podcast sobre futebol português

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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

footballportugal Podcast – 09/03/09

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Welcome once again to our podcast sobre futebol português … in English. In part 1 we report on the action that took place in the Liga at the weekend. There’s no change at the top, with Porto crushing a limp Leixões 1-4 in Matosinhos. Leixões’ display was so weak that rumours are flowing that the game might’ve been fixed, RTP analyst Rui Santos suggesting on Sunday that Leixões ‘keeper Beto made little effort to save some of Porto’s goals. Benfica didn’t have it so easy, grinding out a tough 1-2 away win against Naval in the seaside town of Figueira da Foz. Sporting had a far more comfortable experience, winning 2-0 at home against Paços thanks to early goals from Liedson and Derlei. Braga dropped points away at Estrela da Amadora, who were unlucky not to win. At the bottom of the table, both Belenenses and Trofense lost, making their position in the Liga even more precarious.

In Part 2 we give ourselves yet another chance to discuss Portuguese mineral water by focussing on the Liga Vitalis, aka the Liga de Honra, the second tier. Top of the table are Jorge Costa’s Olhanense, with their ex-pat claque, who are a point clear of the Azorean team Santa Clara. Down at the bottom of the table, Phil’s beloved Boavista are dangerously close to the drop-zone, having been beaten at the weekend by fellow relegation battlers Oliveirense.

We also preview Porto’s Champions League second leg against Atlético Madrid and the heightened security necessary for the game.

Please add you comments about the podcast, especially your opinions regarding Rui Santos’ allegations of match fixing, and also: What is the hidden ingredient in Luso mineral water that is good for cats but bad for us humans?

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

footballportugal Podcast – 02/03/09

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Portuguese teams had mixed fortunes in Europe last week. Porto impressed, with Christian Rodriguez and Hulk playing out of their skins against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. Porto should’ve won the game by a fistful of goals but instead came away with a 2-2 draw, a result they may come to regret by the end of the second leg. On the other hand, Sporting suffered their worst home defeat and the heaviest European home game defeat for any Portuguese team on Wednesday when they were esmagados by Bayern Munich 5-0. The result left the ultras claque of Sporting, Juve Leo, singing for Paulo Bento to make good use of … er … someone’s excited manhood. In the aftermath of these big European fixtures, the Porto v Sporting clássico was something of a disappointment, ending 0-0 and with little to show except some ugly fouls and angry words between the players.

The one team who did profit from this result were Benfica, who beat Leixões 2-1 in a dramatic game at the Luz. We report on this and the 104th Benfica Gala, which took place last Saturday at the Casino Estoril. It’s a happy return for Carlos Carvalhal as his new team, Maritimo, beat his old team, Vitoria de Setubal, 5-1, helped by a Babá hat trick.

Keep the comments coming, let us know who won the BES league if possible and below you should find a picture of Senhora Steve in a close embrace with Dirk Kuyt.

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

footballportugal Podcast – 23/02/09

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

We’re both beginning to believe here at footballportugal that this 2008/09 season of the Portuguese Liga has to be one of the most exciting and competitive for many years. Porto have extended their lead at the top of the table to 4 points over Benfica and Sporting, but their place at the top of the table is by no means secure, the sports papers in Portugal accusing the Dragões of over-reliance on the as-ever excellent Hulk, who put in another superb display against Paços de Ferreira. The Lisbon derby saw Sporting deservedly beat Benfica 3-2, Liedson the man of the match, but all of the Leões played well and they must be hoping for a good result at home against Bayern Munich in the Champions League this Wednesday. One team that is proving themselves in Europe is Sporting Braga, whose 3-0 demolition of Standard Liege left Phil running to the bookies, eager to place £5 of his hard earned cash on the Arsenalistas to win the UEFA Cup. Braga suffered from tired legs the following weekend but still managed to grind out a 1-2 away win against Naval.

In part 2 we report on the problems at Vitória de Guimarães, whose likeable manager, Manuel Cajuda, seems to be under pressure following the 0-1 home defeat to plucky Trofense. One manager whose time is up is Marítimo’s Brazilian Lori Sandri, who, despite guiding the Madeiran team to just outside the UEFA qualification places, is not deemed good enough by the Marítimo president following his team’s 3-1 defeat at Academica.

Along with the reviews of the rest of the weekend’s games, we touch on the main topic of conversation in Portuguese football right now: Liedson’s probable Portuguese naturalisation and the subsequent availability for the Portuguese national team. Will the Brazilian be able to resolve Carlos Queiros’ striker headaches?

Please keep the comments coming, especially your opinions regarding Liedson … and any corrections regarding who Paulo Bento played for in Spain will be gratefully accepted.

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil