Cape Verdean defender Fernando Varela joined Greek club PAOK FC in July of 2016, and the club’s website says that the move was predominantly made for family reasons. Varela, age 30, married his wife Andreia at 18, and the transfer allowed them to settle in Thessaloniki with their sons Gustavo, Tomas and Lourenço.
Hector Herrera went the full 90 in Porto’s comprehensive 4-0 away victory over sixth-place Chaves on Sunday, registering an assist on the final goal scored by Sergio Oliveira.
It was Herrera’s third assist of the campaign for the league leaders, who’ve opened up a two-point gap on both Benfica and Sporting while maintaining a game in hand.
While things are going well for the 27-year-old midfielder and his club in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, they now must prepare to host English power Liverpool in Champions League Round of 16 action on Wednesday.
Make it 16 goals from 18 games for Mexico international Charlyn Corral in this season’s Primera Division (the Spanish women’s top flight). The 26-year-old native of Acolman, Mexico, has been Levante’s top scorer the previous two seasons, and she’s currently leading the division after adding another against Sevilla on Saturday.
Did she mean it? Who knows, it’s still a long-range crack that’s probably the best scored in match week 19.
¡¡¡Q-U-É G-O-L-A-Z-O!!!
This assist from Roberto Firmino to Mohamed Salah for Liverpool's second goal against Southampton is everything. After scoring the first via a Salah assist, Firmino returned the favor in style. The match ended 2-0 to Liverpool, with Firmino's assist the major highlight.
This @22mosalah goal is just pic.twitter.com/HRP8otVGwq
Robin van Persie grew up in Rotterdam, where 15-time Dutch champions Feyenoord are something like a religion. Van Persie joined the club’s youth system as a 16-year-old after spending his formative years with Feyenoord satellite club Excelsior. He made his debut at 17 and spent three seasons with the first team before his transfer to Arsenal.
Philippe Coutinho scored his first goal for Barcelona after coming on as a halftime substitute in their Copa del Rey semifinal second leg against Valencia Thursday. Coutinho scored four minutes after coming on as Barcelona eased into the final with a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Coutinho’s finish was sure a tidy one, but the majority of the credit has to go to Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan brilliantly worked a bit of space before turning provider for Barca’s all-important away goal at a packed Mestalla.