High-flying Marco Silva continues to work his managerial magic

Back in June this year, Jorge Jesus – the eccentric, outspoken and charismatic boss who had guided Benfica to three league titles, ten domestic trophies and two Europa League finals – sensationally walked out of the reigning champions and took over at cross-city rivals Sporting. The move sent shockwaves throughout the nation; more Judas than Jesus, quipped the outraged Benfica fans.

Amid the fall-out of a move that rocked Portuguese football, a managerial casualty went almost unnoticed. Marco Silva had only been appointed at the Alvalade twelve months previously, the 38-year-old having been poached from Estoril, the tiny coastal outfit in Greater Lisbon. You can make a good case that Silva was extremely harshly done by, but the young coach did not waste time bemoaning his misfortune. Colin Millar profiles the latest Portuguese manager to be drawing comparisons with José Mourinho.

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Big three pull clear at top of the standings

With one third of the championship now played, Portugal's traditional Big Three are starting to pull clear at the top of the Primeira Liga table. 

On Friday night Benfica beat Académica 3-0, the match highlight being a stupendous goal on his home debut by 18-year-old Renato Sanches (pictured). On Saturday Porto came from behind to beat Paços de Ferreira 2-1 at the Estádio do Dragão. Sporting therefore kicked off their match in Madeira needing to beat Marítimo o stay top, and duly did so thanks to a beautifully worked goal from Adrien. 

Other highlights included Vitória Setúbal's 3-0 win at Belenenses, Arouca beating Boavista 3-2 and a rare win for União da Madeira.

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Sporting's most exciting duo of wingers since Ronaldo & Quaresma

In 2002, two outrageously talented young wingers took their first steps in senior football for Portuguese champions Sporting. Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma would waste little time in displaying their God-given gifts with a ball at their feet.

Fast-forward 13 years and Sporting again have two promising flank players operating in tandem who are being touted for a brilliant future.

Gelson Martins, 20 years old, and Matheus Pereira, 19, are both getting regular playing time – and making the most of it – for the Primeira Liga leaders.

Tom Kundert writes about Sporting’s latest pair of flying wingers for FourFourTwo. 

Sporting and Porto march on, Benfica go 3rd

Matchday 11 had a sprinkling of Liga NOS games spread across four days. And it proved to be another lively weekend of action.

This weekend saw Petit leave his post in charge of Boavista after another defeat, a goal-fest of a Madeiran derby and Benfica answer a few questions from the critics. There was also a clash on Sunday evening between two Europa League hopefuls.

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José Mourinho: Involution after success?

As so often was the case when he graced the football pitches in Spain and the rest of Europe, leave it to former Barcelona midfield maestro Xavi Hernández to hit the nail on the head about José Mourinho:

"He was the assistant coach, someone who understood the philosophy of Barça and who shared many of the same characteristics of Van Gaal. He was very respected by the players. He trained us sometimes alone at Barça B and he was excellent. I'm surprised that he became known for another type of football, more defensive, because he wasn't like that with us."

And therein lies probably one of the most fascinating aspects of The Special One's trajectory thus far.

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EL: Braga through, Sporting back in the hunt, Belenenses still alive

A last-gasp winner against Slovan Liberec by substitute Crislan (pictured) gave Braga a fourth win in five Europa League matches last night, thus booking Braga's place in the knockout stage of the competition.

Sporting maintained their excellent form, producing a vibrant display to beat Lokomotiv Moscow 4-2 in sub-zero temperatures in the Russian capital. The Lions will qualify for the next round if they beat Besiktas at the Alvalade in their last match. 

A low-key goalless draw between Belenenses and Lech Poznan at the Restelo kept hopes of qualification for Sá Pinto's side alive, at least in theory. But to make progress, the Azuis have to go to Italy and beat Fiorentina, and hope the result in the other group game goes their way. 

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Porto compromise Champions League aspirations, Benfica into last 16

FC Porto began their home match against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday evening with good possibilities of finishing top of Group G. After an abject display and 2-0 defeat, the Dragons must now win at Chelsea on matchday six to have a realistic chance of remaining in the Champions League beyond Christmas. 

Benfica, on the other hand, are celebrating qualification for the knockout stage of Europe's premier club competition for only the third time this century after a 2-2 draw in Kazakhstan against Astana. 

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A decade of Portuguese in the Premier League

As the January transfer window approaches, speculation is beginning to mount regarding the possible transfers of several Portuguese players to the world’s richest league. William Carvalho, Rúben Neves and Gonçalo Guedes, star turns at Sporting, Porto and Benfica respectively, have been rumoured to be on the radars of several English clubs.

If any or all of them make the move to the EPL it will continue a recent tradition of Portuguese players moving from their homeland to the Premiership. On balance, how have they done? PortuGOAL looks at over a decade of Portuguese in the Premiership.

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Football and fiction in Portugal: The Chairman

The Chairman is the debut novel by author CD Barros. This is a story of passion, innocence, greed, corruption and power. We go along with our main protagonist, Livio Almeida, as he is forced to mature quickly and abandon many of the qualities which make for a sweet child in order to survive the decadent world of top tier European Football management.

PortuGOAL has five free copies of this e-book up for grabs.

Read the full review of an innovative novel and a ripping good read, and enter the competition to win it.

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Joy for Lions as Sporting beat Benfica again

Sporting 2-1 Benfica (a.e.t.)

Sporting came from behind to beat Benfica in extra time and make progress to the 5th round of the Portuguese Cup in a typically intense Lisbon derby at the Alvalade tonight. 

Mitroglou gave Benfica an early lead, with Adrien equalising for the hosts on the stroke of half time.

No more goals were added until near the end of extra time when Islam Slimani continued his knack of striking at the crucial moment, netting what turned out to be the winner in the 112th minute. 

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