Ireland striker Leon Best will undergo a scan today to establish the seriousness of the injury he suffered in Blackburn’s friendly against AEK Athens yesterday.

Leon Best believes Blackburn can follow the example of Newcastle and bounce back stronger from relegation.

Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal must keep hold of captain Robin van Persie “at all costs” as they look to resolve the Dutchman’s long-term future ahead of the new Premier League season.

Blackburn have made their third signing of the summer, bringing in former Portugal striker Nuno Gomes on a free transfer.

“Six years ago we were the predators, now we are the prey,” said Portuguese paper Publico yesterday, of a match where the Danes can afford to wait to catch their opponents on the break, whereas Portugal have to score.

An arduous club season, no matter how successful, might not be the platform on which the national side can thrive

A is for Arshavin: The diminutive little playmaker lit up this tournament four years ago, tormenting a fine Dutch side and inspiring Russia to a place in the semi-finals.

Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke left behind a note before he was hit by a train and killed yesterday evening, police reportedly confirmed today.

CRISTIANO RONALDO has admitted that he is pleased to see Chelsea top of the Premier League because it reflects well on his former international coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Portugal 2 Germany 3

Czech Republic 1 Portugal 3

Barcelona midfielder Deco believes Arsenal’s Alexander Hleb is the ideal candidate to replace him when he leaves the Nou Camp this summer.

PORTUGUESE striker Nuno Gomes has given the thumbs-up to Giovanni Trapattoni, as the veteran Italian prepares for his unveiling as the new Republic of Ireland manager in Dublin on Thursday.

Celtic welcomed Benfica to Parkhead for tonight’s Champions League game in desperate need of a win to boost their Group D hopes.

Benfica manager Jose Antonio Camacho is expecting "a man's game" when his side take on Celtic in their Champions League clash at Parkhead on Wednesday night.

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has warned his fringe players to leave now or face being left out in the cold for the rest of the season.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has warned his fringe players to leave the club now or face being left out in the cold for the rest of the season.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp plans to bolster his attack this summer and is monitoring West Ham striker Marlon Harewood.

MANCHESTER United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been honoured in his home country by being awarded the Portugal Sportsperson of the Year award for 2006.

Alex Ferguson’s pre-match observations proved eerily accurate as Manchester United battled back from the brink of humiliation to book their place in the Champions League knockout stages.

Benfica coach Fernando Santos insists he has no special plans to man-mark Cristiano Ronaldo in tonight’s make-or-break Champions League clash with Manchester United.

ALL derbies are equal but some are more equal than others, declared the Portuguese football paper O Jogo last week, a proposition that will be sadly familiar to Tottenham fans.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan believes the defeat against Benfica is part of a learning curve for his players.

CELTIC captain Neil Lennon remains perplexed as to why the Parkhead side failed yet again to perform away from home in the group stages of the Champions League.

Celtic captain Neil Lennon remains perplexed as to why the Parkhead side failed yet again to perform away from home in the group stages of the Champions League.

Celtic defender Stephen McManus has stressed that teammate Gary Caldwell will not be made a dressing room scapegoat after the Scotland international’s horror first-half against Benfica in Lisbon helped the Portuguese club to a three-goal win in their Champions League Group F match in Lisbon.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan made two changes from Sunday’s 2-1 Bank of Scotland Premier League win at Kilmarnock for their Champions League Group F match against Benfica in the Estadio da Luz.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan handed Evander Sno his Champions League debut in the Hoops’ home Group F match against Benfica.

CELTIC defender Gary Caldwell believes Benfica can cause him more problems than he recently faced playing for Scotland against Thierry Henry and Andriy Shevchenko.

TWO first-half goals from striker Ebi Smolarek gave Poland a shock 2-1 win over Group A favourites Portugal in Chorzow.

Benfica 0 Manchester United 1

Finland failed to take advantage of a numerical advantage as 10-men Portugal earned a 1-1 draw in their opening Group A Euro 2008 qualifier.

Germany 3 Portugal 1

Jurgen Klinsmann admitted he was honoured after being told to stay on as Germany coach by one of his country’s football legends.

Germany 3 Portugal 1

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann made way for long-time rival Oliver Kahn as Germany prepared to take on Portugal in the third-place play-off match in Stuttgart.

ONE of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s greatest attributes is his ability to make his squad bond as a group, to believe that no one player is more important than any other, and to give his team a collective belief that they can win any match.

Portugal 2 Mexico 1

PORTUGAL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is already planning for the World Cup knockout stages — but claims the reserves he will use in the today’s Group D fixture with Mexico could play their way into his first-choice line-up for the last 16 match with Argentina or Holland.

BARCELONA may need to get back on the goal trail against Benfica after scoring just once in their last three matches, but coach Frank Rijkaard has urged caution from his side.

Benfica 0 Barcelona 0

Liverpool 0 Benfica 2 (Agg 0-3)

Liverpool 0 Benfica 2 (Benfica win 3-0 on aggregate)

Liverpool suffered a double defensive injury blow prior to their Champions League last-16 second leg clash with Benfica at Anfield.