Royal Antwerp 1-4 FC Porto

It was a classic game of two halves in Champions League group H tonight. Belgian champions Antwerp went into the break leading, Alhassan Yusuf’s smart finish punishing a lethargic Porto side.

But the Portuguese team came roaring out in the second half, Evanilson scoring 45 seconds after the restart.

The Brazilian would go on to hit a hat-trick with Stephen Eustáquio also finding the net after a sensational team move to make it two wins from three for the Dragons to leave them well placed for qualification for the knockout phase. 

Real Madrid 2-1 SC Braga

Goals from Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham were enough to see Real Madrid secure their third straight win of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League campaign. Madrid did just enough to maintain their 100 percent record and cement their position at the top of Group C.

It was a packed house at the Estádio Municipal de Braga (also known as the quarry for its unique location on the side of a mountain) with just under 30,000 in attendance to catch a glimpse of Los Blancos in action. The match did not disappoint with a resilient Braga side pushing Real Madrid to the finish and nearly securing a historic draw.

A second-half Brais Méndez goal gave Real Sociedade a thoroughly deserved victory at the Estádio da Luz tonight against a hugely disappointing Benfica to all but end the Portuguese team’s hopes of progressing from the group stage of the Champions League.

The impressive Spaniards were the better organised, more composed and more tactically astute side throughout the 90 minutes, and Benfica coach Roger Schmidt will be facing some uncomfortable questions in the coming days. 

The third round of the Taça de Portugal is one of the most eagerly awaited weekends of the Portuguese football calendar, especially since the rule change several years ago whereby a seeded draw forces top-flight teams to be the away team.

It increases the chance of shocks and this year was no different with four clubs from Portugal’s top division dumped out of the Portuguese Cup by lower league teams.