FOOTBALL in Greece has had a troubled season, but Olympiacos are keeping the flag flying in Europe as they go into the second leg of their Conference League semi-final with a 4-2 lead. On the domestic front, Greek football has been shambolic in recent months with violence tarnishing games involving top clubs. Games have been played behind closed doors in recent months and the trouble on the field has involved club officials as well as players. The Super League is a tight battle this season with any one of four capable of winning the title. AEK Athens are currently top with 75 points and two games to go, PAOK and Panathinaikos are four behind but PAOK have a game in hand and Olympiacos also have three to play but are five points worse off than the leaders.
PSV Eindhoven have won their 26th Eredivisie title after beating Sparta Rotterdam 4-2. This victory put them nine points clear of Feyenoord with two games remaining. The Rotterdam club won 5-0 against Zwolle but they have to be satisfied with the KNVB Cup this season. PSV have lost just once this season, away at NEC Nijmegen. They have netted 23 goals in their last four games. The celebrations after PSV clinched the title were marred when one of their fans lost a finger when some pyrotechnics blew up.
The Danish Superliga is a close-run competition this season with four teams in with a shout of the title; Brøndby, FC København, Midtjylland and Nordsjælland. Meanwhile, the Danish Cup final takes place on May 8 in Copenhagen between Silkeborg and AGF, two teams from the Championship play-offs that cannot win the league. AGF have won the cup a record nine times, while Silkeborg have lifted the trophy just once.
Sporting Clube de Portugal have won their second Portuguese Primeira Liga in four years, both of which have been secured under manager Rúben Amorim. Sporting beat Portimonense 3-0 at the Estádio José Alvalade while Benfica were beaten 2-0 at Famalicão, making it impossible for the Super Eagles to overtake their local rivals. Sporting’s success has been very impressive, beaten twice but have yet to lose at home. They are on target to complete the double as they are in the Taça de Portugal final against Porto. They have scored 92 goals in 32 games and have conceded 29. Amorim, who has been courted by both Liverpool and West Ham, has confirmed he will stay with the club next season. The club continues to be prolific in the market, selling players for handsome profits, such as Pedro Porro to Tottenham and Manuel Ugarte to Paris Saint-Germain, transfers that brought in € 100 million. Uncharacteristically, they also spent quite heavily in 2023-24, securing Viktor Gyökeres and Morten Hjulmand more almost € 40 million.
GAME OF THE PEOPLE 