Vitória de Guimarães’ UEFA Conference League campaign came to a close in the round of 16 after a 4-0 defeat against Real Betis at Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques.

The Spanish side took the lead in the 5th minute when defensive errors allowed Cédric Bakambu to surge into the box and beat Bruno Varela.

The 33-year-old doubled the advantage in the 20th minute when he headed Aitor Ruibal’s deflected cross into the net.

Vitória fashioned their first chance in the 40th minute and showed some promise after the break, but the tie was over in the 58th minute when Isco released Antony who found the bottom corner.

Antony repaid the favour with ten minutes remaining, presenting Isco with a golden opportunity that he accepted with ease.

It was a disappointing result for the Conquerors who earned a 2-2 draw in the first leg, but they were ultimately outclassed on and off the pitch and can have no complaints.

Vitória goalkeeper Bruno Varela’s week thus far has showcased the good and the bad in Portuguese football, and it could yet encapsulate glory.

Thousands of the Guimarães club’s inimitable fans invaded Porto on Sunday evening to roar their team onto a 2-1 victory at Boavista, thus securing Vitória’s first back-to-back wins in the Primeira Liga since September.

The match was marred however by racial abuse directed at Varela, causing the match to be interrupted in the first half. The 30-year-old stopper went on to help his team collect the three points ahead of their crunch Conference League second-leg showdown against Real Betis this Thursday.

Kevin Fernandes profiles PortuGOAL Figure of the Week Bruno Varela. 

Often cited as the great underachievers of Portuguese football, there are evident signs that Vitória Sport Clube are at last heading towards sustainable growth built on solid foundations. Based in Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal, Vitória’s fanbase might not be the most numerous in a country dominated by three football colossuses, but it is arguably the most passionate in the land.

Zach Lowy takes an in-depth look at where the club are, how they arrived here, and this season’s brilliant European campaign, which could incorporate another golden chapter against Real Betis tomorrow. 

Benfica suffered a 3-1 defeat in Barcelona which ended their Champions League campaign in the round of 16. Following a 1-0 loss in the first leg in Lisboa, the Eagles never looked like overturning the deficit in Spain.

Raphinha opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Lamine Yamal’s miscued effort fell straight into his path. Nicolás Otamendi converted from a corner two minutes later, but that was as good as it got for the Portuguese club.

Yamal did it all himself in the 27th minute when he restored Barcelona’s lead, curling a textbook strike into the top corner. Raphinha finished off a swift counter-attack on the stroke of half-time to put the tie to bed.

Bruno Lage’s side staged a late fight back but it was far too little too late, Barcelona’s superiority on and off the pitch confirmed after their third victory against Benfica in the space of seven weeks.