Portuguese Football in English
It was a classic game of two halves in the Portuguese capital tonight as Atalanta beat Sporting 2-1 thanks to a dominant first-half showing rewarded with goals by Giorgio Scalvini and Matteo Ruggeri.
Sporting coach Rúben Amorim made three changes at the break and the Lions came out a transformed side.
Viktor Gyökeres pulled a goal back from the penalty spot and Sporting had chances to equalise but it wasn’t to be and the Italians take control of Group D of the Europa League.
It’s incredible to think that we’ve only had seven matches so far this season, given everything that has happened in that time. Amazing games, controversies, managerial sackings, wonderful goals, the list goes on.
Last week was packed full of goals, drama, and controversy, not only in the Clássico. With 8 red cards and an average of 4 goals per game, as well as leading to another managerial departure, the Jornada 7 was one of the most intense of the season so far. This weekend we’ll do it all over again.
Early season managerial merry-go-round in Portugal
We are in the first week of October and Vitória Sport Clube have appointed their third head coach of the season. It is symptomatic of one of Portuguese football’s perennial underachievers.
Álvaro Pacheco is the latest coach to be handed the “poison chalice” at the Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques, following the sacking of Paulo Turra.
Internazionale 1-0 Benfica
Benfica are still looking for their first point and their first goal in this year’s Champions League after a second-half Marcus Thuram strike gave Inter victory in tonight’s Group D clash.
After an even and competitive first half, the home side completely swamped the Portuguese champions following the break, with only a fine goalkeeping display by Anatoliy Trubin and the woodwork preventing an embarrassing score-line for the Eagles.
Braga overturned a 2-0 deficit to secure an incredible 3-2 victory over Union Berlin in the UEFA Champions League.
The German club were well on top at the Olympiastadion, Sheraldo Becker continually causing havoc with the speedster scoring in the 30th and 37th minutes.
Artur Jorge’s side pulled back a goal on the stroke of half-time when Ricardo Horta’s saved shot was turned home by Sikou Niakaté.
Bruma stepped up with a sensational strike in the 51st minute before both teams went full throttle to secure all three points.
Brenden Aaronson missed a golden chance in added time with Union paying the price, André Castro the unlikely hero when he drilled the ball into the bottom corner with the last kick of the game.
