions. It'll be interesting to see how Santos lines up. I'd love to see a 3-5-2 but we all know that isn't going to h......
  Andrew/NY — Here is my attacking lineup. Patricio Semedo, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro Moutinho Bernardo, Fernandes Felix, Jota, Ronaldo...

The trophies and individual awards continue to pile up for Portuguese footballers across Europe as the honours are handed out in various competitions across the continent. Latest recipients include Manuel Fernandes and his Lokomotiv Moscow side, who won the Russian Cup on Wednesday evening, while there was individual recognition for Vitorino Antunes and Bernardo Silva in Spain and England respectively.

Meanwhile, Portugal boasts no fewer than five managers in the Asian Champions League, with all successfully making their way through to the knockout stage after the last matchday of the group phase. As transfer rumours continue to gather pace, Mário Rui is reportedly in talks to make the move from Napoli to AC Milan in Italy.

On 24 May, the FIFA U20 World Cup will kick off in Lublin, Poland. Portugal’s U20 team will be there hoping to battle it out and ultimately take home the trophy, a title the Portugal’s U20s have won twice before (1989, 1991).

The 1991 squad featured stars such as Luís Figo, Rui Costa and Jorge Costa. Fast forward to 2019 and Portugal are on the brink of another Golden Generation.

Aaron Barton takes a closer look at why this young Seleção side are considered one of the favourites ahead of the U20 World Cup. 

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  jon/usa — Portugal managed to win the U19 euros last summer without the likes of Dalot, Leao, Leite, Gedson, and Florentino which goes to show just how talented this generation really is. I see no reason why they can't go all the way yet again. I'm sure France, Italy, Argentina, etc have quality youngsters, b......

The final weekend of Liga NOS 2018/19 confirmed Benfica to regain the league title from Porto, who did their part by beating their upcoming Taça de Portugal opponents Sporting but the Eagles comfortable win over Santa Clara was the deciding factor.

The only other major business to attend to was down at the bottom as Tondela and Chaves squared off in a relegation showdown. Chaves only needed a draw to confirm their top flight status but were blown away by final day specialists Tondela, who flew out of the blocks and ultimately trounced their opponents. Forward Jhon Murillo was in outstanding form throughout and he is PortuGOAL’s final Figure of the Week for the campaign.

As the European football seasons draw to a close across the continent, Portuguese players abroad continue to make the headlines. Bernardo Silva registered two assists as Manchester City hammered Watford 6-0 in the FA Cup final to complete a domestic treble, while the German Bundesliga was decided on the final day with Renato Sanches scoring to help Bayern Munich to glory.

France’s Ligue 1 has one matchday remaining, but Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco are all but safe after a much-needed win over Amiens. On the goals front, Nani continues to sparkle in MLS with Orlando City and Tiago Rodrigues ensured the Bulgarian title remains closely-contested with a crucial winner for CSKA Sofia.

As expected, Benfica swept aside Santa Clara at the Estádio da Luz this afternoon to become Portuguese champions in 2018/19. Goals from Seferovic (x2), João Félix and Rafa Silva meant Porto’s comeback victory against Sporting was in vain as the Eagles finished on 87 points, two ahead of their northern rivals.

It completes a remarkable turnaround for Benfica. When losing 2-0 to Portimonense in January, the Lisbon giants dropped to 4th place in the table and were 7 points behind leaders Porto. Coach Rui Vitória was sacked, Bruno Lage was put in charge, initially on a temporary basis… and the rest is history.

Here are five reasons why Benfica’s supporters will be celebrating long and hard in the Portuguese capital tonight. 

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  Monah — Dear portugoal, so grateful for what you have Putting throughout all of these years. Amazing job everyone. I would like to request an article pertaining to the possible transfers these talented youngsters have been put in link to, mainly the Benfica guys, the likes of Joao Félix, Joao Filipe, Gedso......
  Andre/UK — @jon/usa...this has seemingly become a tactic of Porto in recent years to keep whining and whining about refs, publicly attacking Benfica day after day, all season long. That Francisco Marques (who alongside Bruno de Carvalho is possibly the biggest imbecile I've ever seen in the world of football) ......
  Helder — Benfica would be celebrating the sixth championship if it wasn't for the football surroundings....

Benfica have claimed their 37th league title with a comprehensive 4-1 victory at home to Santa Clara, this Saturday, as the Primeira Liga season drew to a close.

The Eagles required just a point to nail champion status, meanwhile anything but a win for Porto in their Clássico versus Sporting would also take the title back to the red half of Lisbon.

Bruno Lage’s men went one better, however, turning on the style at the Estádio da Luz with a 4-1 triumph. Porto took the bragging rights against the Lions with a 2-1 turnaround in the opposing game, meanwhile there was one final win for Sporting de Braga to pick up in their encounter versus Portimonense. PortuGOAL rounds up the top action from the final day of the season.

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  jon/usa — We were 7 points behind Porto, languishing in 4th place -- all hope seemed lost. Enter Bruno Lage. What that man accomplished was nothing short of extraordinary. We went up to Guimaraes and beat Vitoria, we went to the Alvalade and demolished Sporting, and then, in the game that would ultimately dec......

Rui Vitória is the latest Portuguese to celebrate a trophy after Al-Nassr were crowed Saudi Arabian Pro League champions on Thursday, ending a recent spell of domination by three-time champions Al-Hilal.

The former Benfica boss, who left the Estadio da Luz at the start of January following 3.5 years at the helm, took control of Al-Nassr shortly after leaving Lisbon and has successfully overthrown leaders Al-Nassr to regain the title for his new club.

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  ayman — Thank you so much for this article All alnassr fans thank you for this kind of news....
  —-Z—- — Who cares about winning the Saudi League. Didn’t read LOLz. Another article about Bruno Fernandes would be much more preferable....

André Silva’s turbulent loan spell with Sevilla appears set for an acrimonious end after the Portugal international striker was forced to deny claims from the Spanish club’s head coach Joaquin Caparros that he was dishonest about his fitness.

The futures of many Portuguese will be speculated upon over the coming weeks and months, and Seleção full-backs Nélson Semedo and João Cancelo have seen their names appear in recent newspaper reports, while goalkeeper Jose Sá has ended any doubts over his whereabouts next season by signing a permanent deal with Olympiakos in Greece.

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  —-Z—- — Portuguese strikers superior to Andre Silva since 1995: 1. Pauleta 2. Nuno Gomes 3. Domingos Paciencia 4. Eder 5. Jorge Cadete 6. Makukula 7. Edinho 8. Andre Silva...
  torpiano — Sadly I think Andre Silva is just a slightly better version of Helder Postiga. A striker with talent but very fragile confidence. A player that needs a coach who can put his arm around him. Because of this I don't think he will make it at the top level and he'll end up leaving Milan for a team in Tu......
  Brian/RI/US — Andre Silva’s case is an unfortunately something some young Portuguese talents will go through. There are some individuals who have the talent and desire to achieve great things regardless of where they go, but only a select few have these qualities. I’m afraid the financial situation in the Por......

Wolverhampton Wanderers held their annual end of season awards on Tuesday evening, with the club’s Portuguese contingent – led by Player of the Season João Moutinho – dominating the prizes after a highly successful year for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side.

Meanwhile, veteran Portugal defender Bruno Alves was left to count the cost of his red card during Parma’s defeat to Bologna on Monday night, with the Serie A side still not sure of safety on their return campaign to the top flight.

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  Danny DaSilva — I would've left too. Only losers stay on at Sporting. --Z-- is sexually frustrated and that's why he posts here ten times per day. His "9/10 Italian wife" cheats on him. He just doesn't want to admit it....
  —-Z—- — Joao moutinho definitely deserved this award. He has been immense. I told people wolves would finish in the top 8 and I was correct as per usual. However, he has always been a snake. I met him while in Lisbon back in 2007 we’ll he was still at sporting. He confided in me that he was trying to neg......

More Articles ...

  1. From Monaco to Manchester, Bernardo conquers all before him
  2. The World at his Feet
  3. Portuguese Abroad: Bernardo champion in England; Mário Rui brilliance saves Napoli; Quaresma stunner; Jardim insists “there is no fire” as Monaco freefall continues; Sérgio Oliveira lifts Greek Cup; Caixinha’s Mexico disappointment
  4. PortuGOAL Figure of the Week: Davidson double seals Europa League return for Vitória Guimarães
  5. Victorious Benfica made to wait for title following big Porto win, as Sporting draw and Braga crash to defeat

      

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“After the final whistle, I saw what I most wanted to see - the joy of our fans and our players.”

Bruno Lage
(Benfica coach after title-clinching victory against Santa Clara) 
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