Belem lisbon

PARIS UEFA currently sees no need for a plan B for the Champions League final tournament due to be held in Lisbon, despite several suburbs of the Portuguese capital preparing to go back into lockdown as coronavirus cases surge again. "UEFA is in permanent contact with the Portuguese Football Association and the local authorities," the governing body told French sports daily L'Equipe. "We hope that everything will go well and that it will be possible to organise the tournament in Portugal. For the moment there is no reason to have a plan B. "We're monitoring the situation on a daily basis and we'll adapt if we have to." UEFA said earlier this month that this season’s Champions League, suspended in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, would be completed with an eight-team mini-tournament in Lisbon from Aug 12-23. Last Thursday, the Portuguese government said that those living in the affected areas of the capital - 19 parishes not including downtown Lisbon - would be … [Read more...] about Football: UEFA says Champions League final tournament still on but ‘we’ll adapt if we have to’

LISBON: Chancel Mbemba's early goal proved enough to hand Porto a 1-0 away win over Pacos Ferreira on Monday and extend their lead at the top of Portugal's Primeira Liga. Mbemba snapped up a chance after just seven minutes to hand Porto a vital win in the title race that puts them six points clear of defending champions Benfica with five matches remaining. Benfica lost 2-0 earlier on Monday at Maritimo to continue a horror series of recent results and offer Porto a clear path to the title after finishing two points behind their rivals last season. Mbemba was quickest to react when Pacos Ferreira goalkeeper Ricardo Ribeiro flapped at an in-swinging corner, pushing the ball a few metres forward where the former Newcastle United midfielder was waiting to snap up the opportunity. But the league leaders were far from convincing and had some stout defending to thank for a full haul of points. Pacos Ferreira midfielder Luiz Carlos had two good chances to equalise – the first … [Read more...] about Porto win away to open up six point lead in league race

LISBON: Struggling Maritimo scored twice in the space of four second-half minutes to register a shock 2-0 home victory over Benfica on Monday and hand the Portuguese champions another setback in their bid to defend their league title. The pace of home right back Nanu proved the difference as he raced away on the counterattack to square for Jorge Correa to score the first goal in the 74th minute. He then repeated the feat to set up Rodrigo Pinho for a second in the 78th minute. On both occasions, he outsprinted the Benfica defenders, squared the ball to the back post to allow his team mates to score. It might have been even more emphatic when a long ball in the last minute set Joel Tagueu away on another Maritimo counterattack, but his goal was ruled out by VAR as he was inches offside as he set off on his run. The result continued Benfica's horrid post-lockdown form. They remain three points behind league leaders and rivals FC Porto, who can go further ahead later on Monday … [Read more...] about Maritimo upset Benfica as title hopes slide even further away

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON: Despite the U.S. economy's near miss with a depression last year and an ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has brought travel to a virtual halt, Jeff Hurst, the chief executive of vacation rental firm VRBO, sees a boom on the horizon. "Every house is going to be taken this summer," Hurst said, as the expected protection from vaccines arrives in step with warmer weather, unleashing a cooped-up population with record savings stashed away. "There's so much built-up demand for it." That sort of bullish sentiment has increasingly taken root among executives, analysts and consumers who see the past year of comparative hibernation - from the government-ordered business closings last spring to continued risk avoidance by the public - giving way to a cautious re-emergence and green shoots in the economy. Graphic: Retail in real time - https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ECONOMY/REOPEN/yxmvjxkdjvr/chart.png Data from AirDNA, a short-term rental analytics firm, … [Read more...] about One year into pandemic, sky begins to clear over US economy

REUTERS: Manchester City's slim hopes of retaining their Premier League crown have gone but they still have two trophies in their crosshairs, manager Pep Guardiola said after the club reached the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Newcastle United. As well as the Cup, City are also still in the hunt for the Champions League title and hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid from the away leg of their last 16 clash in February before the competition was suspended due to COVID-19. Europe's elite club competition will be completed with an eight-team mini-tournament held in Lisbon in August. The FA Cup semis will be held on July 18-19 and the final is scheduled for Aug. 1. "We have two competitions we can win," Guardiola told reporters on Sunday. "It will be good to arrive against Real Madrid in the best condition. To win this title would be the best way to prepare for Madrid." Guardiola also said he was pleased with City's response after last week's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea handed … [Read more...] about Winning FA Cup would be ideal preparation for Real clash: Guardiola