Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[Mike88]

Weird and hilarious penalties this weekend in the Portuguese leagues:

Feirense penalty against Leixões (2nd league):

https://twitter.com/carrusel/status/1561327118352613377

Froze. Attention to how Jardel, Feirense striker, has taken a penalty in Portuguese football

Sporting's Pedro Porro hilarious defense to a Porto attack in yesterday's Porto-Sporting match:

https://twitter.com/goncalo_diass17/status/1561098840438177793

Of course he was expelled and a penalty was given to Porto. In the end, Porto won 3-0 against Sporting.

[Mike88]

I am a Palmeiras fan due to family tradition

What's your opinion of Abel "vou embora" Ferreira? Almost every Brazilian sport pundit seems to dislike him, even though he wins, wins and wins.

[Mike88]

I am a Palmeiras fan due to family tradition

What's your opinion of Abel "vou embora" Ferreira? Almost every Brazilian sport pundit seems to dislike him, even though he wins, wins and wins.

He's unfairly maligned

Why do you think that happens?

Pretty big upset today, as Leeds United crushed Chelsea 3-0.

Indeed. Also, what's all this about the United-Liverpool match tomorrow possibly being postponed?

[Mike88]

This also happened this weekend around here:

https://twitter.com/LongBallFutebol/status/1561467837927022592

The goal celebration was quite surprising, but the player, Yago Cariello, responded by saying that he didn't "strafed" Vitória fans but was responding to the racist chants from Vitória supporters towards his team.

Portimonense ended by defeating Vitória de Guimarães by 2-1.

[Mike88]

Spurs and Barcelona lose! Liverpool sadly win...

And Porto... Ridiculous.  

Go Shakhtar and Benfica!

Tomorrow, let's go Juventus!

[Mike88]

This has been quite a depressing series of matches for Porto fans, hasn't it... I can only hope for a miraculous comeback against Leverkusen next, for us to even hope to have a shot at this.

I don't know to be honest. The team was already in a bad place and the situation is now even more complicated after Sérgio Conceição's car, with his family and young kids inside, was attacked and vandalized with stones as he was leaving the stadium. Porto has this amazing capacity of reaching high results and then fall to a big depression immediately.

I really hope they can put their act together.

[Mike88]

I don't know to be honest. The team was already in a bad place and the situation is now even more complicated after Sérgio Conceição's car, with his family and young kids inside, was attacked and vandalized with stones as he was leaving the stadium.

That's really sad to hear and unacceptable... do you think this is the reason Francisco Conceiçao is absent at Ajax again? He's missed quite a few games already, flying back and forth for family-related stuff. Also, do you know why he wanted to leave Porto in the first place? And why are Benfica and Sporting fans making jokes about him and swimming pools?

Not sure if that's the reason, but, maybe, he came to Portugal, briefly, because of his family. But, again, I'm not sure. Benfica and Sporting fans mock him because of "swimming pools" because they accuse him of having a habit of "diving" himself into the penalty area in hopes of scoring a penalty or something. A bit childish, but, whatever, we Porto fans also mock Benfica and Sporting players.

There are also other episodes that are creating a bad environment in the Portuguese league: During the last week, two children were harassed and insulted during football matches by supporters of opposite teams.

[Mike88]

Cristiano Ronaldo: United has betrayed me and made me a black sheep.

Oof... This are going to get even more "tense" in United.

[Mike88]

Ronaldo is an idiot.

A clear example of someone who doesn't know how to leave the stage and thinks that everyone is against him.

[Mike88]

Ronaldo is axed from United.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20513997/man-utd-terminate-cristiano-ronaldo-contract/

[Mike88]

And another one goes: The Portuguese head coach, Fernando Santos, was also fired.

[Mike88]

Spanish media is reporting that Ronaldo is really going for Al Nassr, with a contract bellow 200 million euros per season. The same report says that no other club has expressed interest in Ronaldo.

The other story is that Ronaldo will be the ambassador of Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2030 World Cup. The problem? Portugal has also a bid, together with Spain, for the same World Cup. If this is really true, it would be hilarious.

https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2022-12-22/fifa-marca-avanca-que-ronaldo-pode-ser-adversario-da-candidatura-iberica-ao-mun/969672

[Mike88]

Roberto Martínez, former Belgium coach, is now the new coach of the Portuguese team. He is being presented this Monday, January 9, morning.

https://www.publico.pt/2023/01/09/desporto/noticia/novo-seleccionador-futebol-vai-apresentado-tarde-2034268

[Mike88]

Arsenal lose to Sporting CP on penalties 1-1 (3-3 aggregate) [5-3], go out of the Europa League at the Round of 16. 🤬🤬🤬

We got a Premier League title to win.

It was quite a shocker. Even Porto is able to win against Sporting.

Champions League Draw is out.

The final is basically a lock to be some combination of Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Chelsea/Manchester City vs an Italian side.

Benfica is so lucky, so far, that it's completely infuriating.

[Mike88]

Beautiful Porto win against Benfica at Luz Stadium, 1-2:

Probably not enough for Porto to win the championship, as there is a 7-point difference between Benfica (71) and Porto (64). But, still, amazing match and result.

[Mike88]

Not a bad year for Italian teams in Europe, shall we say... (actively hilarious that we eliminated all three of the Portuguese big ones, especially to me as a noted Lusophile).

Benfica "mocked" Porto for not being able to defeat the "weak" Inter, but at the end, guess who's laughing now. Of course Benfica, still has the "Guttmann curse" over them.

[Mike88]

Now official: Napoli are the Italian champions. This squad is already legendary. Only a shame they couldn't go all the way in the UCL too.

Naples this evening:
https://twitter.com/localteamtv/status/1654232285858656257

[Mike88]

Benfica pretty much has a lock on the Championship after beating Braga 1-0 last night:

Current standings has Benfica with 80 points, Porto with 73 (minus one game), Braga 71 and Sporting 64 (minus one game).

Ugh...

[Mike88]

Dear God...

https://twitter.com/vsports_pt/status/1655297741117898765

[Mike88]

10 years ago to the day...

Exactly 10 years ago also... when Jesus knelt down: (after minute 10:00)

[Mike88]

Portuguese Primeira Liga enters in the home stretch:

- Porto defeated Famalicão (2-4) this Saturday evening in a game that had 4 penalty kicks!! out of the 6 goals scored;

- Tomorrow, Benfica could win the Championship if they are able to defeat Sporting CP. If they win against Sporting, it will be the first time since 1975 that Benfica celebrates a Championship win in Sporting's home stadium;

The current League table of 4-top teams:

SLBenfica 83 points (minus one game)
FCPorto 82
SCBraga 75
SportingCP 70 (minus one game)

[Mike88]

- Tomorrow, Benfica could win the Championship if they are able to defeat Sporting CP. If they win against Sporting, it will be the first time since 1975 that Benfica celebrates a Championship win in Sporting's home stadium;

Nothing. Benfica and Sporting tied 2-2 and everything is postponed until next weekend. Benfica just needs 1 point.

SLBenfica 84 points
FCPorto 82
SCBraga 75
SportingCP 71

[Mike88]

Benfica wins the Championship after defeating Azorean Santa Clara by 3-0. Porto also won against Guimarães 3-0. Benfica finishes with 87 points, Porto with 85.

Next Sunday, it will be the Cup of Portugal final between Porto and Braga.

[Mike88]

Sevilla has won.

I was rooting for a Mourinho win.

[Mike88]

Next Sunday, it will be the Cup of Portugal final between Porto and Braga.

FCPorto wins the Cup of Portugal after defeating Braga by 2-0.