Portuguese Football in English
Dragons’ transfer business goes into overdrive
After a quiet summer in the transfer market, FC Porto made a series of significant moves over the weekend as the new administration led by André Villas-Boas readjusts Vítor Bruno’s squad for the 2024/25 season.
Tom Kundert rounds up the latest incomings and outgoings at the Estádio do Dragão.
Benfica have made it back-to-back victories in the Primeira Liga after defeating Estrela da Amadora 1-0 at the Estádio da Luz, this Saturday night.
An Orkun Kökçü strike settled the difference between the two Lisbon clubs as the Turkey international grabbed the Eagles’ first and only goal of the half in the 19th minute.
Benfica mounted the pressure in the second period in search of doubling their advantage, but one goal was all Roger Schmidt and his men required to register win number two of the season.
FC Porto have joined Sporting at the top of the Primeira Liga table after defeating Rio Ave 2-0 at the Estádio do Dragão, this Saturday evening.
The Dragons blitzed to a 1-0 lead, scoring after just 19 seconds of football following Galeno’s early opener.
Porto’s lead was doubled by the on-form Nico González, finding the bottom corner in the 30th minute and setting Vítor Bruno’s men onto a record of three wins from three league games.
Sporting Clube de Portugal maintained their perfect start in the Primeira after crushing Farense 5-0 at Estádio do Algarve.
The Lions were dominant early on with the breakthrough coming in the 27th minute, Viktor Gyökeres picking up a loose clearance and punching the back of the net.
The Swedish striker would double the tally before the break, Lucas Áfrico conceding a penalty that the Swedish striker sent past Velho.
José Mota’s attempts to stop the onslaught were futile, Gyökeres securing his hat-trick in the 66th minute when Marco Moreno left him alone to smash a left footed effort past the helpless goalkeeper.
Áfrico headed Nuno Santos’ cross into his own net three minutes later before another substitute wrapped it up in the 81st minute. Marcus Edwards went on a long solo run, dribbling past two helpless defenders and picking his spot to complete the rout.
Portugoal’s Matthew Marshall reports at Estádio do Algarve
August is perhaps the hardest month for football teams. Squads are still being tweaked, players have not reached peak fitness, yet the majority of fans expect their club to hit the ground running.
We’ve seen a mixed bag so far with some teams continuing their form from the end of last season mainly due to keeping the majority of their squad together and others struggling with the number of new faces at the club.
Barney Carter-Phillips has the PortuGOAL preview of the third round of matches in the Primeira Liga.
