Jose Mourinho has been appointed as Benfica’s new head coach – and one of his first assignments will be against his old club Chelsea. The Lisbon club turned to the 62-year-old after dismissing Bruno Lage in the early hours of Wednesday morning following a Champions League home defeat to Qarabag of Azerbaijan. Mourinho returns to Benfica after a short stint in charge of the club 25 years ago.
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The football world has been left devastated by the death of the Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota in a car accident in north-western Spain. The 28-year-old father of three, who married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, 11 days earlier, was killed alongside his brother André Silva when the Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off a road.
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Raphinha scored twice and Lamine Yamal netted a stunning strike as a superb Barcelona dismantled Benfica 3-1 in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, advancing to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate victory. It was an inspired evening for teenager Yamal who was virtually unplayable running up and down the right channel, creating most of Barca’s scoring chances.
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France beat Portugal in a penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after a tense showdown in Hamburg. Theo Hernandez scored the winning penalty after substitute Joao Felix hit the outside of the post with his effort, the only miss. Players sprinted over to the other end of the pitch to celebrate with fans afterwards, while Portugal, who had overcome Slovenia via a shootout five days ago, were left feeling deflated while they applauded their supporters.
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Cristiano Ronaldo was left in tears after his penalty was saved in extra time but Portugal still progressed to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 following a dramatic shootout victory over Slovenia. Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa was the hero of the night as he made a crucial save in the final moments of extra-time to deny Benjamin Sesko before saving three Slovenian penalties in a row enabling Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva to send the 2016 Champions into the last eight.
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