A much-rotated Sporting made it 17 straight victories at home in all competitions with a 4-2 victory in an entertaining encounter against Santa Clara.
Sporting coach Rui Borges selected an unfamiliar lineup with injuries, suspensions and some long journeys on the recent international break necessitating changes to the usual starters, especially considering Sporting’s next match is the small matter of a Champions League quarter-final match against Arsenal on Tuesday.
Santa Clara have improved markedly since Emanuel Petit was appointed their new manager, drawing two and winning three of their last five matches. Tom Kundert reports from Alvalade.
Islanders strike first
When Gustavo Klishmahn rifled a firm shot into the roof the net following a corner after just three minutes the Azoreans must have been confident their good run would be extended.
Midway through the first half the hosts equalised when Geny Catamo was fouled by Guilherme Romão for a penalty, which Pedro Gonçalves confidently dispatched.
Sporting were now finding their rhythm, Hidemasa Morita denied when only a fantastic full-length save by goalkeeper Gabriel Batista kept out the Japanese midfielder’s header.
Sporting turn on the style
The home side’s pressure was incessant and two excellent team goals shortly before the interval rewarded their attacking volume.
A swift moved in the 39th minute cut through the centre of the Santa Clara defence, capped by a lovely one-two between Daniel Bragança and Rafael Nel, the former scoring for the third game running at Alvalade.
On the day he turned 21 years old, centre-forward Nel was involved again as Sporting scored their third soon afterwards. The youngster showed good tenacity to win the ball and pass to Morita, who dinked a pass towards Trincão, the Portugal international swivelling brilliantly to shoot low across Batista and into the net.
The first half hour of the second half was something of a non-event as Sporting were happy to manage the result and conserve energy, a raft of substitutions by both teams further disrupting the flow of the game.
Late fireworks
But the match still had some explosive action in store for the big crowd of 46,472 in attendance. On 82 minutes Gonçalo Paciência showed twinkling footwork and his eye for goal by dribbling past his marker and smashing the ball into net from a narrow angle to seemingly put the islanders right back into the game.
The visitors’ celebrations were short-lived, however, as VAR chalked off the goal for a foul on Faye by Vinícius in the buildup.
Tempers frayed with some heavy challenges going in and a flurry of yellow cards shown by the referee, but Paciência was not to be denied. After another piece of clever footwork he scored in the 89th minute to set up a nervy stoppage time period of seven minutes for Sporting’s fans.
Souleymane Faye missed a glaring chance to settle Sporting’s nerves when he blazed a glaring chance over the bar. In the dying seconds Rafael Nel showed him how it’s done, finishing clinically after being found by a superb Eduardo Quaresma pass.
Rodrigo Pinho celebrating a goal is commonly seen sight for followers of Portuguese football over the past decade (Photo: Estrela da Amadora Facebook)
Poor weather translated into a downpour of goals at the iconic Reboleira, as Estrela da Amadora thrashed Lisbon neighbours Casa Pia 4-0 – undoubtedly the highlight of Matchweek 27 for the neutral spectator.
Veteran forward Rodrigo Pinho captained the Tricolor and led by example. After opening the scoring with a penalty, he made the game safe on the stroke of half time by scoring to increase the lead to 3-0 thanks to this well-worked move stemming from a poor Casa Pia clearance.
Rising to 13th in the standings, eight points above the automatic relegation spot, will comfort Estrela as they face four of the current top five in their remaining seven fixtures.
Estrela can attribute imminent confirmation of survival to multiple standout performers. Both Jovane Cabral and Sidny Lopes Cabral have featured in this column this season, and veteran striker Rodrigo Pinho becomes the latest Figure of the Week (who himself will ring a bell for the most loyal PortuGOAL readers, Pinho having featured in this column back in September 2020).
Born in Henstedt-Ulzburg, Rodrigo Cunha Pereira de Pinho, just like his father Nando Pinho (who would go on to play for Hamburger SV in Germany, explaining his son’s place of birth), commenced his career at Rio de Janeiro’s Bangu.
Pinho enjoyed his journey through Brazilian football, from Bangu to Cabofriense to Madureira, winning two domestic titles at lower levels outside of the Série A promised lands.
Pinho’s output in the Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro State Championship) for Madureira roused the interest of SC Braga, thus, aged 24, Rodrigol made the common journey for Brazilian footballers over the Atlantic to Portugal to replace the likes of Éder and Zé Luís.
Upon touching down in the north of Portugal, Pinho said: “I’ve joined a major European club and I’m living a dream come true.”
The Braga debacle
Initially placed in the Braga B set-up due to the preferences of José Peseiro, Rodrigo Pinho was unable to fire on all cylinders throughout his tenure at Braga. Despite scoring five goals in eight games for the B team, minutes were sparce in the first team and he went out on loan to Nacional da Madeira, but did not trouble the selectors.
After a brief spell back at Braga he moved definitively back to Madeira, but this time to Marítimo where his career took off.
The Madeiran dream duo
42 goal contributions in 118 appearances may seem relatively modest, but to the 26-year-old dreaming of success in European football, it was freedom from Braga’s shackles and pure bliss.
For supporters of Marítimo, the partnership with Joel Tageau, especially in the 2017/18 season, was iconic.
From island rivals, Santa Clara and Nacional, to the biggest teams on the mainland – Porto, Sporting, Benfica, Braga and Vitória – Joel, o Cruel and Rodrigol terrorised them all, becoming Marítimo cult heroes.
15 goals in 21 appearances in 2020/21 (Pinho’s most productive campaign) earned a millionaire move to Benfica, despite niggling injuries throughout, the Brazilian doing it all with constant elegance and grace.
Disaster and recovery
An ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear ended Pinho’s Benfica career before it ever truly launched. Only one goal was scored in three matches before the centre-forward was ruled out for six months with an injury that can alter the career trajectory of any major athlete.
Subsequently, Coritiba parted with a substantial fee to bring Pinho back to Brazil, but the move was far from a success due to fitness issues.
After a few difficult years, historic outfit Estrela in multicultural Amadora became the environment chosen to nurse Rodrigol back into regular minutes in top-level football.
Plucky Pinho
Rodrigo Pinho was never the most clinical forward in Portugal, but he made a name for himself through a fusion of elegance, intelligence and improvision.
Rodrigo’s movement to escape markers, smooth combinations with teammates when facing goal and ability to make the difference with moments of individual brilliance cemented the name ‘Pinho’ in Liga Portugal folklore.
Forget ‘Barclaysmen’. Pinho is a proper ‘Tugãoman’.
He hadn’t scored in over three months, but the 34-year-old is back on track for his most productive season since leaving Marítimo in 2021.
PortuGOAL’s latest Figure of the Week is back.
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Honourable mentions from Gameweek 27:
Ibrahima Ba – A well-deserved goal for one of the most promising central defenders emerging in Portuguese football.
Jalen Blesa – Three Man-of-the-Match performances in seven Liga Portugal appearances to revive Rio Ave’s season. Relegation is no longer a threat for the Vilacondenses.
In what was theoretically their toughest match in the title run-in, Porto showed their mettle by coming from behind to beat Braga and keep their comfortable 7-point buffer at the top of the table.
Both Sporting and Benfica had dropped points at the Quarry, and when Rodrigo Zalazar put the hosts in front from the penalty spot in the 54th minute, Porto appeared in grave danger of losing only their second Primeira Liga match all season.
Italian coach Francesco Farioli was quick to react, first bringing on Terem Moffi and William Gomes for Deniz Gül and Pepê, then beefing up his midfield by bringing on Pablo Rosário and Seko Fofana for Gabri Veiga and Alan Varela. The extra muscle in the middle of the pitch and the energy added by the quartet of substitutes made the difference.
In the 69th minute Jakub Kiwior released his young Polish compatriot Oskar Pietuszewski, who got the better of Gabri Martínez, surged into the box and crossed low for Gomes to score.
Ten minutes later and the comeback was complete. From a corner the ball was flicked on by Froholdt to Fofana, who rifled a shot through traffic and into the net.
Braga kept playing their football and Carlos Vicens emptied the bench in an attempt to get into the game but Porto never looked like relinquishing their lead.
With seven matches remaining, Porto are well placed to win their first championship in four years.
Porto coach Francesco Farioli:
“We are the only team who have beaten Braga twice and that says a lot about our performance because they play really good football.
“We did not deserve to be losing 1-0 but the reaction was very positive. There was a lot of character and intensity shown, and the players who came on helped change the game.
“We deserve this result for the effort we put in. I don’t like to celebrate too much, but tonight the players deserve to celebrate because it was a very important victory.”
The short trip north of Lisbon to take on Alverca resulted in a routine 4-1 win to reclaim second place in the standings and keep Sporting’s faint hopes of a third straight Primeira Liga title alive.
Pedro Gonçalves was the star of the show, opening the scoring with a typically precise shot midway through the first half.
Luis Suárez smashed in a second goal shortly after the break, and Geny Catamo made the game safe by rifling a firm shot low into the corner of the net in the 68th minute.
Alverca pulled a goal back through Marezi late on, but Pote had the last word, scoring his second and Sporting’s fourth goal of the game direct from a free-kick.
It was not all good news for Sporting however, as Nuno Santos, who has only recently returned after almost one and a half years out injured, left the pitch in tears in the first half after picking up what appeared a muscle tear.
Benfica may be out of Europe and out of the cups, but 2025/26 may yet prove fruitful for the Eagles who are still alive in the Primeira Liga title race.
A 3-0 win against Vitória this afternoon in Lisbon cut the deficit to leaders Porto to four points, with the Dragons facing a tough assignment in Braga tomorrow. Benfica also leap three points clear of city rivals Sporting, although the Lions have two games in hand.
That said, the margin of victory does not tell the story of the match with the visitors competing well for most of the 90 minutes and creating several chances to score.
But defensive mistakes proved costly. Cheap losses of the ball by Samu and Beni Mukendi were taken advantage of by Ricardo Ríos, who provided assists for Gianluca Prestianni and Pavlidis to score.
Beni, who has enjoyed a highly positive season, endured a miserable match from an individual point of view and compounded his earlier error by scoring an own goal to seal Vitória’s fate.
Mourinho and the importance of correctly applying pressure:
“The first two goals resulted from us applying pressure high up the pitch which we organised well and which we had worked on all week. But from the midway point of the first half, Vitória positioned their players intelligently, in a different way, which made things tough for us.
“During half time we showed a good selection of images of the first half, analysed them, and defined the right timing to apply pressure and we got control back. The second goal killed the game.
“In the last part of the match, with our fresh substitutes on, we again applied high pressure, despite being 3-0 up. We could have scored more but that would have been tremendously unjust for Vitória.”
FC Porto set up a Europa League quarter-final against Nottingham Forest – now coached by Vítor Pereira who led the Blue and Whites to two successive league titles a decade ago – thanks to a 2-0 victory over Stuttgart at the Estádio do Dragão tonight.
A goal in each half by William Gomes and Victor Froholdt resulted in a 4-1 aggregate victory over the Germans, but for a long time it was closer than the scoreline suggests.
Thiago Silva reached the incredible landmark of 1000 professional games in his career tonight. (Photo: Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images)
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Porto were grateful to a fantastic performance from goalkeeper Diogo Costa. The Portugal No1 made two miraculous saves among a hatful of excellent stops to thwart an extremely offensive Stuttgart side.
As has been his wont in recent weeks, Porto coach Francesco Farioli rotated his team heavily as the Dragons remain in the hunt for three trophies. The Italian coach made eight changes in relation to the starting XI that beat Moreirense 3-0 on Sunday.
Thiago Silva plays 1000th game
One of the changes was a recall for veteran Brazilian centre-back Thiago Silva, who, days after losing his mother, took his place in the line-up for the 1000th game of his professional career.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Stuttgart made their intentions clear from the start, attacking with aggression and in numbers, happy to take a risk by leaving their back line three against three.
Truth be told, it was the right approach as only an inspired display by Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa prevented the visitors from at least levelling up the tie by half time.
Diogo Costa at his brilliant best
Julian Chabot, Chris Fuhrich (twice) and Bilal El Khannouss were all denied by Costa, one flying save from Fuhrich in particular an extraordinary piece of goalkeeping, while Deniz Undav also contrived to miss a glaring chance for the Germans.
Porto were happy to rely on the counter-attack, and although they broke away on only a few occasions, the hosts always carried danger when they did so.
Midway through the first half, Zaidu and Borja Sainz combined in a rapid break and the ball fell to William Gomes to knock the ball into the net from close range.
The goal gave Porto a comfortable two-goal buffer on aggregate, but the pattern of the game did not change, with Stuttgart continuing to pour forward, their pressure increasing at the start of the second half as they laid siege to the Porto goal
Diogo Costa came up big again in the 54th minute, pulling off an astounding reflex save to somehow deflect Undav’s shot away for a corner.
Froholdt rocket
Danish midfielder Victor Froholdt then decided it was his turn to shine. The 20-year-old has enjoyed a highly impressive debut season at Porto and after some typically tenacious play to keep possession of the ball on the edge of the box he let fly with a dazzling left-foot shot that fizzed into the top corner of the net.
Braga’s record scorer Ricardo Horta added two more goals to his collection
An authoritative performance saw Braga turn around their Europa League tie in style against Ferencvaros this afternoon.
The Guerreiros lost 2-0 to the Hungarian champions in Budapest last week, but it was a different story in northern Portugal with four unanswered goals resulting in a 4-2 aggregate win.
An unusual kick-off time of 3.30pm on a working day did not stop a decent crowd of around 15,000 spectators turning up at the Quarry and the home fans were rewarded for their loyalty.
Deadly duo combine again
Usual suspects Rodrigo Zalazar and Ricardo Horta combined to break the Hungarians’ resistance early doors, the Uruguayan midfielder crossing perfectly for captain Horta to tap in from close range.
Soon afterwards Florian Grillitsch shot from the edge of the box and Ferencvaros goalkeeper Dávid Gróf made a hash of his attempted save, the ball squirming under his body and into the net. Fifteen minutes gone and the visitors’ advantage had been wiped out.
Such was Braga’s dominance it was only a matter of time before Carlos Vicens’ side took the lead.
Gróf saved well from a Horta lob, but he could do nothing in the 34th minute when Pau Victor’s cute through ball released Gabri Martínez, who, one-on-one against the goalkeeper, made no mistake.
Captain fantastic
Any doubts about who would be making progress in the competition were dispelled soon after half time when Ricardo Horta scored a superb goal, smashing a shot in off the post on the turn, with Pau Victor picking up his second assist of the match.
Braga took their foot off the pedal and it needed a fine save from Lukas Hornicek, diving full-length to his right, to prevent Júlio Romão’s excellent long-range effort from finding the back of the net.
Ricardo Horta, Braga captain:
“Was it easy? No, it wasn’t. We had to run a lot and that’s what we were lacking in the game over there. They won a lot of second balls [in the first leg] but today it was us who had more of the ball. In the second half we were a bit tired, but the goals had already been scored and it was a matter of managing the game in the best way possible.
“How far can we go in the Europa League? I don’t know. First of all, we’re going to enjoy this win. Turning around a tie when you’re losing by two goals is very difficult, but we did it. We don’t know who we’ll be playing next yet, but when the time comes, we’ll be ready for them.”
Greeks or Spaniards await
Braga will play the winner of the tie between Panathinaikos and Real Betis. The Greek side are leading after winning the first leg 1-0 in Athens. The second leg in Seville will be played tomorrow.
Sporting fans have had some memorable European nights in recent times, with last season’s 4-1 victory over Manchester City and the 2-1 win over PSG in January still fresh in the memory, but tonight’s effort against Bodø/Glimt arguably topped both those performances.
Trailing 3-0 from the first leg last week, the Portuguese champions simply pummelled the Norwegians into submission with a display of non-stop attacking football (38 shots, 16 corners!), winning 5-0 after extra time to set up a quarter-final meeting with Arsenal.
Sporting and their fans in perfect communion after a monumental win for the Lions. Also great to see Sporting fans give Bodø/Glimt and their fans a huge ovation, fully deserved after their own brilliant run in the competition. pic.twitter.com/4oVUFpFQjU
It is the first time Sporting have reached the last eight of Europe’s premier club competition in its current Champions League format, having achieved the feat once before, in 1982/83, when it was still known as the European Cup.
Sporting coach Rui Borges had said his team needed a perfect performance to turn around the tie, and the Lions set about Bodø – who had won five straight games in the Champions League – like a team possessed.
Maxi Araújo with a performance for the ages
The energy and enterprise of the Lisbon outfit was personified in the magnificent display by man-of-the-match Maxi Araújo. The Uruguayan left-back was at the heart of all of Sporting’s best attacking moments in a whirlwind start.
Francisco Trincão twice, Luis Suárez and Pedro Gonçalves all spurned presentable chances as Sporting pinned back Bodø and opened them up several times in the first 20 minutes. But somehow it remained 0-0. That “perfect performance” Borges had talked about seemed to have just one missing ingredient – putting away the multiple chances created.
The visitors, as been characteristic of their superb Champions League, were not afraid to commit plenty of men forward when they counter-attacked, but they failed to create danger like they had done in Norway. However, it seemed they had weathered the storm as Sporting’s attacking momentum slowed down.
Inácio breaks the deadlock
But in the 35th minute, goal-scoring defender Gonçalo Inácio rose highest at a corner to head into the net and give Sporting and their fans renewed hope. It was Inácio’s 23rd goal for Sporting in his 250th game for the Lions.
Bodø almost equalised soon afterwards from the same method, Odin Bjortuft heading against the bar from a corner, with Morten Hjulmand - the Sporting captain back to his very best - making a vital interception and clearing the ball away from the danger area in the ensuing scramble.
Sporting continued on the front foot after the break but were finding it more difficult to carve out chances. Catamo, Hjulmand and Fresneda tried their luck without seriously threatening Nikita Haikin’s goal.
Pote scores – the comeback is on!
The crucial second goal came on the hour mark. Catamo released Luis Suárez with a fabulous vertical pass, the Colombian racing forward and crossing perfectly for Pedro Gonçalves to fire home.
There was a palpable injection of energy in the stands and on the pitch, with Borges making sure Sporting kept up the momentum by bringing on Zeno Debast, Nuno Santos and Daniel Bragança for Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalves and Morita.
Sporting continued to pour forward and soon they had levelled the tie on aggregate. Luis Suárez showed nerves of steel to score from the penalty spot after a handball by Bjorkan.
The Lions smelt blood and were close to going into the lead for the first time in the tie on several occasions, Debast and Trincão forcing Haikin into excellent saves and Nuno Santos desperately unlucky to see his fierce shot bounce back off the post.
Bodø/Glimt somehow survived until the 90 minutes were up, meaning extra time was on the menu with the tie all square at 3-3 on aggregate.
Sporting would not be denied though, and from their first attack when the game restarted Maxi Araújo took advantage of good approach play by Bragança and Trincão to fire into the net.
Suddenly the match changed, with Sporting now content to hold possession and slow down the pace of the game, which they did intelligently. As the clock clicked down towards the final whistle the home team managed to keep play near the corner flag of Bodø’s goal for lengthy periods, winning a succession of throw-ins.
Nel puts by cherry on the cake
Bodø finally broke out of the stranglehold to try and launch a last desperate attack but it would be Sporting who found the net again, young substitute Rafael Nel firing into the roof of the net after being set up neatly by Bragança.
The José Alvalade stadium, which had been bouncing all night, reached a crescendo of jubilation as Sporting’s fans celebrated an epic comeback in communion with their players and staff.
Polish teenager Oskar Pietuszewski has been a revelation for FC Porto (Photo: Getty Images)
FC Porto remain on course to become champions of Portugal for the first time since 2021/22 after a ruthless performance saw off Moreirense at the Estádio do Dragão tonight.
When the Dragons signed 17-year-old Polish winger Oskar Pietuszewski in the winter transfer window, most observers of the Portuguese game thought the youngster was a “long-term project” and would feature little this season. Perhaps even some of the Porto staff shared that idea given that he was not even registered to play in the Europa League.
But Pietuszewski has exceeded expectations and has given Porto an extra attacking dimension, his direct, audacious and fearless offensive play lending more creativity and unpredictability to Francesco Farioli’s team.
After winning a crucial late penalty on his debut in Guimarães that resulted in a 1-0 victory for Porto, Pietuszewski has gone on to play 8 more games wearing the Blue and White, five as a starter, increasingly becoming a key player. In his last five matches he has scored three goals and provided one assist.
Tonight, he was at the heart of Porto’s first goal, his shot beaten out by Moreirense goalkeeper André Ferreira with Gabri Veiga knocking the rebound into the net. Pietuszewski himself doubled the lead with a fantastic angled shot after being picked out in the box by Victor Froholdt. 25 minutes gone, Porto 2-0 up and completely dominating.
Pietuszewski came close on two other occasions, lifting shots over the bar, before he was substituted in the 55th minute, Farioli later explaining that the Pole had been suffering from a virus during the week and had complained of more stomach pains during the interval.
Moreirense almost pulled a goal back early in the second half, Landerson hitting the post, but Porto remained firmly in control.
Terem Moffi forced Ferreira into a terrific save in the 69th minute before another Porto substitute, William Gomes, made the game safe with a trademark left-foot shot into the top corner cutting in from the right-hand side.
Porto go seven points clear of Lisbon duo Sporting (who have one game in hand) and Benfica, with eight matches remaining.
Benfica came from behind to beat Arouca thanks to a goal in the last minute of stoppage time by Franjo Ivanovic.
The hosts got off to the perfect start when they were awarded a penalty from their first attack, António Silva handling Barbero’s header. The Spanish striker confidently fired in the penalty.
Benfica reacted well to the setback and put Arouca under intense pressure, winning a series of corners, one of which resulted in a golden chance for Alexander Bah but the defender headed wide.
Arouca almost doubled their lead when Barbero headed wide from close range after a well-worked counter-attack.
The home team went close again at the start of the second half, Hynju’s shot kept out of the net by a last-ditch interception by Tomás Araújo.
Ríos equaliser
In an open game Benfica’s Dodi Lukebakio was denied by a brilliant save by Arruabarrena, but from the resulting corner the visitors equalised. Richard Ríos profited from slack marking by Arouca to head into the net without even having to jump.
Benfica surged forward in search of the go-ahead goal, Pavlidis and Schjelderup going close but the chances dried up for the Eagles.
Arouca were a whisker away from retaking the lead in the 84th minute with Dylan Nandín could not direct his header on target when he looked certain to score.
Benfica threw everything at Arouca in the final minutes, substitutes Gianluca Prestianni and Georgiy Sudakov close to scoring.
Just when it seemed José Mourinho’s team would have to settle for a draw, another substitute, Ivanovic, got on the end of a Prestianni cross and expertly executed a right-foot volley to give the three points to Benfica.
Rodrigo Zalazar has improved season on season at Braga to become arguably the most complete midfielder in Portugal. (Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
The PortuGOAL Figure of the Week series returns for the Liga Portugal Midfielder of the Month (February) and one of the top performers of the entire season.
From dispatching set-pieces with unflappable composure against Sporting Clube de Portugal…
… to the synergy created with modern day Braga legend Ricardo Horta, in the same match, with a phenomenal first-touch deserving of the emphatic finish.
The Uruguayan midfielder has been Liga Portugal’s most incisive and effective player in the final third for a significant stretch of this season.
PortuGOAL’s latest Figure of the Week is one of the best players in Portuguese football. Kevin Fernandes reports.
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Like father like son
Rodrigo Zalazar Martínez was born in Albacete, Spain, as his father José Luis was capping off his professional career back at the Queso Mecánico in 1999.
Rodrigo, aged eight, joined the youth ranks of the club his father represented on 230 occasions. After seven years in the youth set-up of Albacete Balompié, spells at the prestigious academy of Málaga and later San Félix completed his footballing education before a move to Germany.
The services of Zalazar cost Eintracht Frankfurt around 50 thousand euros in a typical, surgical operation carried out by former Director of Football Ben Manga.
German journalist Christopher Michel told zerozero.pt: “The fans adored him, partly because of his unique emotive nature.” The son of El Oso (The Bear) embodies the same fiery spirit, seen repeatedly across his career, from controversial social media posts to bizarre interviews praising Braga’s competitors.
The rise of El Osito
Zalazar would never make it to the Frankfurt first team, heading to Polish outfit Korona Kielce before seriously kicking off his senior career at FC St. Pauli. Despite contributing to 11 goals in 35 appearances, current Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner was not convinced, trusting more established senior names.
Zalazar’s ambitions were always crystal clear: to play regularly at the top level. Schalke offered that pathway when Frankfurt seemed skeptical, and Zalazar truly led the fallen giants back to the Bundesliga on a temporary deal subsequently made permanent.
Relegation may have become reality for Schalke once more, but it was always apparent that Zalazar would repeat the same storyline, only this time an opportunity to play in the Champions League presented itself.
Zalazar told Uruguayan radio station Carve Deportiva: “I’m doing really well at the moment, though it took me a while to settle in. Moving to a new country and a new league is tricky. Even so, when I joined SC Braga, I was really surprised by the league, because it’s very physical and demands everything from you in every match because the teams have some very good players.”
It’s safe to say that Zalazar has justified the six million euros spent – 61 goal contributions in 118 matches (and counting) – puts Zalazar amongst the best in Braga’s history and in an era of real promise for the northern club.
Zippy Zalazar
Recognised as Footballer of the Year at Braga’s annual Legião de Ouro awards, Zalazar has the mobility of a decently rounded box-to-box midfielder and the technique of a seasoned top-level winger, operating with an effortless grace while on the ball, despite being recognisably robust without it.
Able to fulfil deeper or more aggressive offensive midfield roles, on either side, and in multiple systems, the 26-year-old is mentally well-rounded, versatile and consistently displays an incredible instinct and incisive nature in the final-third.
Standing at 5’10” or 1.77m, El Osito is a receiver in progressive play who is mainly looking to provide decisive touches, despite being capable, resilient and direct when space arises to carry the ball. As mentioned earlier regarding his understanding with Horta, Zalazar is a protagonist of a fluid attack on the same wavelength, able to find teammates with ease and wreaking havoc with simple one-twos and short combinations.
However, he truly comes into his own when zoning in on the penalty area, mastering the art of exploring and manipulating space, technically impressive when operating in tight spaces and incredibly composed when assisting or taking responsibility for the final touch.
Braga president António Salvador has serious ambitions of breaking the hegemony of the commonly recognised Portuguese “Big 3”, which is closer to becoming reality with players of the quality of Rodrigo Zalazar.
However, reports suggest that the 50-million-euro release clause may not be enough to deter potential suitors in Rodrigo’s pursuit of reaching the top.
When questioned about his future, Zalazar admitted: “Right now I’m very focused on helping my team and very happy at Sp. Braga. In the summer we’ll see what happens with my future and with the World Cup, which I hope to be part of.”
(Side note: In the same unauthorised interview, Zalazar called Benfica “the Real Madrid of Portugal,” repeatedly praising the club and multiple players)
It was probably long overdue, but it’s a pleasure to recognise the brilliant talent that one could argue is the best midfielder in Liga Portugal. Wherever the future of the latest PortuGOAL Figure of the Week lies, Rodrigo Zalazar still has much to offer Braga and Portuguese football in the remaining months of the season.
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Honourable mentions from Gameweek 25 (despite the six stalemates in nine matches):
Rodrigo Pinheiro - The difference maker for Famalicão with an impressive finish against Arouca.
Paulo Moreira - Estrela’s standout performer of the season contributes to Jovane Cabral’s goal with a touch of class.
Oskar Pietuszewski - 17 years of age and doing this to a World Cup winner at the Estadio da Luz.
Jalen Blesa - One of the January recruits breathing life back into Rio Ave’s season.
Rodrigo Mora celebrates scoring Porto’s second goal at the Stuttgart Arena. (Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
FC Porto secured a precious advantage at a difficult venue as they beat Stuttgart 2-1 in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie in Germany this afternoon.
The hosts started strongly but Porto weathered the storm and took control of proceedings thanks to a blistering 10-minute spell midway through the first half.
It started when William Gomes did his trademark move, cutting in from the right touchline and smashing a left-footed effort onto the bar.
One minute later Porto took the lead. January signing Terem Moffi played a lovely one-two with Borja Sainz and beat Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel with a firm right-foot shot.
Fofana then went close before Moffi almost scored his and Porto’s second of the night, Nübel this time saving well after the Nigerian had been released by an excellent Seko Fofana through ball.
Porto were all over Stuttgart at this stage and doubled their lead when Zaidu Sanusi showed fantastic awareness by intercepting a loose pass on the halfway line, racing up the left flank and crossing for Rodrigo Mora to calmly slot into the corner of the net on the volley.
With the home team all at sea, Porto were threatening to put the tie to bed there and then, but the hosts got back into the game in the 40th minute when Deniz Undav swivelled neatly and volleyed home.
Porto were deserving of their 2-1 lead at the interval but the second half was a different story with Stuttgart enjoying the upper hand for most of it.
Angelo Stiller thought he had equalised in the 73rd minute, thumping the ball into the net after Porto’s defence had failed to deal with a free kick, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.
There were half chances for both teams but with no further scoring Porto will start next week’s second leg at the Estádio do Dragão with a narrow advantage.
It was a disappointing night in the Europe League for Braga as Carlos Vicens’ team were beaten 2-0 by Ferencvaros in the Hungarian capital.
Despite starting the tie as favourites, the Portuguese outfit can have no arguments about the result with the hosts showing greater energy and enterprise throughout the 90 minutes.
A goal in each half by Gabi Kanichowsky and the excellent Lenny Joseph gives Robbie Keane’s team real hope of reaching the quarter-finals of the competition.
Braga will need a much-improved display at the Quarry next Wednesday if they are to continue what had been a superb European campaign this season – 10 wins and 1 defeat in 14 matches – until tonight.
Portuguese football has spent years doing something larger countries often fail to do. It keeps producing top level players, keeps sending clubs into European competition with real purpose, and keeps feeding the wider game with coaches, ideas and tactical discipline. For a country of its size, that record is hard to ignore.
That is one reason Portuguese football stays so interesting to follow. It is not only about the title race between Benfica, Porto and Sporting. It is about how the whole structure keeps generating players who look ready for a higher level long before they leave the league. In a football world filled with transfer noise, inflated fees and the usual talk around football betting sites before the weekend, the stronger story in Portugal is still development. The system keeps turning promise into proper first team quality.
Young players are trusted early
That starts with trust in young players. Portuguese clubs do not treat academy talent as a branding exercise. They use it. Teenagers get minutes, not just photographs. If a young full back, winger or midfielder is good enough, he will usually get a chance earlier in Portugal than he would at many richer clubs elsewhere in Europe.
That matters because development is not only about coaching. It is about exposure to real pressure, real points and real mistakes. A player learns faster when the minutes carry consequence. Portuguese football still understands that better than many leagues with more money.
Sporting, Benfica and Porto still drive the standard
Sporting have built much of their recent identity around that approach. Their academy has produced players with technical quality, athletic sharpness and tactical maturity, and the club has shown again and again that it will put trust in youth if the level is there.
Benfica work from a similar base, though with a slightly different feel. Their production line is broader, their recruitment is often more aggressive, and the club has become extremely good at turning talent into both performance and major transfer value.
Porto, meanwhile, continue to operate with a harder edge. They often look less romantic from the outside, but they still understand exactly how to shape players for serious football. Their teams usually carry competitive bite, tactical discipline and a level of resilience that translates well into European matches.
The league has more character than the title race alone
That is the top end of the story, but it is not the whole story. Portuguese football remains compelling because the league has depth of character beyond the biggest three. Braga have spent years trying to force their way into the elite conversation and have often looked like the clearest challenge to the established order.
Vitória de Guimarães carry one of the strongest identities in the country, with a crowd and a sense of place that make them far more than a supporting cast. Clubs such as Famalicão, Moreirense, Gil Vicente and Casa Pia have all shown, in different ways, how organised coaching and sharp recruitment can keep the league competitive and useful as a proving ground.
The Primeira Liga works because it knows what it is
The Primeira Liga is not built to outspend the Premier League, La Liga or the Bundesliga. It survives and stays relevant by being smarter. Clubs recruit well, coach well and sell well. That model is sometimes framed as a limitation, but it is also a strength. Portuguese football has become one of the clearest examples of how to build value without losing technical level.
That is why the league keeps mattering to scouts, analysts and serious football fans. You can watch a match in Portugal and see players who will be in stronger leagues within a year or two. You can also see tactical ideas being tested in a competition where coaching still carries major weight.
Portuguese football still shapes the wider game
The influence goes beyond players. Coaches from Portugal have left a huge mark across Europe and beyond, and that has helped define the country’s football image. Portuguese teams tend to be tactically literate, positionally aware and comfortable adapting to different game states.
That does not mean every match is perfect or every side is adventurous. It means there is usually a clear football logic at work. Teams often know what they are trying to do, even when resources differ. That gives the league a consistency of purpose that makes it rewarding to follow closely.
It remains one of Europe’s best talent environments
That may be the simplest way to put it. Portuguese football is still one of the best places in Europe to watch talent develop properly. Not just talented players, but useful players. Players who understand spacing, tempo, pressing triggers and the tactical side of the game, not only their own highlight reel.
That is why Portuguese clubs continue to punch above their weight. They do not have the money of the biggest leagues, but they keep producing players and teams capable of competing well beyond what their resources should allow.
That is why the league still matters
Portuguese football stays relevant because it keeps getting the important things right. It develops players early, trusts coaching, maintains strong club identities and sends teams into Europe with genuine belief rather than hopeful noise.
That does not make it flawless. No league is. But it does make it one of the most worthwhile competitions to follow if you care about how football is built, not just how it is sold.
Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand intercepts a cross by Bodø/Glimt’s Jens Petter Hauge (Photo: Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)
Sporting’s Champions League hopes are hanging by a thread after the Portuguese team were well beaten by Bodø/Glimt, the Norwegian outfit continuing their sensational campaign with a 3-0 victory in the home leg of the last-16 tie tonight.
The Lions were thankful of avoiding Real Madrid in last week’s draw but warnings that the match against Bodø/Glimt would be testing went unheeded as a lacklustre Sporting were completely outplayed in the first half. Perhaps that is unfair on the hosts, whose dynamic easy-on-the-eye quick-passing game was simply too good for Sporting to handle.
The modest Norwegian club have captured the imagination of football fans all over Europe with their steady rise based on smart recruitment, stability and a strong local identity. Without being funded by a wealthy benefactor, it is the quality of their football that has enabled them to pull off successive wins against Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan – twice – and now Sporting.
Brilliant Bodø have Sporting chasing shadows
The coordinated way the team attacks and defends in a block, usually with all ten outfield players within a 30-40 metre vertical band, has proven so effective one is left wondering why other teams with more resources don’t play that way.
Sporting started promisingly, Luis Suárez lifting a chance over the bar early on, but the hosts hit back with the outstanding Jens Petter Hauge almost scoring soon afterwards.
Bodø gradually got on top, Sporting outnumbered in midfield whenever Trincão was bypassed with a simple pass and failing to drop back to help out the overworked Hjulmand and João Simões.
In the 24th minute the home team looked certain to score, Hauge releasing Hakon Evjen one-on-one with Rui Silva but the Sporting goalkeeper saved the day. A quick counter-attack gave Sporting a rare sight at goal but Luis Guilherme’s cross-shot was saved.
“Timeout” fails to stem one-way traffic
Rui Borges called for goalkeeper Silva to go down and feign injury for an unofficial “timeout” in order to try and reorganise his team, but it was to no avail as Bodø took the lead as soon as play got underway again.
Vagiannidis, deputising for the suspended Maxi Araújo, was adjudged to have shoved over Sondre Fet in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Fet himself took the penalty and made no mistake.
Still Sporting could not stem the constant waves of attacks and Bodø duly doubled their lead just before the break. An incessant spell of pressure saw the ball deflect to Ole Blomberg in the box and he finished coolly to send the home fans into delirium.
Sporting came out with far more determination in the second half and at last began to look threatening, Suárez twice going close to pulling back a goal.
Rui Borges sensed a goal could change the complexion of the tie, and made a triple change in the 63rd minute, Hidemasa Morita, Nuno Santos and Souleymane Faye entering the fray for Simões, Vagiannidis and Geny Catamo.
Kasper Hogh lands killer blow
But Bodø/Glimt were not just defending and continued to look dangerous with well-coordinated attacks and in the 71st minute they scored again to take a firm grip of the tie. Hauge was again at the heart of the action, a superb run and cross allowing Kasper Hogh to fire into the roof of the net from point-blank range.
To their credit, Sporting did not throw in the towel, Faye, Suárez and Bragança all close to pulling back a goal but it was not to be.
Sporting will have to produce something spectacular in Lisbon next Tuesday to make the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in the modern format of the competition.
Luís Pinto is the latest victim of Vitória’s chronic managerial instability (Photo:www.vitoriasc.pt)
Guimarães is one of Portugal’s most passionate football cities but the thirst for success comes with a price. The perpetual instability that defines Vitória Sport Clube has again come to the fore, with the board sacking Luís Pinto two months after the manager led the club to glory in the Portuguese League Cup.
When Vitória beat Minho rivals Braga 2-1 in a dramatic Taça da Liga final in January, it was only the third time the club had won silverware in their 103-year history, after lifting the Portuguese Cup in 2013 and the Super Cup in 1988. A big achievement for a club which, given they have played more seasons in Portugal’s top flight than any team other than the Big Three of Benfica, Sporting and Porto, are often cited as Portuguese football’s biggest underachievers.
The 36-year-old Pinto was showered with praise for his work, especially given the low expectations given Vitória had sold key players such as Tiago Silva, Tomás Händel and Nuno Santos in the summer and were relying on a young and inexperienced team.
That said, the Primeira Liga campaign has been up and down. Vitória are currently in 9th place in the standings, nine points behind fifth position which gives access to the last European berth and which president António Miguel Cardoso set as the goal ahead of the 2025/26 season.
In all competitions Pinto won 14 out of 31 matches. The 2-0 defeat in the Azores against Santa Clara on Saturday proved the final straw, with Pinto and his coaching staff comprising João Costa, Rui Vieira, Bruno Monteiro, Vítor Maia and Diogo Valente relieved of their duties.
In-house successor
B-team coach Gil Lameiras will take over. The 32-year-old has worked at the club for almost a decade, progressing through the youth levels, mainly as an assistant manager, until being appointed head coach of the B-team last season.
Lameiras followed up a promising debut season with another solid campaign this year, with Vitória SC in the mix for promotion to the second tier.
In a match that could have significant implications in the 2025/26 Portuguese title race, bitter rivals Benfica and Porto shared four goals in a terrific spectacle at the Estádio da Luz this afternoon.
For much of the match it seemed the Dragons would be taking home the points and thus return to Porto with one hand on the championship title. First-half goals from Victor Froholdt and Oskar Pietuszewski put the Blue and Whites in charge.
José Mourinho took his time to make changes, but when he did the incoming players all made a positive impact. Substitute Dodi Lukebakio’s shot off the post allowed the excellent Andreas Schjelderup to score from the follow-up, and when two other subs combined – Leandro Barreiro volleying in Franjo Ivanovic’s cross – it seemed Benfica may pull off an unlikely win having been second-best for most of the match.
There was no further scoring though, and with both matches involving the three title contenders finishing 2-2 this weekend, all three of Porto, Sporting and Benfica may feel it is a chance missed. On the flip side, the title race remains alive although Porto remain in the box seat with a four-point lead at the summit and eight matches remaining. Tom Kundert & Sahir Bhojwani report from the Estádio da Luz.
There was an electric and intimidating atmosphere that greeted Francesco Farioli and his first-place FC Porto side at the Estádio da Luz. When the smoke from countless flares in the stands finally settled (the referee was forced to pause the match for nearly five minutes), Benfica looked to be the hungrier side, taking the initiative and pushing men forward. The Benfiquistas were up for the fight, cheering on every kick, tackle, and decision that fell their way.
Farioli, however, had a plan of his own in place, and his players executed it to perfection.
Pavlidis recorded the first shot of the match in the 8th minute, forcing an early save from Costa, but it was Porto that struck the first blow. Mourinho’s aim of pressing the visitors with a high line backfired early on when a perfectly weighted pass from Varela matched up with a well-timed Froholdt run down the centre of the pitch. Benfica were caught off guard with the Danish midfielder giving himself a healthy head start. Trubin was well positioned to steer away his first shot but the Benfica keeper could do little to stop the follow-up from Froholdt. A vital early goal to relieve the pressure on the Dragons and silence a boisterous crowd.
Costa reflex save
In the 23rd minute, Benfica nearly levelled in the unlikeliest of fashion. A low cross from Rafa Silva that was deflected by Martim Fernandes, forcing a terrific reflex save from Costa. An early example of why the stopper has become such a staple in the national team’s lineup.
Prestianni was lively early in the match, making himself a nuisance for Porto’s defender with his quick feet and fancy footwork. A thrilling individual run from the Argentine midfielder resulted in a dangerous free kick that Schjelderup nearly curled into the top left corner, with the ball flying inches wide.
Benfica did their best to push forward and take the initiative, but had to be cautious of Porto's ability to counter with such effectiveness. Froholdt, in particular, was finding acres of space in the centre of the park.
Prestianni had another great opportunity after a smart pass from Pavlidis connected with the winger’s dashing run down the left wing.
Things started to get tense shortly after. A hard foul from Otamendi saw the Benfica captain pick up a yellow as he tried to break up a counterattack. Veiga’s fiery reaction left the referee with no choice but to shell out a second yellow seconds later.
Pietuszewski exposes Otamendi
Just when the Eagles seemed to be working themselves back into the affair, Pietuszewski’s blistering pace caught their defence off guard, exposing their high line once again. The 17-year-old attacker, took his chance beautifully, dancing around the Otamendi to create some space and fire past Trubin.
It could have been three before the half if not for an outstretched save by Trubin from a Veiga free kick. A scoreline that would have definitely been unjust for Benfica.
Porto began by doing what they do best, playing out the back and ensuring they kept their shape. The visitors remained reliant on the counterattack and played the game at their pace, a strategy that worked effectively during the first quarter of the second half.
Benfica grew into the match as the second half progressed. Some smart passing in the box between Rafa and Dedic saw the veteran midfielder produce a wonderful opportunity in the 58th minute. Rafa, though, seemed to fumble in the final moment and lashed his shot well wide.
Lukebakio makes instant impact
Just when things seemed to be falling in place for Porto, the breakthrough came from a player who has been one of Mourinho’s most reliable soldiers. A run from substitute Lukebakio down the right wing finished with the winger unleashing a left-footed curler to the back post. The ball seemed destined for the back of the net before bouncing back off the post. Schjelderup, charging into the box, gathered himself and managed to stay on his feet and shovel the ball into the net with his right foot. Suddenly, a game that seemed out of reach had some life in it.
Mourinho’s substitutions had the desired effect. Lukebakio was excellent when he came on, but it turned out to be two other substitutes that had the final say in this clash. With time ticking away, Ivanovic found himself with space down the right wing. His early cross sailed past Porto’s defenders and it was Barreiro, a player who has been in fine form recently, who delivered a clinical finish to level the tie and send the spectators into a state of euphoria.
There was plenty of drama and fire in the final stages of this one, unfortunately, most of it taking place off the pitch where several members of the coaching staff were shown cards.
In the closing minutes, there was a late shout for a penalty for the home supporters, but it would have been harsh for the referee to award what seemed to be a 50-50 clash between Pavlidis and Porto’s keeper Costa.
Sporting CP conceded a penalty deep into added time as Braga snatched a 2-2 draw at the Quarry.
Braga had plenty of the ball early on but were unable to turn possession into opportunities. Sporting were looking more likely to break the deadlock, Geny Catamo’s fourth shot winning a corner that was the source of the opening goal.
Pedro Gonçalves delivered the ball into the danger area in the 22nd minute, Gonçalo Inácio rising high and heading the ball into the net. Trincão sent Luis Suarez through on goal two minutes later, the striker unable to beat Lukas Hornicek.
Braga created their first chance in the 34th minute and made it count. João Moutinho picked out Rodrigo Zalazar who got past Catamo, the Uruguayan delivering a perfect cross for Ricardo Horta who made no mistake.
Paulo Oliveira had been struggling to contain Suarez, the 34-year-old booked before the break and conceding another foul that went unpunished.
The Primeira Liga top scorer was proving problematic for Braga's defence and won a penalty on the stroke of half time. Bright Arrey-Mbi handled the ball, Suarez stepping up and beating Hornicek from the spot.
Carlos Vicens took Oliveira out of the firing line at half time and brought on Gabriel Moscardo.
Both teams showed plenty of attacking intent in the second half. Iván Fresneda got back to deny Horta a goal scoring opportunity before Braga’s captain went close to getting on the end of another Zalazar cross.
The hosts maintained the pressure without testing Rui Silva, Rui Borges making his intentions clear in the 81st minute when he brought on Eduardo Quaresma for Catamo.
Zalazar’s penalty claim was denied but Braga would earn a spot kick with 10 seconds remaining. Horta’s shot was handled by Inácio, Zalazar sending Silva the wrong way to earn the hosts a point.
The Lions were second away from closing the gap behind Porto to one point. With the Dragons facing a tough clash against Benfica at Estádio da Luz, Sporting will be disappointed they couldn't close it out.
Horta summed it up well after full time: "The game is only over when the referee blows the whistle. We tried to score, the penalty came, and we deservedly achieved a draw."
Rui Borges gave his opinion on the encounter: "In the first half, we started well, with a lot of quality. Braga, on their only approach to our goal, scored the equaliser. In the first half, that was Braga's only chance. In 90 minutes, they had three shots on our goal, two of which were goals and one shot by Víctor Gómez."
Former Marítimo winger Joel Santos has signed for Norwegian lower league club Sauherad IL. Nothing too strange there, you may think, given the frequency with which Portuguese footballers embark on careers abroad in the most unlikely of destinations.
But this is a transfer with a difference. Why? Because Santos has put pen to paper on a 5-year contract shorty before he turns 51 years old (next Monday 9 March).
How so? Well, the manner in which the player and the club got together in the first place is quite something in itself.
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Chance meeting leads to bigger things
Sauherad IL, who play in the sixth tier of the Norwegian football pyramid, held a training camp in their off-season in Madeira at the end of February. Sauherad manager Bjørn Skjeslien, who doubles up as the club’s media officer, takes up the story:
“Santos was watching our first training session on the sidelines. He did not look too impressed! Suddenly an erroneous pass went his way in the air. He stood completely still, watched the trajectory of the ball and controlled it perfectly with his left foot, then hit a perfect 100-metre pass back to the sender.
“Later I went down with him to the snack bar he is running in the basement of the Canicense training ground. Over a few beers and a brandy, I quickly found out he was a former top player. Half an hour later and plans for Joel to play for us were in motion. He made his debut and signed the papers the day after.
“From there, it kind of spiralled into bigger plans and games in Norway. There was a special kind of love between our players and Santos from the start. He made our players better straight away. He got very inspired and emotional himself.”
The Nordic club’s pre-season trip included friendly matches against Madeiran teams GRC Canicense, Choupana FC and AD Machico.
Regular during Marítimo’s glory years
Santos made his debut for the Norwegians in these matches played in the island of his birth, and where he played the entirety of his long professional football career.
At the height of his career Santos was a regular for Marítimo, playing in UEFA Cup and reaching the Portuguese Cup final, for example, during the most successful period in the club’s history at the turn of the century.
Two games, two goals and a viral star in Norway
Fast forward 25 years and Joel Santos is still able to show his prowess on the pitch. He scored a fantastic free kick in the first friendly against GRC Canicense. The goal was filmed and went viral on Norwegian media channels.
Not satisfied with the goal, Santos put in another impressive display in Sauherad’s final friendly in Madeira, scoring again in the 5-4 victory over AD Machico.
Santos will travel to Norway in May to join the team ahead of a series of important games. The club stated that it handed him a contract owing to his vast experience and his technical ability, which remains intact, and he will also play the role of a mentor in a young and ambitious squad.
“We are signing Joel Santos, before all else, because he continues to be a player of great quality, who will strengthen our squad,” said Sauherad IL president, Ole Petter Vogsland. “He will also be fundamental to guide a very young team and help them gain experience.”
Who are Sauherad IL?
The club was founded in 2019, after two teams from the area merged into one. It is based in a municipality 130 kilometres southwest of the capital Oslo, with a population of around 5000 people.
Currently in the sixth division of Norwegian football, the club has been growing fast in recent years, from top to bottom, thanks to intelligent recruitment and a solid local profile when it comes to signing players.
An innovative club, Sauherad IL tries to mix football with music and razzamatazz, making every game a big event for the fans, and it has proven a winning formula.
As an example, a big derby is scheduled against local rivals Nome on 16th May, in a match Santos is expected to play in. Norway’s national day is 17th May, which makes the 16th the biggest football day for Norwegians.
Nome are Sauherad’s main rivals for promotion and the match is forecast to draw a crowd of around 2500 people. Most other clubs in the 6th division in Norway have an attendance ranging from 20 to 90 people. Last year Sauherad’s lowest crowd was 350 spectators.
“Special connection”
“Hopefully Joel can play up to ten games a year for us,” said Bjørn Skjeslien. “There is a special connection between him and the team that we hope to keep it alive over the next few years.”
The football season kicks off in mid-April for Sauherad IL.
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Joel Santos interview with PortuGOAL
You had an excellent career. You played during Marítimo’s most successful era, including UEFA Cup matches and a Portuguese Cup final. What is your fondest memory of those times?
“It was an honour to represent the biggest club of the Portuguese islands, our great Marítimo, in the first division. I was enormously proud to play for them for 7 years, twice playing in the UEFA Cup, where we played Celtic and Leeds United. It was a memorable time, with seven Madeira-born players in the team at the time.”
You played with some fantastic players at Marítimo, such as Danny, Alan, Bruno Fernandes, Mitchel Van der Gaag, Kenedy, Briguel... Who was the best player you have played with, best you have played against?
“Yes, I coincided with top players. In my opinion perhaps the best was a Madeirense player with amazing technique and vision, Bruno (Marcelo Pereira Fernandes). It was also an honour to play against Cristiano Ronaldo, who was at Sporting at the time.”
Joel Santos, alongside Argentine striker Federico Carlos Lagorio, in the 2000/2001 season when Marítimo reached the Portuguese Cup final, losing against Porto at Jamor
You were born in Câmara de Lobos and played your whole career in Madeira. Did you ever think about moving to the mainland or abroad?
“I came through the youth ranks at Grupo Recreativo Estreito and Câmara de Lobos, which was my launchpad for the big time in professional football. There was talk of me joining Braga or Estrela da Amadora, but nothing was ever presented to me directly, so nothing came of it.”
Bjørn Skjeslien has explained to us how you came to play for Sauherad. Were you expecting to resume your career? What is your motivation to lace up your boots again?
“This all began when Sauherad used the facilities of the club Recreativo Cruzado Canicense and had some training sessions there. At my bar – the Sports Bar Canicense – they saw a picture on the wall with my photo of when I played for Marítimo in European competition. They asked who it was and I told them it was me, who used to be a Marítimo player.
“Then they asked me if I could play in their team and that’s when it all started. I played and by chance I scored a goal against the team I represented for 7 years, in the regional league. Everyone went crazy when I scored the free kick. The lads showed a lot of love to me in the celebrations and it was amazing seeing all those young lads smiling and happy. That went straight to my heart and will always stay in my memory. It was a unique and unforgettable moment.
“At the time I thought it was a joke when they talked about signing a contract. But it was serious and I hope to contribute with my experience, helping the boys achieve their goals for the club.
“I never thought it would be possible to get back on the pitch like this, but I hope to do a good job, with full commitment to the people of the club and I hope to help in all aspects. I’m looking forward to it and feel I can help the boys grow as footballers.
“They can count on me and they have seen what I can do in the two games we played. They know they can count on me. They don’t look at me because of my age. I felt the affection and I’m very grateful to everyone, especially my dear friend and great man who is Bjørn.
The contract was signed in Joel’s Sports Bar Canicense
“I still don’t believe it’s true that at 50 years of age, married and with two grown-up children, that I’m going to play for a club outside of Portugal. It’s going to be a first for me, and at 50 years old!
“It shows that it’s never too late – you should always have hope that things can happen. God-willing, it’s going to happen. And it will be an honour to represent the club of the town. I hope I’m received well. I’m going to give everything to the club and the boys who are fantastic and deserve to be rewarded at the end of the season with promotion to the division above. I hope to help them. Força lads!”
Marítimo are in Liga II but are having an excellent season and are top of the league. Do you think they will get promoted back to the top flight this season?
“I never thought I’d see the club of my heart in this situation [Marítimo were relegated after 38 years in the top flight in 2022/23], but yes, they are having a very good season. They’ve got everything to get back into the big time in the Primeira Liga. But it’s too early to celebrate. We believe it will happen, yes, but in football everything is unpredictable. But I have faith that we’ll be celebrating the long-awaited return to the first division together.”
In a hard-fought match of few chances, a second-half Luis Suárez penalty proved the difference between Sporting and Porto in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-final in Lisbon tonight.
The victory keeps Sporting’s hot streak going, the Lions winning 10 and drawing one of their last 11 matches in all competitions. Whether or not it will be sufficient to make it to Jamor for a second successive year will only be known after the second leg played at the Estádio do Dragão on 22 April. Tom Kundert reports from Alvalade.
Sporting coach Rui Borges chose the exact same XI as for the 3-0 triumph over Estoril on the weekend, while his opposite number Francesco Farioli made wholesale changes, including full debuts for recent signings Seko Fofana and Terem Moffi.
The first half was hugely forgettable. A series of stoppages for injuries (leading to 10 minutes of stoppage time!) and a stodgy midfield battle of little interest ensued bar a feisty South American duel between Sporting left-back Maxi Araújo and Brazilian winger William Gomes, with the Brazilian mostly getting the better of the Uruguayan. The ascendency would be reversed in the second half.
Porto right-back Alberto Costa was fortunate to escape a second yellow card when he took out Geny Catamo with a wild scything tackle, but the referee let it pass.
As for goalmouth action, nothing to report as Rui Silva and Diogo Costa were merely spectators in the first 45 minutes.
HT Sporting 0-0 Porto. Great atmosphere in the stands at Alvalade. Terrible first half. Porto's William Gomes the only player to come out of it with any credit, giving Maxi a hard time. Alberto Costa very luck not to be sent off for wild scything tackle on Geny when on a yellow pic.twitter.com/4lnpqatF9Z
The second half started with the bang. Sporting’s defence stood off Alan Varela as he edged towards the box and he needed no second invitation to smash a fierce low shot that beat Rui Silva and thudded back into play off the inside of the post.
Close to the hour mark it was Sporting’s turn to rue their back luck. Luis Suárez embarked on a terrific dribble into the box, his low cross almost leading to a goal as Fresneda’s effort hit the post.
It was only a temporary reprieve for Porto though, as from the resulting scramble Hjulmand was tripped by Fofana in the box for a penalty to Sporting.
In the recent Liga meeting between the two teams Luis Suárez had scored from the spot at the second attempt after Diogo Costa had saved his initial shot, and the two protagonists faced each other once again. This time though, the Colombian sent Costa the wrong way to trigger jubilation among the majority of the 50,000-strong crowd at Alvalade.
Any hopes the goal would open up the cagey nature of the game proved unfounded as chances continued to be at a premium at both ends of the pitch and there was no addition to the scoreline.
All to play for in Porto in April, with the Lions starting with a narrow advantage, but for now both teams will quickly regather and prepare for crucial Primeira Liga matches at the weekend with just four points separating them at the top of the table. Sporting travel to Braga on Saturday while Porto return to the Portuguese capital on Sunday to take on Benfica.
Benfica continued their good run of form, clocking up a fourth straight victory in the Liga Portugal for the first time this season, in an entertaining clash with high-flying Gil Vicente in Barcelos on Monday night.
The hosts started strongly, but after weathering the storm Benfica gradually took control and went ahead in the 35th minute when António Silva rose highest at a corner to head into the net.
Just like in the first half, Gil Vicente started the second half well and were rewarded when Héctor Hernández squeezed his shot past Anatoliy Trubin to level the score.
In an open game with both teams going for the win, it was Benfica who found the net thanks to piece of individual brilliance by Andreas Schjelderup. The Norwegian dribbled past his marker and smashed a shot into the roof of the net with his weaker left foot.
The victory moves Benfica back to within three points of city rivals Sporting in second place and seven points behind leaders Porto, who the Eagles welcome to the Estádio da Luz on Sunday. A win there and José Mourinho’s side will feel they are right back in the title race.
Mourinho praise for Schjelderup
Mourinho was asked about what has changed in Andreas Schjelderup’s game compared to when the coach arrived at Benfica at the start of the season.
“I feel he knows the coach likes this Schjelderup and not the Schjelderup I found when I arrived at Benfica. Although he is not a player with defensive attributes, he has improved greatly in terms of his defensive play from a tactical point of view. And then players always feel more confident when they realise the coach likes them and trusts them.”
Sporting keep up the chase. Hot on the heels of Porto’s victory over Arouca, the Lions dispatched Estoril with little fuss at Alvalade to keep the gap between the top two to four points at the top of the Primeira Liga table.
Estoril are enjoying another fine season under Scottish coach Ian Cathro and were expected to cause problems for the hosts, but two quickfire goals from striker Luis Suárez quickly drew the sting out of the visitors and suspense from the match.
The Colombian centre-forward benefited from two outstanding assists from Francisco Trincão and Morten Hjulmand respectively, two clinical finishes giving Sporting a 2-0 lead by the 16th minute.
Rui Borges’ team opted for cruise control for most of the remainder of the match, conserving energy for big games next week against Porto (Portuguese Cup) and Braga (Liga), with Japanese midfielder Hidemassa Morita back to his very best and running the game for long periods.
Estoril played some neat football as usual but were unable to seriously threaten Sporting, a Rafik Guitane effort in the second half the closest they came to cutting the deficit, but goalkeeper Rui Silva got down well to make a sharp save.
Sporting put the icing on the cake in stoppage time when substitute Daniel Bragança scored for the second home match in a row, a fine dribble and finish rounding off a satisfactory night for the home supporters.
Porto kept one hand on the Liga Portugal title after two late goals at Estádio do Dragão secured a 3-1 victory against Arouca.
Francesco Farioli’s side put the ball into the net after just 13 seconds when Oskar Pietuszewski converted Victor Froholdt’s cross. The teenager was initially ruled offside before the VAR decided he was 6cm onside.
Froholdt turned Alberto Costa’s cross against the post before Pietuszewski stung the hands of Ignacio de Arruabarrena, Deniz Gül unable to convert the rebound.
Porto continued to pile on the pressure and went close on the stroke of half-time. Pietuszewski’s cross to the back post found Pepê who looked certain to score before Bas Kuipers came up with a crucial block.
Javi Sánchez picked up an injury in the first half and didn’t return after half-time, the central defender replaced by Boris Popović.
Taichi Fukui rattled the bar less than 60 seconds after the restart but normal service was swiftly resumed, Gabri Veiga testing Arruabarrena and Gül firing over from close range.
Francisco Farioli made a triple switch on the hour mark when Veiga, Pietuszewski and Gül made way for Rodrigo Mora, William Gomes and Terem Moffi.
Porto couldn’t clear away and were pegged back in the 70th minute. Alfonso Trezza’s shot was blocked before Naïs Djouahra fired from outside the box and caught Diogo Costa flat footed.
Seko Fofana replaced Pablo Rosario before Gomes and Alberto Costa shot straight at Arruabarrena. Pepê made way for 18-year-old André Miranda who came on for his senior debut.
It was looking like Arouca would snatch a point before Fofana collided with Yellu Santiago in an attempt to shoot, referee Iancu Vasilica awarding a penalty that was eventually upheld by the VAR. Gomes converted the spot kick off the underside of the bar.
The Dragons wrapped it up deep into added time when Gomes’ cross was converted by Moffi.
There will be plenty of talk about the penalty decision that helped get Porto out of jail. Naïs Djouahra had his say in a brief flash interview: "There’s not much to say, everyone saw what happened. Things don’t change."
Tough road trips on the horizon
Porto have been below their best since February, losing at Casa Pia and allowing Sporting CP to score a late equaliser at Estádio do Dragão. The 1-0 win at Nacional was far from convincing.
The season ending injury to Samu Aghehowa has given the chasing pack hope that a capitulation could be on the cards, just as it happened with Francesco Farioli’s Ajax last season.
The Dragons now have to travel to Lisbon twice in the space of a week, to take on Sporting CP in the Taça de Portugal semi-final first leg and and Benfica in Liga Portugal.
Porto then go to Germany to face Stuttgart in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg. It’s a crucial two weeks that could make or break their season.
The draws have taken place for the knockout stages of this season’s European competitions at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, and the outcome opens up good prospects for Portugal’s three teams who have made it to this phase.
Champions League
Sporting knew before the draw took place they would be facing either debutants at this level, Bodø/Glimt, or the most successful team in European football history, Real Madrid, in their last-16 tie.
Fate decided it was Bodø who will be the Lions’ opponents, with the first leg to be played in Norway on 10/11 March and the deciding match at Alvalade one week later.
Bodø/Glimt have captured the imagination of football fans all over the world by constructing a team that has competed with Europe’s giants without the aid of a huge financial benefactor, relying instead on smart recruitment and largely local talent. After initially struggling in the Champions League, the Norwegians successively beat Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan twice to reach this stage.
Sporting have only reached the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition three times before, progressing to the quarter-finals once, in 1982/83, when it was still known as the European Cup.
The Lisbon outfit have therefore never reached the last eight of the modern Champions League. Should they do so, they will face the winner of the tie between Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal, and with the English side heavy favourites it could mark a quick return to Alvalade for Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres.
As for the rest of the draw, two matchups in particular stand out: PSG v Chelsea and Real Madrid v Manchester City.
After qualifying directly for the round of sixteen, Porto and Braga were today paired against Stuttgart and Ferencvaros respectively in the Europa League draw.
Braga have enjoyed a superb season in Europe, winning 10, drawing 3 and losing just one of 14 matches in 2025/26. Carlos Vicens’ team will be confident of continuing their good run after being drawn against the Hungarians.
If Braga overcome Ferencvaros, they will face with winners of the tie between Panathinaikos and Real Betis in the quarter-finals.
Porto, who have won UEFA’s second competition twice, have a more difficult task, at least theoretically. The Dragons will play Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart, who beat Celtic 4-2 on aggregate in the playoff to reach this phase.
Should Porto progress, they will play either Nottingham Forest – now coached by former Porto boss Vítor Pereira – or Midtjylland in the last eight.
Geny Catamo celebrates after scoring a wonder goal against Moreirense
Three spectacular goals in the second half saw Sporting overcome Moreirense and keep the pressure on leaders Porto, cutting the gap to the Dragons to one point ahead of Porto’s match against Rio Ave tomorrow.
The Lions were on top from start to finish but struggled to create clearcut chances in the first half, Francisco Trincão came closest to breaking the deadlock, twice, but goalkeeper André Ferreira saved on both occasions.
Sporting came out after the break with more aggression and quickened the pace of their passing, and they were soon rewarded.
Hjulamnd won the ball high up the pitch and fed Luís Guilherme, who released the marauding Maxi Araújo. The Uruguayan drove into the box and passed to Francisco Trincão, whose precise first-time shot nestled into the corner of the net.
Catamo thunderbolt
1-0 quickly became 2-0 thanks to a magnificent goal by Geny Catamo. The Mozambican picked up the ball in the inside right position, cut infield and unleased a stupendous curling shot with his left foot that flew into the opposite top corner of the net.
Moreirense boss Vasco Botelho da Costa reacted to the double blow by making two substitutions, Landerson and Nile John entering the fray, and he was almost rewarded immediately, John’s shot deflected onto the bar. Moments later Maranhão headed narrowly wide.
Sporting put the game to bed in the 75th minute. Luis Suárez got on the end of a corner and produced another tremendous finish, arrowing an unstoppable right-footed shot across goal and into the net.
Substitutes Fotis Ioannidis and Daniel Bragança both had chances to increase Sporting’s lead, in the backdrop of the jubilant visiting supporters chanting Queremos o Tri – we want a third straight championship – but no further goals were scored.
SL Benfica returned to the Estádio da Luz to take on AVS this weekend with the opportunity to make up ground on rivals Sporting CP and FC Porto. These two clubs found themselves on opposite ends of the table going into Saturday’s clash. Benfica, currently third in the league, have not lost a match in the Primeira Liga this season and have won five of their last six in the competition. Meanwhile, the Vila das Aves club sat at the bottom of the table with just eight points from 22 matches. No team has conceded more goals than AVS, with João Henriques’ side allowing 54 goals already in the league.
Despite AVS's 3-0 victory last weekend over Estoril Praia, this was a match that the Eagles were expected to command, and José Mourinho’s side did just that. It became clear early on that AVS were outmatched in this tie, with Benfica dominating the possession and chances from the opening minute onwards. Goals from Alexander Bah, Enzo Barrenechea and Rafa Silva gave the Lisbon side a comfortable lead going into the half. The second half was more of the same, and while AVS showed some steel, there was little chance of a comeback after a one-sided first half.
The win sees Benfica move to 55 points on the season, three points behind Sporting and four points behind Porto (although the Dragons do have a game in hand).
First half blitz gives Benfica commanding lead
It didn’t take long for Benfica to get going. Some cohesive build up work down the left side between Schjelderup and Pavlidis saw the ball eventually drop to the latter in the box and the striker lashed a low shot. AVS keeper Adriel did well to get down and save the attempt, but Bah was on hand to collect the rebound and thrash home his first goal of the campaign.
In the 15th minute, it was Schjelderup and Pavildis once again tormenting the AVS defenders. Some slick passing inside the box ended with a close-range shot for the Greek striker. His attempt, though, drifted just wide of the post.
The home side continued to control the possession, and in the 26th minute, that nearly led to a second. This time, it was Enzo Barrenechea blazing his shot over the goal.
Barrenechea, not known for his goalscoring ability, was undeterred, and just three minutes later, he was able to take advantage of some poor defending from a corner, unleashing a powerful left-footed shot that left Adriel with little chance. A delightful strike from the Argentine central midfielder to record his second of the campaign.
Pavlidis continues to show his quality as the game progressed. A phenomenal run from the centre circle, combined with some smart passing, saw the forward connect with a perfectly timed through ball from Schedlerup. His right-footed toe poke,though, was aimed directly at Adriel.
Rafa’s wondergoal puts Benfica three up
In the 43rd minute, a moment of magic from Rafa Silva. Regarded as a fan favourite at the club, the player, who recently returned after a stint in Turkey with Beşiktaş, pulled off a stunning goal just before the half. A low cross from Sidney Cabral found the 32-year-old just outside the six-yard box. Rafa’s first touch may not have been perfect, leaving the ball rolling around under his legs. He made up for his first touch with a brilliant improvised rabona, wrapping his right foot around to clip the ball past a crowded box and into the net. A special goal from a player who made his Benfica debut nearly a decade ago.
The visitors were completely outplayed in the opening 45 minutes. There were few positives to take from their first half performance. Babatunde Akinsola did his best to try and penetrate down the right wing, but aside from a few dangerous runs from the Nigerian, AVS hardly troubled Benfica’s back four.
Benfica continue to pepper AVS goal in second half
AVS, shell-shocked in the opening half, came out with a more positive approach in the second. Henriques started to push bodies forward and even brought on Óscar Perea and Tiago Galletto as he looked to inject some energy into his team.
Benfica still maintained the majority of the possession and were quick to fill any gaps on the pitch. Barrenechea and Ríos controlled the midfield while the constant threat of Schjelderup and Cabral down the wings ensured AVS’ defenders could not step too far out of line.
In the 63rd minute, a perfectly weighted cross nearly found Ríos for Benfica’s fourth. In the 67th minute, it was Cabral with the near miss when his shot bounced off the post. Pavlidis was inches away from his first of the match in the 70th after collecting the ball, turning, and striking a low shot that was deflected just wide. In the 77th minute, a rocket from Antonio Silva sailed just over the bar.
Mourinho’s starting 11
Despite taking on one of the league’s struggling sides, Mourinho took no chances, putting out a strong side knowing that anything short of three points would be a catastrophe. Bah, who had not featured in the lineup for over a year due to injury, was handed his first start. José Neto was given the opportunity to show what he could do down the left side. Aside from that, this was very strong lineup consisting of a group of regulars.
With one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League second leg in Madrid, Mourinho turned to his bench early on. He chose to remove Otamendi at the half after taking a three-goal lead. In the 71st minute, the manager brought on Franjo Ivanovic and Dodi Lukebakio, and Pavlidis was taken off 10 minutes later.
Reliance on Pavlidis
From an attacking standpoint, Benfica were outstanding. Schjelderup was exceptional on the night, connecting beautifully with Pavlidis. Rafa showed us once again why he is such a vital piece in Mourinho’s system, causing havoc in the No. 10 role just behind the striker. Cabral has made an immediate impact since making the short move from the Lisbon suburb of Amadora in January. Full-backs Bah and Neto were also effective down the wings, with the former being rewarded for his hard work with a goal. Barrenechea recorded his second goal of the season, and Ríos was inches from getting a goal of his own.
It is no secret that Benfica have been heavily reliant on striker Pavlidis for goals this season. Going into the match, the talented forward had already recorded 28 goals in all competitions. Next on the list are Schjelderup and Ivanovic, who each have five, followed by Aursnes and Sudakov with four apiece. And while Pavlidis remained the focal point of the attack, the players around him looked threatening as well tonight. If Benfica hope to compete in multiple competitions, Mourinho knows he will have to bring the best out of his supporting cast. Pavlidis was effective, but Benfica supporters would've been thrilled to see some of their other stars contribute with key goals today.
Benfica 3-0 AVS highlights
Lineups:
Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin, Alexander Bah (Dodi Lukebakio, 71’), Nicolás Otamendi (Tomás Araújo, 46’), António Silva, José Neto, Enzo Barrenechea, Richard Ríos, Andreas Schjelderup (Franjo Ivanovic, 71’), Sidney Cabral, Rafa Silva (Diogo Prioste, 86’), Vangelis Pavlidis (Anísio Cabral, 81’)
Twenty-two matches later, AVS Futebol SAD rediscovered the path to league victory.
When questioned regarding the significance of the shock 3-0 victory over Estoril last weekend, AVS manager João Henriques admitted:
“It’s a relief, but a deserved one. The players began to question their quality, and I promised them that it hadn’t disappeared. We’re growing, improving and are more competitive.”
Although cut adrift at the bottom of the standings, the team from Vila das Aves have not given up the fight to avoid relegation, as Henriques stressed: “We'll stay focused, accumulate points and see what happens at the end of the season. We’ve closed the gap on those ahead of us, and we still must face them all.”
The stars aligned as Ian Cathro’s Estoril admitted they were “shocked” by the AVS opener, and repeatedly frustrated in front of goal.
While one of Portugal’s most entertaining sides faltered, Tomané made no mistake.
In another paramount performance (11 duels won), Tomané calmly slotted past former Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles, embodying the focal point AVS have so desperately lacked.
The Matchday 22 PortuGOAL Figure of the Week had to be from AVS, and Tomané is the deserving nominee. The lowdown on the veteran journeyman is courtesy of Kevin Fernandes.
From Serbia to Santo Tirso
António Manuel Fernandes Mendes was born in Fafe, Braga, which is a region steeped in dense Portuguese football heritage, making headlines as recently as this season.
Liga 3 side AD Fafe are currently beating Taça da Liga finalists SC Braga 2-0 in the Taça de Portugal.
Fun fact: Fafe currently sit behind Braga's B team in Liga 3, having lost to them earlier in the campaign. pic.twitter.com/XZ8UytKRoh
Aged 13, Tomané (a fusion of the common Portuguese names António and Manuel) was integrated into the Vitória Sport Clube academy after a short passage with fallen giants Boavista.
After winning two youth titles, aged 17, the centre-forward made his senior debut. However, the turbulence would commence as it would take three years for Tomané to make his second league appearance for Vitória’s first team, where he would score.
In a mindful attempt to keep this short and concise, Tomané has represented AD Limianos, MSV Duisburg, Panetolikos, FC Arouca, CD Tondela, Crvena Zvezda Samsunspor, APOEL Nicosia and SC Farense.
From earning sixteen international youth caps for Portugal to winning four league titles across Europe, Tomané’s career has been uncertain, unpredictable, yet undeniably successful.
🇵🇹Tomané marca o 2.º golo nesta temporada (10 jogos): FC Porto e Benfica.
O avançado já tinha marcado frente às águias em 2018 na vitória do Tondela na Luz por 2-3, golo decisivo para o triunfo. pic.twitter.com/jP7Ux5oXTq
From regular, exquisite goals, even against the traditional Portuguese ‘Big 3’.
To being linked with big moves to the likes of SC Braga, the streets certainly won’t forget Tomané.
Tough nut
Renowned in Portugal for his defensive work rate and dominance in duels as a self-proclaimed ‘worker for the team’, Tomané remains a handful for every Liga Portugal defender.
According to ZeroZero, there is no player in Portugal contesting and winning more ground and aerial duels than Tomané.
While his physical traits may be dwindling and efficiency in front of goal has never been his defining trait, Tomané can still attack space effectively and pull that sporadic rabbit out of the hat.
The 1.86m tall forward is often isolated in an uninspired frontline where overwhelmingly individualistic attacks are regularly squandered prematurely. Hold-up play is valuable for the defence to breathe and attempt to step-up, but irrelevant if the attempt at linking play is rendered practically impossible.
From his impressive stint at Tondela to often thankless efforts for AVS, Tomané is underappreciated as a quality toiler.
As this is being written, AVS are nine points behind the relegation play-off spot and 12 points from safety. With the latest PortuGOAL Figure of the Week amongst the ranks, everything remains mathematically possible.
Casa Pia, Alverca, Estrela and Gil Vicente collect record transfer fees, Famalicão and Rio Ave also make hay
Throughout Portuguese football history Portugal’s Big Three of Porto, Benfica and Sporting have manufactured an overwhelming breach in quality between them and the Primeira Liga’s other sides. There are plenty of reasons for this gap, from the club’s gargantuan fanbases to their financial backing, accentuated in the modern game by their vastly superior TV rights and commercial revenue. But another major explanation for the gulf is the ability of Portugal’s main teams to hoover up the best footballers, especially the most promising young players, from the rest. From Fábio Coentrão (Rio Ave to Benfica), Diogo Jota (Paços de Ferreira to Porto) to Matheus Nunes (Estoril to Sporting), it’s a well-trodden path of players going from Liga Portugal’s minnows to plying their trade at one of Os Tres Grândes to then earning lucrative moves abroad.
From a quality perspective, Portugal is undoubtedly one of the best leagues in world football. From a financial perspective, however, it is dwarfed by Europe’s top five leagues as well as a host of other domestic competitions like MLS, Brasileirão, Saudi Pro League, Liga MX, EFL Championship, and Süper Lig. For the most part, these potential buyers have been more than willing to allow these raw talents to prove themselves in a top-tier Portuguese team before paying a premium for a more refined version of the same player.
However, that is finally starting to change, if the events of the 2026 winter transfer window are anything to go by.
Famalicão
Ever since returning to the Portuguese top-flight after a quarter-century, Famalicão have been able to stake out a reputation as one of the shrewdest recruiting clubs in Portugal. From Pedro Gonçalves to Luiz Júnior, from Otávio to Iván Jaime to Ugarte, they’ve sold several players for eight-digit fees since their return to the upper echelon, and their latest sale is none other than Yassir Zabiri.
Famalicão made a huge profit on Moroccon Yassir Zabiri after the striker shone in the U20 World Cup. (Photo: Getty Images)
After rising through the ranks at Morocco’s Mohammed VI Football Academy, Zabiri launched his professional career with Union Touarga, where, after just a half-season of senior football, he joined Famalicão for €600,000. Zabiri was eased into the side, scoring 5 goals and providing 1 assist in 6 appearances for their U23s and 3 goals in 6 appearances for the first team, before heading to Chile to take part in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He took the opportunity by the scruff of the neck, finishing as the joint-top scorer with 5 goals and leading Morocco to their first-ever title with a brace against Argentina in the final. Zabiri then returned to northern Portugal and scored his first club goal of the season against Moreirense in November, before bagging a goal versus Braga and a brace against Estoril in his next two matches. It was more than enough to convince Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais to splurge €10 million on the 20-year-old centre-forward, signing him on a contract to 2029, and they’ll be hoping that he provides them an extra spark in their fight for Ligue 1’s final European spot.
“The case of Yassir Zabiri is a great example of Famalicão’s anticipation…it was an appreciable scouting job,” stated Expresso journalist Francisco Martins, speaking to PortuGOAL. “The Morocco youth system is generating great talent, and Famalicão managed to recruit one of their best prospects. From the moment Zabiri did what he did at the U-20 World Cup, it became impossible for Famalicão hold onto him.”
Casa Pia
Whilst Zabiri’s €10m fee wasn’t even enough to make the Mount Rushmore of Famalicão’s biggest sales, Casa Pia managed to net themselves a club-record transfer fee of €6.5 million after selling Renato Nhaga to Galatasaray. Born in Guinea-Bissau, Nhaga left Africa in 2022 but was originally banned from playing football in Portugal for administrative reasons. Patience proved to be a virtue for Nhaga, who joined Casa Pia’s youth academy in 2023 before signing his first professional contract on31 July 2024. After becoming Casa Pia’s youngest-ever debutant on 29 April 2025, Nhaga would play in the Gansos’ final two matches before making his debut for the Guinea-Bissau national team.
He hasn’t just made himself a vital cog for Guinea-Bissau, playing in each of their last six matches and starting the last two, but he also proved to be a revelation for Casa Pia. After being named Casa Pia’s Athlete of the Year and signing an extension through 2028, the diminutive midfielder emerged as a starter thanks to his superb passing ability and poise under pressure, bagging goals against Benfica and Tondela in the process. It wasn’t long before the best team in Türkiye came sniffing around, signing him on a contract through 2030. Nhaga has already made his first-team debut against Eyüpspor, and while he’s ineligible to play in the UEFA Champions League, he’ll be looking to spearhead Galatasaray to their fourth consecutive Süper Lig title.
“Renato Nhaga is the perfect example of a player who develops in the club’s youth system, reaches the first team, and becomes valued,” explained Martins. “Casa Pia isn’t even a club with a reputation for its individual development, but for me, that should be the focus. Players who have left the Portuguese league and found success abroad have given the championship a reputation as a supplier of talent, and mid-sized clubs are trying to identify potential reinforcements at a relatively early stage of their careers.
“However, I don’t think this is beneficial for the competitiveness of the Primeira Liga. If you notice, these players remained in Portugal for only a short time before reaching the peak of their abilities, and some never even reached it. The constant changes in the squads make it difficult to solidify a collective idea: it’s a delicate situation because not selling players is out of the question. In terms of youth development, I believe Benfica, Sporting, FC Porto, Vitória SC and SC Braga are on another level, but where I think other clubs have improved significantly is in scouting.”
Alverca
All things considered, it has been a memorable 12 months for F.C. Alverca. In February 2025, Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior and his partners became co-owners of the club, acquiring between around 75% of its shares for roughly €9 million. In May 2025, Alverca achieved their second straight promotion to return to Liga Portugal for the first time since 2003/04. In May 2025, Alverca got their back-to-back promotion to Liga Portugal. And after a shaky start, Custódio Castro’s side have started to find their feet in the top tier, ascending to 10th in the table, eight points above the relegation playoff spot.
However, they will have to make do without their midfield dynamo Alex Amorim for the final 12 matches. Born and raised in Fortaleza, Amorim broke onto the professional scene in 2025 with Brazilian second-tier side Athletic Club before joining Alverca – who have the same ownership as Athletic – with the Portuguese side acquiring 50% of the player’s economic rights for €310,000. It didn’t take long for them to enjoy a sizable return on their investment: after bagging 2 goals in 21 appearances, the Brazilian midfielder made the move to Serie A side Genoa for a club-record sale of €7.5 million.
Rio Ave
After three consecutive mid-table finishes in their return to Liga Portugal, Rio Ave are in grave danger of suffering relegation to the second tier. The Vilacondenses sit three points above the relegation playoff and five above the relegation zone after losing their last five matches, and they will be entering the season’s final months without two of their best players: André Luiz and Clayton. Ever since being added to a sporting empire containing Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos, Rio Ave have been resigned to losing some of their most prized assets for pennies on the dollar to the bigger sharks in Evangelos Marinakis’ domains.
Having sold Costinha to the Greek giants for €2.5 million in the summer, Rio Ave have once again been raided by Olympiacos for their two Brazilian forwards, Clayton and André Luiz, who scored 17 of their 23 league goals this season. Whilst Marinakis admitted that he was offered nearly €20m for Luiz by Wolves and Benfica as well as over €10m by an Emirati side for Clayton, he ended up selling them both to Olympiacos for a combined €11.75m. And whilst both strikers have gone from starters to substitutes in Piraeus, Rio Ave currently find themselves without a single player who has scored more than two league goals this season.
“André Luiz and Clayton were at a club, Rio Ave, with which it was very difficult to negotiate,” stated Martins. “Both were repeatedly linked to the big clubs in Portugal, but nothing ever materialized: André Luiz was the big saga of the last transfer window, but Evangelos Marinakis raised the price too much. André Luiz is also a particular case because Rio Ave bought him from Estrela (a club that has been recruiting very well), and it is not normal for pricey transfers to occur between lower-level Portuguese clubs.”
Estrela da Amadora
Another club that smashed their transfer record this past month was Estrela da Amadora. The successor of Clube de Futebol Estrela da Amadora, founded in 1932 and extinct in 2011 due to financial problems and bankruptcy, Estrela rose from the ashes in 2020 and returned to the top flight in 2023/24, finishing 14th and 15th in the table, and today they sit 11th. The club decided to cash in on two of their most valuable figures: French-born Mauritania international Oumar Ngom joined Serie A side Lecce for €2 million, with the 21-year-old midfielder becoming the fourth Estrela player to join Lecce for a seven-digit fee in the past year.
The Tricolores also managed to bag themselves a club-record dividend of €6 million for Netherlands-born Cape Verde international Sidny Lopes Cabral, with the right back joining Benfica on a contract through 2030. Cabral has been involved from the get-go, bagging a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win against his former employers, and he’ll be looking to build on his promising displays in the capital and lock down a starting spot in defence under José Mourinho.
Gil Vicente
Four years after qualifying for Europe for the first time in the club’s history, Gil Vicente find themselves in the hunt for yet another date with continental football. The Roosters are crowing louder than ever, having knocked Braga off their usual perch of fourth place. César Peixoto’s side are currently one point above Braga, but if they are to return to UEFA competition, they’ll have to do so without two vital figures: Andrew Ventura and Pablo Felipe.
Andrew has emerged as one of Portugal’s best goalkeepers since arriving in 2021, and it was only a matter of time before the best teams in Brazil (and South America) came knocking on the door. Whereas Andrew has returned to his homeland and joined Flamengo for €1.5 million, his compatriot Pablo Felipe has more than tripled Gil’s previous record fee after joining Premier League outfit West Ham for €23 million. If Gil are missing their top scorer, they certainly aren’t showing it, having won four of their last five Primeira Liga matches.
“All of these players have had very different development processes, but the most impressive, especially considering the amount paid by West Ham, is Pablo Felipe,” stated Martins. “It’s a case of great individual merit. There aren’t many players loaned from teams other than Benfica, Sporting and FC Porto who succeed. Pablo played for Paços de Ferreira in the Second Division, on loan from Famalicão, and struggled, but his success at Gil Vicente is impressive because of his unusual trajectory, a story of resilience. In the past, these players would probably have had to go through one of the Big Three clubs to leave Portugal for those amounts. Today, that’s no longer the case.”
Sporting CP conceded a penalty deep into added time as Braga snatched a 2-2 draw at the Quarry.
Who are Sauherad IL?
Porto kept one hand on the Liga Portugal title after two late goals at Estádio do Dragão secured a 3-1 victory against Arouca.
All things considered, it has been a memorable 12 months for 
Four years after qualifying for Europe for the first time in the club’s history, Gil Vicente find themselves in the hunt for yet another date with continental football. The Roosters are crowing louder than ever, having knocked Braga off their usual perch of fourth place. César Peixoto’s side are currently one point above Braga, but if they are to return to UEFA competition, they’ll have to do so without two vital figures: Andrew Ventura and Pablo Felipe.