Nuno Mendes struck the winner for PSG (Getty Images)
There were some big goals scored by Portuguese in Europe’s major leagues this weekend, with Seleção superstar Nuno Mendes leading the way with a dramatic winner for 10-man Paris Saint-Germain at Strasbourg in France.
Mendes the matchwinner
Ligue 1 title holders PSG came from behind to win 2-1 at the Stade de la Meinau on Sunday, but their accomplishment was made even more impressive given star right-back Achraf Hakimi was sent off with the score at 1-1 with fifteen minutes remaining. However, Mendes once again showed his prowess in big moments by arriving at the back post to nod in Warren Zaire-Emery’s cross in the 80th minute.
The goal of the weekend belonged to Goncalo Guedes, who scored a superb long-range effort for Real Sociedad in the Basque derby at Athletic Bilbao. Guedes’ goal – his fourth in his last nine matches – gave visitors Sociedad the lead in the first half at the Estadio San Mamés, but Athletic salvaged a draw thanks to an 88th-minute leveller by Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta.
In Germany, Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich dropped points for the second week running, following a 2-2 draw at Hamburg. Portuguese midfielder Fábio Vieira – on loan from Arsenal – opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Hamburg, who ultimately settled for a point against a Bayern side without Raphaël Guerreiro as he recovers from a minor calf strain.
Vitinha goal in vain
Another ex-Braga man Vitinha was denied a crucial point in Serie A on Friday evening. Lazio beat Genoa 3-2 in Rome with a desperately late penalty in the 100th minute. The blow to Genoa was particularly felt by Vitinha, who had completed his side’s comeback from 2-0 down by grabbing an equaliser to make it 2-2 on 75 minutes.
On Monday night, Mallorca produced an impressive showing to hammer Sevilla 4-1 in La Liga. Portuguese midfielder Samú Costa scored arguably the game’s vital goal, putting the hosts 2-1 up early in the second half for his 4th league goal of the season. The strike came amid reports of Real Madrid paying increasingly close attention to the 25-year-old former Braga man, who is expected to make a summer transfer.
Fernandes was vital again for United (Getty Images)
Manchester United made it three wins in a row under interim manager Michael Carrick on Sunday against Fulham, with captain Bruno Fernandes once again pivotal in the 3-2 victory over Marco Silva’s side.
United blew a 2-0 lead on 85 minutes to end up level at 2-2 in stoppage time, only for a wonderful feint and cross by Fernandes to lay on a dramatic winner for Benjamin Sesko. Portugal man Fernandes had earlier provided the set-piece delivery from which veteran Brazilian midfielder Casemiro opened the scoring.
Fernandes is now on 12 assists for the season in the Premier League, five ahead of second-place Rayan Cherki, who has earned rave reviews at rivals Manchester City. The all-time record for assists in a single season stands at 20, which is shared by Thierry Henry of Arsenal (2002-03) and Kevin de Bruyne (2019-20) of Manchester City.
So how likely is it that Fernandes challenges the record? Based on his seasonal tally of 12 assists from 21 matches, should Fernandes maintain such a ratio for the last rounds – he would end the campaign with another eight assists, therefore reaching 20 and equalling the record.
However, if we take Fernandes’ form over the last 14 matches – he has averaged 0.86 assist per game. Maintaining such a consistent output for the next 14 showings would see the former Sporting man end on 24 assists, which would comfortably set a new record. Remaining so prolific in creation is a big ask, but if one man can threaten the record books it is the United skipper.
A Manchester United player has never topped the category at the end of a Premier League season.
Silva left frustrated by VAR interference
United’s latest victory was tough on Fulham, who gave a typically competitive performance at Old Trafford. Much of the pre-match media coverage focused on a narrative that United would be tested by a more defensive opponent after recent wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, but United boss Carrick always warned such a notion was a false premise given the ambition Fulham play with.
And so it proved. Silva’s Cottagers ended up with 58% possession against United – more than Arsenal recorded when hosting the Red Devils at the Emirates Stadium last week. Fulham made the match uncomfortable for United and despite going 2-0 down to goals in each half by Casemiro and Cunha, the visitors rallied through ex-Benfica man Raúl Jiménez’ penalty (85’) and a wonderful solo goal from substitute Kevin in the 91st minute.
Sesko’s 93rd-minute winner, wonderfully orchestrated by Fernandes, broke Fulham hearts, but Silva was more irritated by United’s opener. Referee John Brooks initially gave a penalty for a foul by Jorge Cuenca, who slid in on Matheus Cunha, but after VAR insisted the Fulham defender got the ball, it was determined there was a shirt pull outside the area and a free-kick was given, from which Fernandes teed up Casemiro to head United in front.
Silva was irritated by VAR (Getty Images)
“Emotional game, good game of football with different moments,” Silva said during his post-match press conference. “I really liked the way we built our offensive moments. Man United tried to press us high, but we were always able to break that pressure and being brave with quality and good dynamic to break it was impressive, very good from us I have to say.
“They scored in a moment that is difficult to talk about. We have to defend [the free-kick] much better, but the reason the free-kick was there? My God. Second half, different story. We took control of the game. We switched off for one moment and what a goal by Matheus [Cunha] and we concede a second.
“But what a way the team reacted! Great way we reacted. We pushed Man United back completely. We saw the last 25 minutes, Man United winning 2-0 at home defending their box. Even so, we created some good moments. We scored two, had a disallowed goal. Then a tough moment for us, good goal for United.
“But it’s the ambition of this team. Probably we needed to be more mature after we scored and close the space a bit more. Bruno made a big assist, they scored. It’s tough. I believe we deserved much more, football is like that. Great performance from us, our second half was incredible.
“The first goal? The penalty was given. Bad, bad, bad decision from John Brooks. The penalty was given for the tackle, clearly. The pull that they found after was 3-4 seconds before the penalty was given. It was a really bad decision from John Brooks because it was [a tackle] on the ball and it went for a corner.
“The feedback we got on the touchline that moment was that John Brooks would go to the screen because VAR opinion was it was not a penalty. Then comes a completely different decision and they give a free-kick for a pull. It’s the first time this season that a penalty was given and VAR decided to give something for completely different incident with a free-kick.
“It’s the first time we have all seen that. This season, last season, two seasons ago. Let’s see if it will come more in the future.”
A year after the Paulo Fonseca project began, Lyon are showing renewed consistency and convincing results. Blending experience and youth, the team is rebuilding around a clear vision, with the goal of returning to the Champions League - and perhaps even winning a trophy.
Paulo Fonseca is threatening to bring the glory days back to Lyon, and continues his ‘Midas touch’ as regards developing young players. (Photo: Getty Images)
***
Have Lyon finally found a coach capable of leaving a lasting mark on their modern history, like Gerard Houllier or Paul Le Guen?
After a string of disappointments under some big names – Laurent Blanc, Rudi Garcia, Peter Bosz, Fabio Grosso, and Sylvinho – Lyon seem to have regained a sense of direction under Paulo Fonseca. The Portuguese manager has restored order and brought sporting stability back to one of France’s major clubs.
In this calmer environment, the club and coach can celebrate their first anniversary together with a smile.
“When the club hired me, they knew the philosophy I had. I like to play attacking, intense football where the real star is the group,” Fonseca told Flashscore.
“So since the beginning of this season, we’ve been working hard in training to become more united, to work for each other. And if we do this, we can fight for the top spots in Ligue 1.”
Already making history
Under his leadership, Lyon boast a 64.6% win rate in official matches (31 wins in 48 games), the best a coach has held in the club’s history, just ahead of Houllier’s 63.9%. This figure is all the more symbolic given the lasting impact the French coach had in the early 2000s, which remains a benchmark for the club.
The parallel is striking: Lyon are currently on a nine-game winning streak in all competitions, something not seen since the 2006/2007 season, when Houllier was in charge. And, in 29 official matches, Lyon hadn’t reached 20 wins this quickly since that same season, when they did so in 25 games.
“I’m very happy with the response of the players and my staff, and I know the results we are seeing now are due to this mentality and this philosophy since the start of the season,” he said.
The stats are looking good, but the medium-term goal remains the same: to win a trophy, especially for a club of Lyon’s stature.
Eyes on the prize
The last major trophy came in the summer of 2012, and since then, the Trophee des Champions is the only addition to the cabinet. It’s been a long and frustrating wait for Lyon fans, who are eager to see new silverware in the club’s display cases.
Of course, the context has changed, with PSG now utterly dominant in a far cry from the more balanced landscape of the early 2010s. But given the club’s current form, especially in Europe, why not dream?
Indeed, by finishing top of their Europa League group with 21 points from eight matches, Lyon secured top spot this Thursday. This achievement was far from a given, considering the strength and competitiveness of the Europa League, with teams like FC Porto, Aston Villa, Roma, Real Betis and Feyenoord in the mix.
The Coupe de France is also part of the club’s quest for silverware. Paris Saint-Germain were knocked out as early as the round of 32, opening the door for others. This gives real hope of a season to remember as Lyon prepare to face Laval in the round of 16.
“We are obviously focusing on each round as it comes,” said Fonseca.
“We were very happy with our performance in the league phase of the Europa League and we are very proud to have finished in first place. This is a tough competition.
“All I can promise is that we will try to make it as far as we can in Coupe de France as well. We’ll see what our opponents can do, but I can promise everyone we will give our best to make it as far as we can.”
However, the Portuguese coach remains grounded and knows that the club’s top priority is still qualifying for the Champions League. That goal is well within reach, given the results so far and the current momentum, boosted in particular by the arrival of the new star Endrick.
However, a demanding second half of the season awaits, with tough away trips to Strasbourg, Marseille, Paris, and Toulouse on the horizon.
“This is a very competitive league and there are many teams who are fighting for the top spots,” Fonseca stated. “So all we can do on our side is try our hardest, depend on our work ethic, not be afraid to attack and to dominate games when possible.”
Fonseca’s winning formula
Compatriot Afonso Moreira is just one of a host of young players Fonseca is developing with conspicuous success at Lyon (Photo: Getty Images)
Just as he did at Lille, Fonseca has never hesitated to rely on young players to drive his project forward. The Portuguese coach has built a reputation as a bold developer of talent, unafraid to throw youngsters in at the deep end, a hallmark of his career from the very start.
“The way to develop young players is to give them the confidence and the belief that they can make a difference and they don’t need to be afraid of making mistakes,” he said.
“We’ve had great performances from several young players this season, and I expect more of the same, because when there is confidence and there is belief and there is courage, then there are all the ingredients they need to be successful.”
The Lyon squad is built on a careful balance between experienced leaders like Corentin Tolisso and Clinton Mata and a rising generation led by Tyler Morton, Malick Fofana, Ernest Nuamah, Tanner Tessmann, Adam Karabec, and compatriot Afonso Moreira. As is often the case at Lyon, academy graduates also play a key role, such as Khalis Merah and Remi Humbert, two of the four scorers against PAOK.
“Our academy is doing outstanding work. It allows us to bring young players into training and get them ready for our game style.
“We have had many young players who have been training with us regularly and deserve the opportunity to play, not only because of their talent, but also because of their hard work. And the longer they are with us, the faster they will develop and be prepared for the intensity of the competitions we are involved in.”
Endrick brings “a new dimension”
In this spirit, the signing of Endrick from Real Madrid fits perfectly with the coach’s philosophy. His impact is already clear - his first career hat-trick against Metz is proof that youth is at the heart of Lyon’s project.
"Endrick is an explosive player. He can change a game and he has given us a new dimension up front," said Fonseca of the teenager.
“He’s very mobile and he wants to work for the team. It’s not just about scoring goals; he is creating them for others as well.
“He fits in very well with the group, is working hard, and I’m happy with his performances.”
This approach is also a result of the bold decisions made during the last summer transfer window. Alexandre Lacazette, Thiago Almada, Georges Mikautadze, Rayan Cherki, Nemanja Matic, and Lucas Perri all left, forcing the club to start afresh.
Far from holding Paulo Fonseca back, this situation seems to suit him perfectly. Used to rebuilding projects, the Portuguese coach has been able to shape a squad in his own image, true to his principles and vision of the game.
One year on, the future looks bright for Lyon. Just into the second year of the Fonseca project, the club already have solid foundations, a clear identity, and exciting prospects.
The road ahead is still long, but one thing is certain: Lyon are now moving forward with purpose, led by a coach who has truly made his mark.
Benfica’s dramatic victory over Real Madrid and Sporting’s highly impressive win at Athletic Bilbao stole most of the headlines, but there were goals by a trio of Luso exports representing clubs abroad as the curtain closed on the league stage.
Vitinha shows class as PSG held
Holders Paris Saint-Germain had to settle for a place in the play-offs after they were held 1-1 by Newcastle United at the Parc des Princes. As a result of the draw, PSG finish in 11th place, costing them a top 8 finish which would have been secured had they managed to beat the English side.
PSG could have gone ahead inside four minutes when a controversial penalty awarded for handball was missed by Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembélé. However, within a few minutes the hosts’ star midfielder Vitinha did break the deadlock, slotting into the bottom corner from the edge of the area for his 5th goal in this season’s competition.
Nuno Mendes and João Neves joined Vitinha in Luis Enrique’s starting line-up, while Gonçalo Ramos entered the action on 70 minutes. By that time, Newcastle had levelled through Joe Willock (45’) and no further goals means PSG face the prospect of a play-off tie against either domestic rivals Monaco or Qarabag of Azerbaijan.
"We were the best team on the pitch, we just couldn't score."
PSG goalscorer Vitinha reflects on what PSG need to do better for the rest of their #UCL campaign 👇 pic.twitter.com/7LyxyFss7J
Olympiacos snatched a spot in the play-offs thanks to an impressive 2-1 victory over Ajax in the Dutch capital Amsterdam. Portuguese forward Gelson Martins scored the opener for the Greeks, while countryman Chiquinho provided the assist for Santiago Hezze’s winner as Olympiacos set up a meeting with either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta.
Visitors Olympiacos, who started the night outside the play-off places, went ahead early in the second half through Gelson, who used his backheel to initiate a wonderful one-two with Mehdi Taremi before finishing well into the bottom corner. Kasper Dolberg equalised from the penalty spot, but Argentine forward Hezze was on-hand to nod in a 79th-minute winner from Chiquinho’s corner and earn a priceless win.
Moment to remember in London for Jorginho
The final Portuguese goal of the night did not earn any points, let alone qualification, but provided a memorable moment for Braga-born forward Jorginho of Kairat Almaty. It was a case of top vs bottom in London, as the Kazakhstani side travelled to the English capital to play Arsenal, who were protecting a 100% record in 1st place.
The Gunners, who also lead the English Premier League, duly won the contest, but the 3-2 scoreline was a lot closer than many had anticipated, especially given Kairat had recorded just one point from their seven matches. The visitors arrived at the Emirates Stadium with two Portuguese in their line-up: defender Luis Mata, who came through the ranks at Porto, and forward Jorginho, formerly of lower league outfits Merelinense, Fafe and Pevidém.
While the scoreline ended in a respectable defeat, there was a moment to treasure for Jorginho early in the match. Ex-Sporting man Viktor Gyökeres put Arsenal ahead in the 3rd minute, but Kairat were awarded a penalty just a few minutes later. In front of the 50,000-plus crowd, Jorginho kept his nerve to send Kepa the wrong way and slot home, drawing delirious celebrations from him and his teammates.
Portuguese goal tally
The league phase ended with 15 Portuguese scoring goals for clubs outside Portugal. They are:
Nani will resume his career in Aktobe (Getty Images)
Portuguese football legend Nani has decided to come out of retirement to undertake a position with Kazakhstani side FC Aktobe.
Nani will return to the pitch as a member of the playing squad, while also taking up a role in promoting the club and the country’s football. The decision comes a little over a year after Nani announced the end of his glittering career after a short spell with boyhood club Estrela da Amadora.
“I am very excited about this new project and the possibility of helping to develop football at the club and in Kazakhstan,” Nani said on Sunday upon being presented. “FC Aktobe has excellent facilities, and they welcomed me very well. I feel that together we can work to elevate the club, not only in its country, but also internationally.”
Aktobe finished 5th in the Kazakhstani league last term, but hope acquiring a hugely recognisable figure will help the development of the club and football in the country. Nani will have a dual role of representing the team on the pitch and undertaking duties to assist with the growth of the game in the region.
The new Kazakhstani season begins in March and will run until October.
