• Joao Palhinha

João Palhinha scored for the third time this season to earn Tottenham Hotspur a dramatic late point against Vítor Pereira’s Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

Palhinha’s brilliantly-taken finish came in the 93rd minute in the capital, prolonging Pereira’s wait for a first victory of the campaign. However, Palhinha admitted the goal did not mask his overall frustration at dropping two points home.

Wolves, who came into the game having suffered five defeats in five matches, led through Santiago Bueno’s 54th-minute opener. Spurs struggled to create opportunities after the setback and appeared to be headed for defeat, until the ball dropped to Palhinha on the edge of the box and he steered a perfect finish into the far corner.

“I feel glad to score these goals,” he said after the match. “The coach is demanding for me to sometimes be more in the box. And these goals happen because I’m there. If I’m not too far from the box I can get chances. Today I scored a good goal. But if you ask me if I would change the goal for a victory, I would do it.

The late, late equaliser from Joao Palhinha 🙌 pic.twitter.com/smrAIokrBG

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 27, 2025

“We did a really good first half and when we suffered the goal, we started to drop a lot. We didn’t have the patience in the right moments when we needed to find a good way to score. We need to be much more calm in these moments. That will be key for us because we will not start all the games winning. When we go behind we need to be much calmer on the ball.

“It was important to get the draw, but we know these types of games will decide where we finish in May. It’s mandatory to win these games. Today we gave everything. We fought until the last moment, everyone on the pitch, trying to score. But it’s a sad draw in my opinion, we wished for more from this game.”

Pereira was also disappointed with the outcome, but praised the efforts of his players in securing their first point of the season. “Congratulations to my team, to my players, we deserved the three points, but football is football,” he said.

“Football sometimes is not fair and in the last minute we conceded the goal. But keeping this spirit, playing in the way that we play in the second half, we will get our points.

“We were the best team in the second half. In my opinion, we deserved to win, but that is football. I need to keep my balance because it is very difficult to concede a goal in the last minute, but football is what it is.”

By @SeanGillen9

• Matheus Nunes

Portugal international Matheus Nunes scored an important goal this weekend as Manchester City enjoyed a big win over Burnley in the Premier League.

The former Sporting man put City 2-1 up on the hour mark, with the sides having gone into the break level at 1-1. The strike – Nunes’ first of the season – was important in giving City the edge in a match which was closer than the scoreline suggests, with the home side scoring two of their goals in stoppage time.

Following the final whistle, City boss Pep Guardiola spoke of the important of having Nunes’ attributes at right-back, where he is often deployed. Despite arriving at the Etihad Stadium as a central midfielder from Wolverhampton Wanderers two years ago, Nunes has become more accustomed to featuring at full-back.

Nunes with the volley 💥 pic.twitter.com/sHGOdXjrq1

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 27, 2025

“We need Nunes’ physicality,” said Guardiola on Saturday.

“We need that courage and his pace and the energy he has and with Josko, him and Khusanov before we have incredible legs to go backwards. 

“Burnley played long balls, second balls and in transitions [Nunes] can help a lot.

“He’s a midfield player so we needed him to have the vision to play good passes and do good assists. I encourage him to try to do it again and again.”

Related article: Portugal’s Matheus Nunes “not clever enough” for midfield – Guardiola

By @SeanGillen9

• Nuno Espirito Santo

Portuguese boss Nuno Espírito Santo is back in club management just three weeks after leaving Nottingham Forest, having been appointed manager of fellow Premier League side West Ham United.

Nuno has signed a three-year contract with the London club, where he took his first training session on Saturday afternoon. The former Porto man replaced Graham Potter, whose departure was announced shortly beforehand, after the team achieved just three points from their opening five matches.

“I am very pleased to be here and very proud to be representing West Ham United,” Nuno said upon his unveiling. “My objective is to work hard to get the very best from the team and ensure that we are as competitive as we possibly can be. The work has already started and I am looking forward to the challenge that is ahead.”

Nuno left Forest earlier this season after a bust-up with the club’s board, which the 51-year-old Portuguese made public during press interviews. It marked an unsavoury end to a tenure which saw Nuno guide Forest back to European football after a 29-year wait.

In his fourth job in the Premier League, Nuno will count on a Portuguese in his ranks at West Ham in the shape of midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who arrived in the summer for €46m. Nuno’s first match in charge comes on Monday evening, when the Hammers travel to play Everton.

By @SeanGillen9

Related article: “There will be a resolution” – Nottingham Forest manager Nuno hoping to repair board rift

• Nuno Mendes
• Vitinha

Portugal midfielder Vitinha was recognised for his superb performances with Paris Saint-Germain last season by being named 3rd best player at the Ballon d’Or awards on Monday evening.

Vitinha’s PSG teammate Ousmane Dembele was the winner at this year’s ceremony in Paris, while Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal was runner-up. Fellow Seleção stars Nuno Mendes and João Neves finished 10th and 19th respectively, having helped PSG finally lift the Champions League, as well as Portugal clinch the Nations League in the summer.

“3rd best in the world!” Vitinha posted on social media. “I’m privileged!”

“I’m fortunate to do what I love most every day, supported by a family I love and incredible friends.

“Reaching this level is unbelievable.

“Congratulations to our dream team, which was the best of the year yesterday, and, without a doubt, congratulations to my friend @o.dembele7, who is truly the best player in the world!

“Is it hard to do better than this year? Yes, it is. But I don’t want to stop wanting more.”

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who had to settle for second place, was awarded the Men’s Kopa Trophy, which is issued to the best performing under-21 player. Former Benfica man João Neves finished in 3rd place, while FC Porto prodigy Rodrigo Mora was rewarded for his emergence with 8th spot.

At last year’s awards, the highest-placed Portuguese was defender Rúben Dias who ranked 23rd, with Vitinha in 27th having emerged as one of Europe’s best midfielders. In 2023, Bernardo Silva took 9th place after starring for Manchester City in their treble-winning campaign, which saw them lift the Champions League.

Related article: Portugal’s Vitinha is the perfect midfielder - PSG boss Luis Enrique

By @SeanGillen9