• Rafael Leão

Rafael Leão is experiencing somewhat of a breakout season in Italy with AC Milan, with his third campaign in the Rossoneri colours proving his most impressive not just in goalscoring terms but regarding his importance to Stefano Pioli’s team.

Leão has recently seen his name linked with a move in the summer, but during an extensive interview with DAZN, the Portuguese forward suggests he is happy at San Siro and is focusing on personal growth as a player rather than switching clubs again.

Cup football took centre stage across Europe this midweek as competitions moved towards the final states, and there were many positive stories involving Portuguese players and managers. Gonçalo Guedes steals the headlines with a fantastic winner to send Valencia to the Copa del Rey final at the expense of Athletic Bilbao.

Elsewhere, André Silva also scored to help RB Leipzig into the German Cup semi-finals, where they will be joined by Hamburg thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes in a penalty shootout win over Karlsruhe. Josué marked his 400^th appearance in football with a goal for Legia Warsaw, while Diogo Jota’s Liverpool progressed in the FA Cup.

Portuguese players struck in as many as 14 countries this weekend, led by former Sporting striker Rafael Leão who continues to demonstrate he is having his breakout year in Italy’s Serie A with AC Milan.

Danilo Pereira was also on the scoresheet once again, adding to his impressive goalscoring exploits this season with Paris Saint-Germain. Elsewhere, there was a golaço for Rizespor’s new recruit Gedson Fernandes in Turkey, while Lucas João is regaining his reputation as one of the best striker’s in England’s Championship with struggling Reading.

• Vítor Pereira
• Brasileirão

Vítor Pereira flew to São Paulo on Friday afternoon after becoming the latest Portuguese coach to take a high-profile job in South America with Brazilian giants Corinthians.

Pereira joins Abel Ferreira (Palmeiras) and Paulo Sousa (Flamengo) to make a trio of Luso coaches guiding some of the very biggest clubs in Brazil. Speaking to journalists as he departed Portugal, Pereira discussed his reasons for choosing Corinthians as his latest step in a varied career coaching abroad.