Portuguese League champ of coach dismissal

There is no other football League in Europe capable of dismissing as many coaches as Liga Sagres, the main league in Portugal. After no more than seven rounds, there have five teams who decided to drop their managers.

The first dismissal came during the third round, in Naval 1.º de Maio. Coach Ulisses Morais was replaced by experienced manager and former Portuguese champion Augusto Inácio. Days later it was Setúbal who sacked coach Carlos Azenha, after two quite humiliating results (8-1 against Benfica and 4-0 against recently promoted União de Leiria).

The sixth round made another victim, in Marítimo. Coach Carlos Carvalhal didn't handle the bad results since the season started. For now, both Setúbal and Marítimo have intern coaches leading the main teams.

The seventh round was even worse for coaches in Portuguese soil. Académica's Rogério Gonçalves was sacked first, and today came the news in Vitória de Guimarães that Nelo Vingada is no longer the manager. None have chosen new men to fill the vacant places.

In Europe, the only country coming close to Portugal is Germany, with four dismissals in eight rounds (Mainz, Bochum, Hannover and Hertha Berlin), followed by Italy (Atalanta, AS Roma and Napoli) and Greece (Olympiakos, Panthrakikos and Xanthi).

England, France and Spain don't have any dismissal accounted for so far.

Robben, the "Crystal Man" once again

PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern München. These are the clubs Arjen Robben represented in his career and, at 25 years old, these are the clubs he probably led to desperation. His talent costs a lot of money - 18€ million took him from his home land to London, 36€ million led him to Madrid and this season Bayern paid 25€ million for him.

The problem is a player that expensive should play regularly and that never happened with Robben, the "Crystal Man". The winger has a constant issue with injuries, mainly the muscular type. He's constantly deriving from the field to the enfermary and could never make too many matches in a row.

Now, after no more than three consecutive matches for Bayern, Robben is having surgery caused by a knee problem. It is the second time the Dutch goes under the knife for a knee.

Van Basten in for Leonardo?

After a long cycle, Carlo Ancelotti left the bench in AC Milan. Former Milan player Leonardo, technical director in the club since early 2008, was appointed to his place in May 2009.

Five months later, Milan is rethinking its position, due to bad results. The team isn't playing well and in a total of eight games, only two three can be accounted as wins. In Serie A, Leonardo didn't get any better than two wins, two ties and two defeats.

The first one was actually rather humiliating, since it was bitter rival Inter to get to San Siro and know down AC Milan with a clarifying 0-4. The Champions League started well for the Italian team, with a win against Olympique de Marseille. But the disappointment came on the second round, with modest Zurich take the win home. 1-0 was the score.

Milan hasn't been shining too much since their seventh Champions League conquest in 2007.

Now, with Ancelotti away, stability seems to be hard to come. The club's board has already given their trust to Leonardo, but it is starting to be said that the Brazilian coach is dependent on the next match against Atalanta.

If Milan doesn't win, Dutch Marco van Basten is already on the line to take his place.

Champions League matchday 2: flick goals, "bombs" and show

The 2nd round of the Champions League was worthy of the competition's name. The two great figures of the matchdays were Porto's Radamel Falcao and FC Zurich's Hannu Tihenen, who scored winners for their teams with the brilliance only the most gifted have: flick goals. The first opened the score at Dragão Stadium against Atlético Madrid. A few minutes later, fullback Rolando closed the score for Porto.

In Group D, Chelsea is, though, the incontested leader, with two 1-0 wins, the last against Apoel Nicosia, in Cyprus. Anelka solved at 18' with a great kick.

Tihenen's goal was even more fundamental, because it was the only one in a game no one expected to end the way it did. The opponent was multi-time champion AC Milan, who came of a win against Marseille (at the time playing - and losing - against Real Madrid) and Madrid had welcomed Zurich into the competition with a 5-2 win. But the Swiss didn't remember the theoretical advantage of the Italian and actually managed to win the game. Leonardo is now in bad shape in Milan, since displays in Serie A have also been quite disappoiting.

With this result, Real Madrid is the leader of Group C. Pellegrini's side did not have mercy on Olympique de Marseille, who had lost in the first round for Milan, and left Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with three more points and three more goals. Ronaldo was, once again, the great figure of the team, scoring twice and adding these goals to other two from the first round. He's the best scorer in the Champions so far. Kaká scored the other goal, from a penalty kick.

Manchester United has also kept a clean sheet this round, with a tough trip to Germany to play against local champions Wolfsburg. The locals opened the score thanks to a great header by Dzeko at 56', Giggs score his 150th goal with Man Utd in a free kick at 59' and assisted Carrick for an impecable strike at 78'. The last time Ferguson's side lost in the Champions League at Old Trafford was in February 2005.

Chelsea taken down for the first time

Unstoppable for six rounds in a row, Chelsea finally gave in and dropped three points in Wigan. It was the first defeat for Ancelotti as the blues manager, after 9 official games (six for Premier League, one for the Champions League, one for the Carling Cup and the Community Shield) registering wins only.

Bramble (16'), Rodallega (52' pen.) and Paul Scharner were the heroes at the DW Stadium who turned irrelevant the effort accomplished by Didier Drogba, who established a 1-1 on the score at 47'.

With a chance to turn the score, Chelsea threw it all away. Petr Cech knocked down Hugo Rodallega three minutes later. Penalty awarded, red card for the keeper, penalty scored by Rodallega himself.

With this result, the great benefited on the 7th round was Manchester United, who won 0-2 against Stoke . Berbatov opened the score at 62' and O'Shea closed it at 77'. With this win, United sit now on top of the table, with the same 18 points as Chelsea.

Right after come Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City, all this 15 points. The reds confirmed a great start with an astounding win against Hull City, scoring six goals and conceding one (Torres 12' 28' 47', Gerrard 61', Babbel 88' 90'; Geovanni 15').

Tottenham also won with a five-goal margin. 5-0 was the final result against recently promoted Burnley (Keane 18' pen., 74', 77', 87', Jenas 33'). City beat West Ham in the City of Manchester Stadium, with a 3-1 final score (Tévez 5' 61', Petrov 32'; Carlton Cole 24').

Villareal missing Pellegrini?

For five years, Manuel Pellegrini commanded Villareal into one of the most solid positions in the Spanish League - off title-winning candidates. With Pellegrini, Villareal has been third, fifth (twice), seventh and second. The club, who could only access the main league in Spain eleven years ago, in 1998/1999, is now a solid candidate to a place with Champions League access.

This season, one man changed the scenery: Florentino Pérez. The man who changed the market scene in football this century, after being refused by Arsène Wenger and José Mourinho, turned his attention to the Chilean coach, who didn't say no.

In Villareal, a new cycle began with Spaniard Ernesto Valverde, who came out from Greek side Olympiakos after a memorable season (won the League and the Cup). But the start after Pellegrini's long term reign is being very hard.

Five games, a possible total of 15 points and only two conquered. Two ties in the first two rounds, one away against Osasuna and one home with Mallorca, both with the same final score (1-1). The other three matches meant zero points for Valverde.

Athletic first (3-2), Real Madrid next (0-2 in El Madrigal), and finally Deportivo (1-0).

Manuel Pellegrini has scored all 15 possible points. He's fine without Villareal - understandable with a team like Madrid. Can Villareal be fine without Pellegrini?

Benfica, the best scorer in Europe

The Portuguese side is having the best start in twenty years and has scored 21 goals in six official matches for Liga Sagres. An impressive 3,5 goals per match is the average for the team, who's been classified in a modest third position last year and in fourth two years ago.

With a new coach and several new players, Benfica has been winning in big numbers: 8-1 against Setúbal, 0-4 with Belenenses and 5-0 against Leixões were the most expressive results. Paraguayan striker Óscar Cardozo is the top scorer, on the team and on the League, with seven goals in five matches only.

But Benfica is not the top scorer in Europe in absolute numbers. Liverpool overcomes Benfica in one goal, but scored them in seven matches, having, therefore, a slightly inferior average. Despite that fact, the reds are having the best start, when it comes to scored goals, in the last 115 years (!).

Sampdoria, the unpredictable leader

In a league where some of the competitors have Internazionale, AC Milan, Juventus or AS Roma by name, it sure is a big achievement for a more modest club like Sampdoria to be on the lead of Serie A. Not likely, but currently true. And the first place has been guaranteed precisely against champion Inter, with 5 rounds played.

In Genoa, Mourinho's side couldn't hit the net, while Pazzini did it for Samp at 72'. Inter is now 3rd, with 13 points accounted after four wins, one defeat and one draw. Juventus has been competing with the nerazzurri for Serie A leadership (they were in the 1st place until this round) but couldn't go further than a draw against Bologna. Trezeguet scored at 24', but close to the end, Adaílton gave Bologna one precious point.

In Milan, AC Milan, once again, couldn't win. The rossoneri are having an awful start with Brazilian coach Leonardo. In six games, only two wins can be accounted for Milan, with two defeats and an equal number of ties. Playing home, in San Siro stadium, against Bari, 0-0 was the final score.

AS Roma also couldn't do more than a draw against Catania (1-1), with a late goal by Daniele De Rossi (90'). Fiorentina was the most benefited this round. With a win against Livorno, Fiorentina has been able to catch Inter on the table, scoring 13 points. Jovetic, with a penalty goal at 76', is the one who the viola should thank for the three points.

Spain: Fever around CR9, Messi and Ibra

Two of them are new to La Liga; Messi is well known for quite some time, but no one really knows how to stop him. Four goals in the last two matches and one other in the 2nd round.

As for Cristiano Ronaldo, his "anxiety" problems for being unadapted to Madrid's game seem to be over, as the former Man Utd star "decided" to score for five goals in five matches. Moreover, to these goals one can add two more scored against Zurich for the Champions League.

Some critics have resounded as well on Ibrahimovic. He's too static, some say. Too long playing in Italian fields, with practically no space to move. Well, he's scored five goals in five matches, exactly like Ronaldo, but with one slight difference. Zlatan scored in all matches, unlike Ronaldo, who didn't hit the net on the fifth game (but who had scored twice in the previous round).

Both Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic are, as a matter of fact, the two best debuters in the history of their clubs, when in comes to goals in the first season start.

La Liga is, at the moment, being as exciting as expected. Only Kaká - the other superstar bought by Madrid - has not had as many chances to shine. But still, his records contemplates two brilliant assistances and two goals. Oh, and Madrid and Barcelona only know how to win so far!

Good luck for the Brits

All the British teams participating in this year's Champions League are entitled to be happy after the first round. Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool were all winners.

Starting with the blues, who have to thank Anelka for his efficiency for a very tough game against Porto at Stamford Bridge. The goal came at 48' after a very balanced first half an Carlo Ancelotti, very "Milan-like", ordered the team to defend. They still scraped a fair win, but with some luck.

Arsenal helped by referee Unlike Chelsea, Arsène Wenger's side owes the win only to luck. In Belgium, against Standard Liège, the gunners saw their opponents score two surprising goals in the first five minutes of the game.

Before the break, Bendtner scored for Arsenal and in the second half, the referee didn't see a clear foul by Gallas (he touched the ball with his arm) before Vermaelen but the ball in the net and set the draw. And right in the following minute, Eduardo, who had been suspended for this game but managed permission to play, scored the victory goal.

Liverpool could have done better at Anfield But the reds still got the three points. An efficient goal near the break by Kuyt, after a shoot by Torres, was enough to set the final score at Anfield Road against Hungarian team Debrecen. The reds now lead group E with Lyon, who also won 1-0 against Fiorentina.

United come out alive of "Turkish hell" That, at least, is the name for which Besiktas' stadium is known for its feverous environment. But it wasn't easy for the red devils, who had to wait until 77' to see a goal, scored by veteran Paul Scholes.

On the other game of group, Wolfsburg guaranteed the lead with a 3-1 win against CSKA Moscow. In this match, one player shined above all the others in all the first round's matches: Brazilian striker Grafite. Why? He scored all Wolfsburg goals.