In the recent past FC Porto unearthed prodigious talents from South America with alarming regularity. Lisandro Lopez, Hulk, James Rodrigues, Falcao and Jackson Martínez, for example, travelled across the Atlantic and became huge hits wearing the Blue and White, before earning the Dragons enormous transfer fees as they moved on to more prestigious European leagues.

The end of third-party ownership and improved scouting from rival clubs across the continent contrived to turn off the tap on this bountiful font from across the pond. But it appears Porto have hit the jackpot again, in the shape of Colombian winger Luis Díaz.

Signed from Atlético Junior in 2019, Díaz has been in sensational form in 2021. So impressive has Díaz been for club and country that it is a question of when, rather than if, he is sold on for a huge profit for the northern club. For fans of Portuguese football the message is clear: enjoy him while you can.

In an opinion piece, Luís Pedro Ferreira, Portuguese football journalist and Assistant-Director of the country’s foremost football website, Maisfutebol, succinctly explains what makes Díaz so special. 

Sporting de Braga continued their fine form by beating Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets 4-2 at the Quarry in the Europa League last night.

The excellent Al Musrati got the ball rolling with a long-range strike on 25 minutes, with Iuri Medeiros, Wenderson Galeno and Mario González also hitting the target, although captain Ricardo Horta was the star of the show, providing three assists. Sotiriou and Plastun scored for the visitors.

The win takes Carlos Carvalhal’s team to the top of Group F with two matches remaining, two points ahead of Crvena Zvezda and four ahead of FC Midtjylland – their two opponents in their final two matches. 

• Sporting,
• Luis Diaz
• Paulinho
• UEFA Champions League
• Pedro Goncalves
• Besiktas
• AC Milan

Sporting have kept their hopes of qualifying for the next round of the UEFA Champions League alive with a 4-0 thrashing handed out to Besiktas, this Wednesday.

The Lions, in need of a victory, raced to a 3-0 lead as early as the first half, via goals from Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho, before Pablo Sarabia’s finishing touch concluded a successful night at the Alvalade against the Turkish league champions.

Sporting’s result came after FC Porto held their own away to A.C. Milan at the San Siro, leading 1-0 prior to a Chancel Mbemba own goal that settled the encounter at 1-1. 

Bayern Munich secured progress to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds after a convincing 5-2 victory against Benfica. It was another masterclass of attacking football with the final score flattering the visitors.

Goals to Kingsley Coman and Robert Lewandowski established a 2-0 lead at Allianz Arena, Morato getting Benfica back into the contest before Odysseas Vlachodimos saved Lewandowski’s penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Leroy Sané and Lewandowski scored at the start of the second half to give FC Bayern a 4-1 lead, Darwin Núñez providing the travelling support with a faint hope in the 74th minute before Lewandowski's hat-trick ended the contest.