UEFA Cup

...now browsing by tag

 
 

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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted in podcasts | No Responses »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

footballportugal Podcast – 14/04/08

Monday, April 14th, 2008

Welcome back to our 14th podcast covering the 26th “jornada” of the week, which covers the first of many words of the week this week. We start with the sad story of Leixões player Jaime’s suprise retirement from the professional game after attempting and failing to make a ‘Panenka’ style penalty in the last minute of their game against Belenenses. Scandal and shame are the words to sum up Benfica’s 3-0 defeat at home to Académica, the first time Os Estudantes have won at the Luz for 54 years. The defeat was something of a “goleada” and we’ll be debating whether this word means a ‘thrashing’ or a ‘tonking’. Benfica’s defeat meant that Guimarães could gain a 3 point lead over them, which they duly did with a 1-0 win over Boavista. Porto are doing their training at go-kart track in Palmela and beating Setúbal in the process in the first of their 2 games against them within the space of four days. Mariano scores a goal assisted by his handling of the ball and we’ll discuss the age old conundrum of whether a hand ball is ball to hand or hand to ball. Paços de Ferreira keep their hopes alive with a shock 1-2 win at Nacional whilst the other Madeiran team, Marítimo, impress against a woeful Naval. Finally, Sporting leapfrog Benfica into 3rd place with a 2-0 win over Leixões. Steve’s very impressed with the young Leixões attacking player Jorge Gonçalves and also somewhat dismayed at the vanity of Miguel Veloso.

Part 2 doesn’t try to find any excuses for Sporting’s terrible display in their exit to Rangers in the UEFA Cup. Moutinho spent the match crying, Phil thinks Romagnoli is a waste of space and the Sporting fans were as apathetic towards their team as we feared they might be. Congratulations to Rangers and their fans, who behaved impeccably and supported their team fantastically. We also look forward to this week’s Taça de Portugal semi-finals. The two Lisbon teams go head-to -head in a battle of the weakest that is impossible to predict. Setúbal play Porto yet again and we all hope that they can beat them this time with a full strength team.

Finally in part 3 we hypothesise about the chances of the 3 teams vying for the two available Champion’s League spots and we both agree on which team will win the last automatic spot, which team will get the qualifying spot and which team will be licking their wounds and counting the cost of failure to qualify. Our unanimous decision will probably be very surprising but undeniable.

Keep the comments coming – we really appreciate them and we’re sorry if we can’t reply instantly but we will always reply to every comment or e-mail you send to us; either leave them here on the site or e-mail us at: info@footballportugalpodcast.com

Thanks for listening.

****************************
This podcast has now been removed

****************************

Posted in podcasts | 2 Responses »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

footballportugal Podcast – 7/04/08

Monday, April 7th, 2008

The finishing touches have been made to Porto’s champion sashes as they annihilate Estrela Amadora 6-0 to become the 2007/8 season champions of Portugal. In all honestly they were the only decent team in the league and had sewn up the league with the win over Benfica last December. So, this week’s podcast celebrates the achievements of the blue and white team from Portugal’s tripe eating city by the river Douro.

Part 1 reviews the weekend’s results and the big chase for 2nd place as Sporting’ 2-0 victory over Sporting Braga helps them make up 2 points on Benfica and Guimarães who both drew at the weekend. The Medeiran derby is played in horrendous conditions with Marítimo winning 1-0.

Part 2 sees us giving our marks out of ten for the players of FC Porto and our general opinion about just how good they are.

Finally in Part 3 we review Sporting’s UEFA Cup game agains Glasgow Rangers and look forward to next weekend’s fixtures.

Keep the comments coming, we really appreciate them, either leave them here on the site or e-mail us at: info@footballportugalpodcast.com

Thank you for listening.

****************************
This podcast has now been removed

****************************

Posted in podcasts | 3 Responses »
Tags: , , , , , ,

footballportugal Podcast – 17/03/08

Monday, March 17th, 2008

Faster than a Lopes own goal, more spectacular than a Ricardo Esteves left footed screamer, bigger than Chalana’s moustache and with jokes slower than a Maxi Pereira dribble, footballportugal Podcast returns once more with all the latest Portuguese football (or soccer) news in English.

Part 1 concentrates on all the weekend’s action and the stories surrounding it. Guimarães are the Goldilocks to Benfica’s three bears, as Manuel Cajuda’s side sleep temporarily in Benfica’s second place bed after beating Leiria 0-1 thanks to a Ghilas goal. Academica and Belenenses play a 0-0 bore draw but we talk about the various Belenenses players arranging flights to pastures new in the next season. Leixões are unlucky to be beaten at home 1-2 by Porto in a bad tempered game and Boavista go from strength to strength with a 2-1 victory over Estrela de Amadora, assisted in no small part by the referee. We also give the latest news on the problems with the payments of the Amadora players, who may go on strike this week if their payments are delayed once again. The suprise of the week was Paços de Ferreira’s 2-1 victory over Setúbal, watched by Porto President Pinto da Costa, taking an interest in his on-loan playmaker Cláudio Pitbull. Braga’s revival continues, the beat Naval 3-0 and Benfica’s poor form carries on, with a lackluster 1-1 draw at Marítimo. We also give our inside tip on Sebastião Lazaroni possibly being one of the leaders in the race for the Benfica hot seat.

Part 2 picks through the bones of Benfica’s UEFA cup failure and most importantly Makakula’s unbelievable 4th minute open goal miss. Sporting were in far better form, going through to the quarter finals to face Rangers with a 1-0 win against Bolton courtesy of an impressive display by Bruno Pereirinha. There is an interesting historical fact about a previous Sporting European fixture against Rangers and with Sporting doing well in all cup competitions at the moment (they play in the final of the Carlsberg Cup this weekend agains Setúbal), we look into the idea of whether Paulo Bento is the new Rafa Benitiez?

Finally, in part 3 focusses on the various sports newspapers and magazines available in Portugal and their affiliations with the various Portuguese clubs.

Because there are no fixtures this weekend other than the Carlsberg Cup final, we are going to postpone the next podcast until next Wednesday 27th March, which is the day after Portugal’s game to Greece in Germany. With nothing at stake, not even pride, surely Scolari can finally direct the selecção to victory over the old enemy, or maybe not…

Thanks for all the comments and e-mails, keep them coming, either here on the site or directly to our e-mail address info@footballportugalpodcast.com .

Thank you for listening.

****************************
This podcast has now been removed

****************************

Posted in podcasts | No Responses »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

****************************
This podcast has now been removed

****************************

Posted in podcasts | 1 Response »
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,