Portuguese Football in English
Vitória de Guimarães advanced to the Europa Conference League third qualifying round after a 0-0 draw against Puskás Akadémia. The second leg was a match to forget, the hosts lacking the sufficient quality to trouble Bruno Varela who was untested in Hungary.
The tie was decided in the first leg at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques where Os Conquistadores secured a 3-0 victory. Tiago Silva continues to impress for the Portuguese club who face Hajduk Split in Croatia next week.
The Portuguese Primeira Liga is one of the most hotly contested leagues in Europe. In Germany, Bayern Munich have reigned supreme for the last ten years. It’s a similar story in France. Barring Burak Yilmaz leading Lille to a shock success a couple of seasons ago, Paris Saint-Germain are head and shoulders above the rest of the competition. In England, Manchester City and Liverpool are well clear of the trailing pack.
But in Portugal FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting CP regularly battle it out for the title, and Artur Jorge’s Braga are not too far off the pace either. Porto are the reigning champions heading into the new season, but they haven’t retained the trophy in over ten years. They have been made the favourites to do exactly that next term by OddsChecker, which compares odds and free offers on European football.
Three championship titles in five seasons, excellent showings in the Champions League and huge transfer windfalls. You would expect Porto fans to be happy with the way their football club has been performing since Sérgio Conceição became head coach in 2017.
But the waters are far from calm at the Estádio do Dragão. Supporters and Conceição himself are increasingly expressing their frustration at the constant sales of the team’s star players as the board attempt to get the club on an even financial keel.
Vitória de Guimarães’ tumultuous pre-season was temporarily put on the backburner as they defeated Puskás Akadémia 3-0 in the UEFA Europa Conference League second round qualifying 1st leg.
Goals to Rúben Lameiras and Tiago Silva established a 2-0 half-time lead, substitute Anderson Silva scoring within a minute of being introduced to seal the deal.
It was welcome relief after an action-packed fortnight for the Minho club, new club president António Miguel Cardoso unexpectedly sacking Pepa and replacing him with B team boss Moreno Teixeira.
PortuGOAL's Matthew Marshall assessed the match and the current situation for the Minho club.
Major talents leaving the league, a sprinkling of exciting newcomers, some big domestic transfers and the managerial merry-go-round in overdrive. Just another close-season in the Liga Bwin.
PortuGOAL rounds up the major movers so far this summer and possible implications ahead of the 2022/23 campaign in Portugal.
