Guedes channels Cristiano to fire Portugal
Gonçalo Guedes gave Real Sociedad fans a reminder of his quality on Saturday, stepping into Cristiano Ronaldo's spot and opening the scoring for Portugal in a World Cup qualifier against Bolivia. The finish was set up by a cutting pass from Rúben Neves, the kind of ball that does half the work, and Guedes made no mistake (1). Bruno Fernandes sealed the win from the spot, with Cepeda netting a late consolation for Bolivia (2).
It's the kind of decisive contribution that has been too rare at club level. If Guedes carries this confidence into pre-season, La Real might finally see the version of him that keeps delivering for the national team.
Summer reset underway for both squads
The women's team closed their historic campaign with a 2–0 home win over Atlético Madrid, securing a Champions League qualifying berth. But the celebration is tempered by reality: five key departures are confirmed, and the squad that achieved this breakthrough will look different next season.
For the men, a 10th-place finish on 46 points with a goal difference of -2 tells its own story. Director Erik Bretos inherits a 42-player squad that needs trimming, though the foundation is solid, 27 players are tied down through 2029 or beyond, including promising defender Jon Martín. The summer ahead is about subtraction, clarity, and a clear direction for both teams.
