In part one we pay homage to Liedson’s excellent póquer against Belenenses in Sporting’s 0-4 win away at the Restelo. We also talk about Porto’s collapse and the very real possibility that they won’t be playing Champions League football next season. Braga draw away to Setúbal, much like many of the top teams against lower-table opposition, and we ask why this trend has appeared this season. Finally, we concentrate on Benfica’s 3-1 win against Paços and Di Maria’s continuing great form.

In part two we talk about Portugal’s disappointing performance against China and the media’s response to the boos and whistles the team faced due to their lacklustre performance. We’ll also preview this week’s  European fixtures.

Do please keep those comments coming. We hope to be back some time next week, but not on Monday, unfortunately.

Steve and Phil

Part 1 is largely dedicated to their two fantistic victories in the space of four days, beating both Everton and FC Porto 3-0. We’ll also look at Benfica’s thrashings of Hertha Berlin and Leixões, thanks in no small part to the brilliant recent form of Angel di Maria.

In part 2 we talk about Braga and how they make winning look so effortless. We also review all the other games which took place in the league, especially the incredible 5-3 victory for Paços versus Vitória de Setúbal. And can you tell us whether Paços are beavers or the little wheels you put under furniture?

Finally, in part 3 we talk about the Selecção and Rúben Micael being overlooked by Carlos Queiroz; happy news for Boavista (for a change); and Sporting’s shaky finances.

Keep the comments coming. We hope to be back next week … Steve’s teeth permitting …

Steve and Phil

In part one we focus on Porto’s 5-1 demolition of Braga. Before this game, Braga had only conceded eight goals all season; Porto ripped their defence to pieces and Varela was outstanding. We also talk about the press conference preceding the game protesting the lengthy bans given to Hulk and Sapunaru. Although the majortiy of part one concentrates on this game, we’ll also bring you up to date with all the other results of the weekend.

In part two we look at last week’s European action. Porto got a disappointing 2-1 win over a weakened Arsenal side and will probably struggle to get the right result in London. However, we were both really impressed by Rúben Micael’s debut in the Champions League and discuss his progress over the past year or so, and what we expect the future to hold for him. Sporting were impressive at Everton and Benfica looked very tired in Berlin.

Finally, in part three we discuss a scandal involving Luis Figo, a business man, the Portuguese Prime Minister and an awful lot of money to have breakfast.

Keep the comments coming and we hope you enjoy this week’s podcast.

Steve and Phil

In part 1 we concentrate on Sporting’s spectacular collapse in recent weeks. From looking like a handy little outfit rejuvenated under Carlos Carvalhal’s mysterious post-Christmas spell, they’ve turned into a sorry bunch of losers, one of the sorriest in the history of this famous club. We ask why in part 1.

In part 2 we concentrate on the three clubs who are leading the way in Portugal: Braga, Benfica and Porto. The latter dropped points but both Braga and Benfica won, Braga doing so with a severely depleted starting line-up.

Finally, in part 3 we review the rest of the weekend’s games, including Kazmierczak’s “Half Scorpion” for Setúbal against Leiria. Watch it on this link . We also give a blow-by-blow account of Carlos Quieroz’s punch-up in an airport waiting lounge.

Keep your comments coming and we’ll be back for more next week,

Steve and Phil

Do tune in next week, though, when we’re sure to be back with all that’s happening in Portuguese football.

Steve & Phil

But we’ve still got some football to report and report it we shall! In part 1 we give the once over on another Braga win which was blessed with as much good fortune as it was stoic defending. Porto’s new signing Rúben Micael makes an impressive debut at his old club Nacional but in their 0-4 they had a bit of help from the referee. Benfica impressed at home to Guimarães, especially Carlos Martins, who must’ve eaten three Shredded Wheat for breakfast that morning.

In part 2 we talk about Braga allegedly attempting to bribe Leixões; Hulk and Sapunaru going ape in the Benfica tunnel and getting caught on camera; Pinto da Costa getting his phone tapped and calling Sporting’s kit man “a retard”; and Sá Pinto choosing a well placed punch on Liedson’s face over a career as Director of Football for Sporting,

Please keep your comments coming. Say anything you like, but just let us know that you’re listening and hopefully that you appreciate what we’re doing. 

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

It’s back to the traditional three parts this week as we let you know about this weekend’s round of games. In Part 1 we focus on the contrasting fortunes of Porto and Sporting; the former are looking very ordinary as they drop points at home to Paços de Ferreira, while the latter look red hot as the rejuvenated Lisbon team beat Nacional 3-2 thanks to 2 excellent Liedson goals.

In part 2 we focus on a familiar old topic, dodgy refereeing. Benfica definitely benefitted from some outrageous refereeing decisions as they smashed Marítimo 0-5 in Madeira. Braga were also fortunate to get a dubious penalty as they broke André Villas Boas’ impressive 100% home record in charge of Académica to come away with a 0-2 victory.

Finally, in part 3 we focus on the other games we failed to cover in the earlier parts. Setúbal are impressing Steve without actually winning games, Castro might be Olhanense’s answer to Steven Gerrard, Belenenses are awful again and Rio Ave really missed Fábio Farias and the player André Vilas (with one ‘l’) Boas as Ronny-tastic Leiria beat them 0-2.

Please do leave us some comments and let us know you’re out there and listening. It was very sad for us to have nobody to talk to but ourselves this weekend!

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

With all the players fresh from their Christmas break you’d expect the fans to be flocking back to the stadiums to watch some live football once again. However, the stadiums were noticeable for their vast areas of empty seating, nowhere more so than FC Porto’s Dragão, which was half-deserted for their fortunate 3-2 win over União de Leiria, Helton providing the heroics in the last moments of the game. Attendances were better at Braga and Sporting, both teams putting in fine performances to beat Nacional and Leixões respectively. Sporting striker Saleiro is catching our eye right now and we talk about his chances of making the Portugal squad for WC 2010. Benfica took thousands of fans to Rio Ave as they struggled to beat a strong side, the class of Saviola proving to be the difference between the two.

In the second part of the podcast we go over the winter transfers so far, Naval’s alleged forged documents which could see them thrown out of the league, and the 25th anniversary of the death of the legendary José Maria Pedroto.

Please keep your comments coming. We’ll be back for another podcast next week.

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

In Part 1 we concentrate on one of the most special Portuguese football fixtures of the year: the Benfica v Porto clássico. As ever, it was a tight game, fought tooth and nail between the two rivals, but the result was a little different from normal: Benfica won! It was their first victory (1-0) in this fixture for 4 years, the winner scored by Saviola.

In Part 2 we focus on all the other games in the league this weekend, which weren’t quite as special as the clássico but which all had their interest. Nacional fought Académica and fog to win 4-3 in a game which was delayed for a total of over 55 minutes. Braga failed to impress against Paços, but still got the three points. And Sporting narrowly beat Naval in a game that was so awful it was perhaps … special.  Setúbal beat Marítmo with two goals from Keita, who looks a bit special. And Belenenses manager João Carlos Pereira was sacked after Belenenses lost 0-1 in a tight game away to Leiria. You can’t be feeling very special if you lose your job just before Christmas, so our best wishes go out to Pereira, who comes across as being quite a nice chap.

In part 3 we concentrate on “bits and bobs” as Phil likes to call them [edit: Thanks, Steve ...]. The bits are reports from the lower leagues and news on clubs in crisis, like Atlético de Valdevez and Boavista. The bobs are our mid-season awards, including player of the year so far, best buy, worst buy, most impressive team and most disappointing team.

Please let us know your opinions, especially regarding the mid-season awards we gave. We both hope you have a very special Christmas and an even more special New Year.

Steve and Phil

This week the podcast has two parts. First we review the weekend’s games from the 13th Jornada. There were a couple of surprising results, with Benfica and Braga both dropping points. On the other hand, Porto go from strength to strength, wiping the floor with Atlético Madrid in midweek and then this weekend showing Vitória de Setúbal some mercy by taking their foot off the gas after 25 minutes. Despite Porto’s improved form, Hulk is still disappointing. It was a bad weekend for the Madeiran teams: both Marítimo and Nacional lost whilst Académica got back to their winning ways, defeating a Leixões team that once again had a player sent off.

In the second part of the podcast, we look at the Swedish players Sporting fancy and the Brazilian players Benfica have the hots for. We also turn to a familiar topic at this time of year: players not getting paid. This year it’s the players of Belenenses who are a pay-cheque or two short at Christmas.

Please keep your comments coming. We’ll be back next week for our opinions on the big Benfica v Porto clássico.

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil