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footballportugal Podcast – 20/04/09

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Returning after a two-week hiatus, the footballportugal podcast is back to keep you informed about all the happenings in Portuguese football over the past 7 days.

In part one we’ll focus on the Liga. There’s no change at the top, with all three Grandes winning. The best game of the weekend was at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques in Guimarães, where Sporting made a last-gasp recovery to win 1-2 against Vitória. Nuno Assis, who was once on Sporting’s books, was really impressive for Guimarães but it was ‘The Ninja’ Derlei who turned it round for Sporting, literally putting the ‘fight’ into ‘fight back’ in the process. Both Porto and Benfica had comfortable victories at Académica and Vitória de Setúbal respectively. The only news to report from Benfica’s stroll in the park was the sight of Rui Costa smoking cigarettes on the touchline. At the bottom of the table, Trofense look to be even deeper in trouble after losing 2-1 at Rio Ave, and Belenenses climb out of the relegation zone after drawing 1-1 away at Maritimo. This was Maritimo’s fifth 1-1 draw in a row – not the greatest of starts for their new-ish manager, Carlos Carvalhal.

In part two we concentrate of the city of fortified red wine, Porto. FC Porto were deservedly knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United in midweek, and for the second year in succession they’re left regretting not having finished the tie in the first leg. We also concentrate on the worsening fortunes of Boavista, who are now bottom of the Liga de Honra. Hundreds of Boavisteiros marched from Estádio da Bessa to City Hall in Porto on Friday afternoon to get some media and political attention for their plight. The future looks horribly grim for the Axadrezados.

Thanks for all the comments over the last couple of weeks, even when there wasn’t a podcast to listen to. Do keep them coming.

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

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footballportugal Podcast – 16/03/09

Monday, March 16th, 2009

With the quality of Portuguese football being severely questioned in the wake of Sporting’s 12-1 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, we spend the first part of this week’s podcast asking how it was all possible and who was to blame. We bring you up to date on the reactions in the press and of sportinguistas, some of whom were incensed enough to send a death threat to certain people at the club. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom; both Braga and Porto demonstrated that Portuguese domestic football is alive and well, with Porto going through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and Braga earning a well-deserved draw away in the first leg of their UEFA Cup last 16 tie against PSG.

In part two we focus on the Liga. Benfica’s first home defeat of the season, at the hands of Vitória de Guimarães, has more or less handed the title to Porto. Sporting are now a point ahead of Benfica but 4 points behind Porto and statistics suggest that they’ll have to make history to catch up with the Dragões. Braga drop not only points but their faith in facsimile communication and life in next season’s Liga Vitalis is increasingly becoming a possibility for Trofense and Belenenses. On top of all this, we tell you about Portugal’s B-Team, predict the winner of next weekend’s Carlsberg Cup and discuss whether Quique Flores likes to get lost on his way to Benfica’s training ground.

Keep the comments coming. We’ll be with you again next week.

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

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footballportugal Podcast – 27/10/08

Monday, October 27th, 2008

With Porto looking as vulnerable as they did the last time they lost the Liga here in Portugal, being deservedly beaten 2-3 at home to Leixões, it was up to Benfica and Sporting to take advantage. Benfica just about did, beating Naval 2-1 at home. However, Sporting wasted their opportunity to gain points on the Dragons, only managing a 0-0 draw against Paços de Ferreira in a boring game at Mata Real. Sitting top of the table are Nacional, who beat Setúbal 1-0 at home thanks to a Nené penalty. Phil reports on Belenenses against Vitória Guimarães, where Zé Pedro scored both goals in a 1-1 draw. The picture below shows the almost empty stadium during the game, which was played on a beautiful autumn evening. Some people just don’t know what they’re missing. So, Nacional are on equal points with Leixões whilst Benfica trail a point behind in 3rd place with 12 points. We review all of this and more in part 1 of the podcast.

Porto’s misery at the weekend only built upon the despair felt by the Portistas who witnessed their side’s first home defeat (0-1) in 20 Champions League games against Dynamo Kiev last Tuesday. Despite Porto’s failure, it was a great week for Portuguese teams in Europe, with victories for Sporting and Sporting Braga, and Benfica came home from Berlin happy to take a point which could have been three were it not for a terrible tactical decision by Quique Flores, replacing the effective Katsouranis with the ineffective Carlos Martins in the 71st minute of the 1-1 draw, inviting Hertha Berlin to score the equaliser. This will all be discussed in part 2 along with our reaction to Portsmouth’s sour grapes after being royally whipped by Braga in the UEFA Cup.

Finally, in part 3 we give an update on Vitória the eagle’s bid for freedom from the Luz, on Nacional’s old lady claque, and a blow by blow account of each stone thrown (allegedly) at Cristian Rodrigues’ car by the Porto claque Super Dragões last Saturday night.

Keep in touch! Please leave your comments; we know you’re out there and listening so please let us know what you think of the podcast or what’s happening in the Portuguese league right now. Leave your messages on the comments section of the site, or e-mail us at info@footballportugalpodcast.com

Thanks for listening!

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footballportugal Podcast – 11th February 2008

Monday, February 11th, 2008

Welcome (back) once again to another information-packed podcast.

In Part 1 we review the weekend’s Taça de Portugal results. There was no romance at lowly Sertanense as Porto came away from their visit with a 0-4 victory. Benfica beat Paços de Ferreira 4-1, the star player for Benfica was arguably the referee, Augusto Duarte, who made several bizarre decisions in Benfica’s favour. Sporting dispatched Marítimo 2-1 at home, Liedson scoring the winner. We’ll also debate the difference between a half volley and a shot taken “on the bounce.”

In Part 2 we’ll preview the upcoming fixtures of the remaining Portuguese teams in Europe. FC Porto continue in the Champions League and Braga, Benfica and Sporting compete in the UEFA Cup. Plus there are some familar faces in the opposition teams, such as ex-Benfica player Carlitos, who plays for Basle, and ex-Portistas Diego and Hugo Almeida.

Finally in Part 3, we look at the trial, now under way, of Valentim Loureiro and Pinto da Sousa in the “Golden Whistle” scandal. We have 3 words of the week this week, topically connected to referees, so listen to find out why fans shout “palhaço!” and “gatuno!” at the “árbitro“. We’ll also discuss Portuguese President Cavaco Silva’s thoughts on the possibility of Portugal joint hosting the 2018 World Cup with Spain. Lastly, we’ll look forward to next weekend’s fixtures.

As ever, don’t hesitate to contact us, particularly with any questions you may have by either leaving a comment here on the site or e-mailing us at: info@footballportugalpodcast.com

Thank you for listening.

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This podcast has now been removed

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