Babel seals new record goals tally for matchday one

Babel seals new record goals tally for matchday one

If the opening games are anything to go by then 2017/18 could be a season to savour after the 16 matches produced a record 54 goals.There were 28 on Tuesday, a figure inflated by Paris's five at Celtic and six for Chelsea at home to Qarabağ. While Wednesday couldn't quite match that, Damjan Bohar's late equaliser for Maribor at home to Spartak Moskva took the tally across the two nights to 53, equalling the matchday one best set in 2013/14. A few moments later, Ryan Babel's clincher for Beşiktaş at Porto set a new record.

The 2017/18 Champions League group stage as it stands

The 2017/18 Champions League group stage as it stands

What would the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League group stage look like if Europe's major domestic leagues ended now? This is how things are shaping up.*ESP: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético MadridGER: Bayern München, RB Leipzig, DortmundENG: Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, LiverpoolITA: Juventus, RomaPOR: Benfica, PortoFRA: Monaco, Paris Saint-GermainRUS: Spartak MoskvaUKR: Shakhtar DonetskBEL: AnderlechtNED:UEFA.com - News

Buffon v Casillas: Players call it a draw on Twitter

Buffon v Casillas: Players call it a draw on Twitter

With over 260 UEFA Champions League – as well as more than 330 international – appearances between them, there can be little doubt that Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas are two of the greatest keepers in European history (indeed they share the continental record of 167 international caps). As Juventus are taking on Porto in the round of 16 next month, it seemed an appropriate time to take a look at the pair in action ... The tale of the tapeGianluigi Buffon (Juventus and Italy)Age: 38Senior

History makes Porto wary for Juventus test

History makes Porto wary for Juventus test

FC Porto have not beaten Juventus in three attempts so will have to break new ground if they are to realise their ambition of winning a place in the quarter-finals.Previous meetings• Juventus beat Porto 2-1 in the 1984 European Cup Winners' Cup final in Basel, and recorded an away draw (0-0) and a home win (3-1) when the teams met in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League first group stage. • The line-ups in Portugal on 10 October 2001 were:Porto: Ovchinnikov, Carvalho, Andrade, Ibarra, Silva, Paredes (Söderström

Benfica clinch League Cup win, Porto held again

Benfica clinch League Cup win, Porto held again

THURSDAY Porto 1-1 Feirense (Marcano 49; Flávio 73)The Dragons are in danger of missing out on the Portuguese League Cup semi-finals after being held for a second time in Group B. Iván Marcano put the hosts in front just after half-time but they could not defend their advantage and trail Moreirense by two points ahead of their final group game away to the leaders on 3 January – with only the top side in each section progressing to the last four.Benfica 1-0 Paços de Ferreira (Cervi 39)Winners

Porto v Juventus: reaction, analysis

Porto v Juventus: reaction, analysis

Match dates: 22 February, 14 MarchReaction Pavel Nedvěd, Juventus vice-president: "A good draw for us? It's all relative and you mustn't underestimate your opponents at this stage of the competition. There are great expectations of Juve now reaching the quarter-finals with ease, just as there is at home to win the Scudetto. In reality, things are never that simple. Porto must be approached with caution given they've knocked out one Italian team already."

Five things you didn’t know about João Mário

Five things you didn’t know about João Mário

Blessed with technical ability, footballing intelligence and great vision, the 23-year-old João Mário has joined UEFA Europa League contenders Internazionale eight weeks after helping Portugal to European glory. But how much do you know about the talented midfielder? Here are five things to get you started.1. João Mário was born in Porto and signed for the Dragões' academy in 2002. Two years later his mother relocated to Lisbon and he duly moved south, linking up with Sporting. Initially a defender, he was a midfielder when he made his senior debut in Italy as already-qualified Sporting lost 2-0 at Lazio in the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League group stage.