Napoli returns to Champions League set for historic season
March 12, 2023 GMTNapoli returns to Champions League action this week well on track to have the standout season in European soccer and in the club’s entire history.
The quarterfinals of Europe's marquee club competition finally beckon for Napoli, which has a 2-0 lead from the first leg before hosting Eintracht Frankfurt in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday.
Late Lukaku goal helps Inter beat Porto 1-0 in Champs League
February 22, 2023 GMTMILAN (AP) — Romelu Lukaku is back.
After ending his goalscoring drought last weekend, Lukaku scored late to fire Inter Milan to a 1-0 win over 10-man Porto on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 matchup.
Collection of love letters written by Dylan sold for $670K
November 19, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — A collection of touching and sometimes prescient personal letters written by a young Bob Dylan to a high school girlfriend has been sold at auction to a renowned Portuguese bookshop for nearly $670,000.
European club competition draws
November 7, 2022 GMTNYON, Switzerland (AP) — Champions League
Tottenham, Frankfurt advance in CL; Bayern stays perfect
November 1, 2022 GMTTottenham and Eintracht Frankfurt both came from behind to win their respective games and secure a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
At halftime in the final round of group matches on Tuesday, Marseille and Sporting Lisbon were going through from Group D.
Porto beats Atlético 2-1 to win its Champions League group
November 1, 2022 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — After Porto lost its first two Champions League matches this season, few expected the Portuguese side to advance from a group in which Atlético Madrid was the heavy favorite.
Barcelona, Atlético exit Champions League; Liverpool through
October 26, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Barcelona was eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday even before enduring yet another 3-0 beating by Bayern Munich.
Atlético Madrid also went out following an extraordinary sequence around a penalty awarded by video review after the final whistle of its 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen.
Porto punishes Club Brugge, moves into CL knockout stage
October 26, 2022 GMTBRUGGE, Belgium (AP) — Porto punished Club Brugge's defensive mistakes to hand the Belgian champion its first defeat in the Champions League this season and reach the knockout stage with a 4-0 win Wednesday.
MATCHDAY: Barcelona battling to avoid Champions League exit
October 25, 2022 GMTA look at what’s happening in the Champions League on Wednesday:
GROUP A
Napoli has already qualified for the last 16 and will be joined by Liverpool if the English team avoids defeat at Ajax.
Alonso’s Leverkusen loses 3-0 to Porto in Champions League
October 12, 2022 GMTLEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Xabi Alonso's debut as a Champions League coach didn't go as planned.
Two goals for Mehdi Taremi from the penalty spot and superb goalkeeping from Diogo Costa lifted Porto to a 3-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, strengthening the Portuguese team's bid to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage and leaving Leverkusen last in Group B.
PSG’s Qatari owners agree deal for minority stake in Braga
October 10, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — The Qatari owner of Paris Saint-Germain agreed a deal Monday to take a minority stake in Portuguese club Braga.
Qatar Sports Investments said an agreement to buy almost 22% of shares in the 101-year-old club was declared to Portuguese financial authorities, and the deal should be completed within months.
Taremi helps Porto beat Leverkusen 2-0 in Champions League
October 4, 2022 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Mehdi Taremi set up both goals to help Porto get its first Champions League win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
The Iranian forward set up Zaidu to break the deadlock in the 69th minute and then Galeno — another substitute — to seal the result in the 87th.
Pepe dropped from Portugal squad because of injury
September 21, 2022 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Veteran central defender Pepe will not play for Portugal in the Nations League because of an injury, the Portuguese soccer federation said Wednesday.
The federation said the decision was made after doctors evaluated Pepe following his arrival at the team's training camp this week.
Brugge stuns Porto 4-0 for 2nd straight Champions League win
September 13, 2022 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — After Club Brugge scored yet another goal, veteran Porto defender Pepe pulled the jersey over his head in dismay amid boos from stunned fans echoing around the Estádio do Dragão.
Atlético tops Porto with late Griezmann goal in wild finish
September 7, 2022 GMTMADRID (AP) — It took a wild finish and a goal by Antoine Griezmann 11 minutes into stoppage time to end Atlético Madrid's home struggles in the Champions League.
Griezmann found the net with a header off a corner kick in the last play of the match to give Atlético a 2-1 win over Porto at the Metropolitano stadium on Wednesday, with all three goals of the Group B game scored after 90 minutes.
Draw list for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League
August 25, 2022 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Draw made Thursday for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League:
GROUP A: Ajax (Netherlands), Liverpool (England), Napoli (Italy), Rangers (Scotland).
GROUP B: Porto (Portugal), Atlético Madrid (Spain), Bayer Leverkusen (Germany), Club Brugge (Belgium).
Wolves break transfer record to sign Nunes for $45.8M
August 18, 2022 GMTWOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Wolverhampton broke the club's transfer record to sign Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes from Sporting Lisbon for an initial 45 million euros ($45.8 million) on Thursday.
PSG signs midfielder Vitinha from Porto on 5-year deal
June 30, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — French champion Paris Saint-Germain made its first signing of the offseason by bringing in midfielder Vitinha from Portuguese side Porto on Thursday.
PSG said the 22-year-old Portugal international has signed a five-year contract until 2027.
Another midfielder named Vieira heading to Arsenal
June 17, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — There's going to be another midfielder named Vieira at Arsenal.
Fabio Vieira is headed for the English club after Porto reached an agreement with Arsenal for the sale of the 22-year-old midfielder for a fee that could reach 40 million euros ($42 million), the Portuguese champions said Friday.
Porto wins Portuguese league after beating Benfica 1-0
May 7, 2022 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Porto won the Portuguese league after beating fierce rival Benfica 1-0 on Saturday.
Porto needed only one point in Lisbon to wrap up the title in the second-to-last round, and it was able to add to its championship celebration with a victory at its top rival thanks to a late goal by Zaidu Sanusi.
Diaz stars on return to Portugal in Liverpool’s win in CL
April 5, 2022 GMTLISBON (AP) — It just had to be Luis Diaz.
The Colombia winger was the last player Benfica supporters inside the atmospheric Estádio da Luz wanted to see race onto a through-ball and produce an emphatic finish to complete a 3-1 win for Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Portugal tops N. Macedonia, Ronaldo makes it to another WCup
March 29, 2022 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — There will be at least one more World Cup for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The all-time top scorer in men’s international soccer will get to play in his fifth World Cup after Portugal defeated North Macedonia 2-0 in the European qualifying playoffs on Tuesday.
Portugal beats Turkey 3-1 to move closer to World Cup
March 24, 2022 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — The Portugal fans at the Estádio do Dragão looked stunned when the referee returned from the video review booth and pointed to the penalty spot.
Where they about to witness another late collapse at home that could jeopardize the national team’s hopes of making it to the World Cup?
Portugal replaces goalkeeper ahead of Turkey qualifier
March 22, 2022 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal has called up Wolverhampton goalkeeper José Sá to replace Anthony Lopes for the World Cup qualifier against Turkey on Thursday.
The Portuguese soccer federation said Lopes has been ruled out because of an undisclosed injury.
Pepe tests positive, ruled out of qualifier against Turkey
March 21, 2022 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Veteran defender Pepe has been ruled out of Portugal's World Cup qualifier against Turkey after testing positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
The Portuguese Football Federation said Pepe has gone into isolation and Tiago Djaló of French club Lille was called as his replacement ahead of Thursday's playoff game in Porto.
Porto, Sporting settle debts to avoid Champions League ban
March 11, 2022 GMTNYON, Switzerland (AP) — Porto and Sporting Lisbon had the threat of a one-season Champions League ban for unpaid debts lifted Friday by UEFA.
Lyon, Eintracht Frankfurt win Europa League last-16 1st legs
March 9, 2022 GMTLyon and Eintracht Frankfurt secured first-leg victories Wednesday in the Europa League round of 16.
In Spain, all the goals came in the opening 32 minutes as Frankfurt won 2-1 at Real Betis.
Draw for European soccer competitions
February 25, 2022 GMTNYON, Switzerland (AP) — Draw for European soccer competitions:
Barca advances in Europa League, Rangers knock out Dortmund
February 24, 2022 GMTBarcelona found its scoring touch again to reach the round of 16 of the Europa League with a 4-2 win over Napoli on Thursday, while Rangers knocked out Borussia Dortmund in Glasgow.
Frenkie de Jong scored with a long-range curler and newly signed striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted again for Barcelona, which had been held 1-1 at home in the first leg.
Pepe suspended for role in brawl at end of Portuguese game
February 15, 2022 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Porto defender Pepe was suspended for two matches on Tuesday after being accused of kicking an official from another team during a brawl in the Portuguese league last week.
The veteran Portugal international was red carded for allegedly kicking a Sporting Lisbon club director during the altercation at the end of the 2-2 draw between the teams on Friday.
Cancelo’s value soars as City resumes Champions League quest
February 14, 2022 GMTGiven Joao Cancelo’s new-found importance to Manchester City, it seems incredible that the Portugal full back was deemed surplus to requirements for last season’s Champions League final.
Cancelo spent the entirety of the 1-0 loss to Chelsea in Porto on the bench, having dropped out of City’s team in the final months of the season following rocky defensive displays that ended up overshadowing his obvious attacking qualities.
Soto loaned to Livingstone by Norwich, recalled from Porto
January 26, 2022 GMTAmerican forward Sebastian Soto was loaned from England's Norwich to Scotland's Livingston for the rest of the season on Wednesday.
Porto ends 2021 on top in Portugal after beating Benfica 3-1
December 30, 2021 GMTPorto finished 2021 on top of the Portuguese league on goal difference after beating Benfica 3-1 on Thursday in its fierce rival's first game since the departure of coach Jorge Jesus.
Two goals — from Fabio Vieira and Pepe — in the space of three minutes in the first half gave Porto a 2-0 lead after 37 minutes.
Jorge Jesus ends second spell as coach of Benfica
December 28, 2021 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Benfica parted company with coach Jorge Jesus on Tuesday, midway through the second season of his second spell in charge.
The team is third in the Portuguese league, four points behind Porto and Sporting after 15 games.
Atlético reaches CL knockout stage with 3-1 win at Porto
December 8, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Atlético Madrid found a way to win again in the Champions League when it needed the most.
After three straight losses, Atlético made an improbable comeback with a last-round 3-1 win over Porto to advance to the knockout stage of the European competition on Tuesday.
MATCHDAY: Atlético, Porto vie for Champions League survival
December 6, 2021 GMTA look at what’s happening in the Champions League on Tuesday:
GROUP A
With Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain already qualified for the knockout stage, there is not much suspense left.
Sporting, Porto face 1-year European bans for unpaid debts
December 3, 2021 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Portuguese soccer clubs Sporting Lisbon and Porto were threatened with a one-season ban from the Champions League and other European competitions on Friday if they fail to pay outstanding debts within two months.
Liverpool makes it 5 wins from 5 in Champions League
November 24, 2021 GMTLIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Thiago Alcantara’s sublime long-range strike and Mohamed Salah’s latest individual goal maintained Liverpool’s perfect record in its Champions League group with a 2-0 win over Porto on Wednesday.
Porto’s headquarters raided in probe over players’ transfers
November 22, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese authorities raided Porto's headquarters on Monday as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities related to players' transfers.
Porto said in a statement authorities were in its facilities throughout the day gathering material related to the probe.
Unbeaten in Serie A, AC Milan can’t win in Champions League
October 19, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Unbeaten in Serie A, AC Milan can’t find a way to win in the Champions League.
Making their first group-phase appearance in eight years, the Rossoneri were beaten 1-0 at Porto in Group B on Tuesday for their third straight defeat in the competition.
De Bruyne out to make new, better memories in Champs League
October 18, 2021 GMTKevin De Bruyne really wants to play in a second Champions League final because he barely remembers his first.
The Manchester City midfielder sustained a fractured nose and eye socket during the 1-0 loss to Chelsea in Porto in May after colliding with Antonio Rudiger.
Messi’s 1st PSG goal helps beat City; Sheriff stuns Madrid
September 28, 2021 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Lionel Messi scored his first Paris Saint-German goal and Luxembourg midfielder Sébastien Thill struck late for newcomer Sheriff to stun 13-time champion Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Salah, Firmino both score twice as Liverpool routs Porto 5-1
September 28, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Two goals from Mohamed Salah. A double as well from Roberto Firmino. All with 20-year-old midfielder Curtis Jones playing a part for Liverpool.
The only Liverpool goal without a direct role for Jones came from Sadio Mane in a 5-1 victory at Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Griezmann jeered as Atlético Madrid held 0-0 by Porto in CL
September 15, 2021 GMTMADRID (AP) — With Antoine Griezmann loudly jeered by the home fans, Atlético Madrid couldn’t manage more than a 0-0 draw against Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Griezmann, back with Madrid after two seasons with rival Barcelona, came off the bench in the second half but couldn’t spark the hosts to victory.
American Sebastian Soto loaned to Porto by Norwich City
July 4, 2021 GMTAmerican forward Sebastian Soto was loaned to Porto for the 2021-22 season by Norwich City of England's Premier League.
The 20-year-old from Carlsbad, California, will be part of Porto B in the Portuguese second tier, Norwich said Saturday.
Leipzig signs Portugal forward André Silva from Frankfurt
July 2, 2021 GMTLEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Leipzig delivered a statement of intent for the coming season by signing Portugal forward André Silva from Bundesliga rival Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.
The 25-year-old Silva, who scored 28 times in 32 league appearances for Frankfurt last season, signed a five-year deal with his new club, Leipzig said in a statement.
Wolves hire former Benfica coach Bruno Lage as manager
June 9, 2021 GMTWOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Wolverhampton Wanderers hired former title-winning Benfica coach Bruno Lage as manager on Wednesday, the Premier League club said.
It marks a return to England after the 45-year-old Lage spent time as Carlos Carvalhal’s assistant at Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea.
Analysis: Tinkering Guardiola too clever for his own good
May 30, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Imagine telling Pep Guardiola a decade ago he wouldn't be lifting the European Cup again.
The wait goes on.
Three times falling short in campaigns with Bayern Munich.
Tuchel finally meets Abramovich, with the European Cup
May 30, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Bursting back into the Estádio do Dragão dressing room dressing spraying bubbly from a bottle over his squad, Thomas Tuchel let out his emotions.
Kings of Europe: Chelsea beats City to win Champions League
May 29, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — As Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta cradled the European Cup before thrusting it into the air to the backdrop of fireworks, Pep Guardiola and his distraught Manchester City players stood way behind the winner’s rostrum and looked on in anguish.
Pulisic 1st American man to play in a Champions League final
May 29, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Christian Pulisic became the first American man to play in a Champions League final on Saturday.
He came away with a winner's medal, too — and almost a goal.
The Chelsea forward came on as a substitute in the 66th minute with his team leading Manchester City 1—0 in Porto.
Wealth prevails as Chelsea, Man City contest European final
May 28, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Looming over Liberdade Square, the giant European Cup replica that supporters of Chelsea and Manchester City crane their necks to photograph is a reminder of the prize being sought in Saturday's Champions League final.
UEFA puts 1,700 Champions League final tickets on sale
May 25, 2021 GMTNYON, Switzerland (AP) — With only four days to go before the Champions League final in Portugal, UEFA put 1,700 tickets on sale Tuesday for fans worldwide for the game between Manchester City and Chelsea.
European title races, Champions League places to be decided
May 21, 2021 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Several rebel Super League clubs are facing some harsh realities. Two of the five top leagues are still awaiting a champion. And some some clubs with rich histories are facing relegation.
Porto player investigated over COVID-19 test result
May 20, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese authorities conducted a search and seizure operation at facilities owned by Porto on Thursday in an investigation related to a player's COVID-19 test result.
Porto said authorities were at the club's headquarters and training center seeking more information about the test result of a first-team player.
Atlanta United mutually terminates contract with López
May 19, 2021 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta United has mutually agreed to terminate the contract of 38-year-old striker Lisandro López after the death of his father.
Lopez returned home to Argentina after his father's death and is reportedly contemplating retirement.
Chelsea-Man City CL final moves to Porto with 12,000 fans
May 13, 2021 GMTThe all-English Champions League final will be held in Porto with 12,000 fans from Chelsea and Manchester City, UEFA confirmed Thursday.
The May 29 showpiece was moved from Istanbul to the 50,000-capacity Estádio do Dragão due to England imposing tougher pandemic travel restrictions on Turkey that would have prevented fans flying in.
Porto to be confirmed as venue for Champions League final
May 12, 2021 GMTPorto is set to be confirmed as host of the Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City after Portuguese authorities on Wednesday approved the return of supporters to stadiums.
UEFA is planning to announce by the end of the week that the 50,000-capacity Estádio do Dragão will be used for the May 29 showpiece with thousands of fans from both English clubs set to be allowed into the game, people with knowledge of the planning told The Associated Press...
UEFA finalizing plans for Champions League final in Porto
May 11, 2021 GMTUEFA is finalizing plans with Portugal to act as replacement host for the all-English Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City.
The UEFA showpiece is set to be moved from Istanbul to Portugal just like last year due to pandemic issues in Turkey, people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday...
Sporting ends 19-year title drought in Portuguese league
May 11, 2021 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Sporting Lisbon’s wait of nearly two decades for a Portuguese league title is finally over.
Sporting defeated relegation-threatened Boavista 1-0 on Tuesday to win the league for the first time since 2002, ending the reign of local powerhouses Porto and Benfica...