SoccerBlogs

"Buy low, sell high."

It's a Wall Street proverb and modus operandi familiar in just about any business-oriented environment, that of which modern football has shifted closer and closer to in recent decades.

In fact, so valued is the ability to turn a profit or just to break even in the world of football, that new UEFA laws—the impending Financial Fair Play act—are soon to be introduced with the aim of rewarding those who get their balance right while punishing those who do not.

Isco of Malaga CF (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Much of the discussion around the Champions League Round of 16 fixtures has focused on Manchester United vs. Real Madrid and Barcelona vs. AC Milan. While both of those fixtures featured tremendous storylines involving some of the world's biggest clubs, and neither FC Porto nor Malaga have as much worldwide support as the aforementioned, both sides are capable of producing world-class football.

Joao Moutinho of FC Porto (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Porto edged a resilient Malaga side in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie thanks to a second-half strike from playmaker Joao Moutinho.

The Portuguese leaders put in a dominant display, limiting the opposition to only 38% of possession with one shot on goal.

Bayern Munich will look to continue their dominant form today when they travel to London to take on a vulnerable looking Arsenal side that few are giving much of a chance to survive this UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match-up.

Bayern is running away with the Bundesliga, and playing some of the best soccer on the world.

Lionel Messi, Barcelona

13:00 – UEFA Champions League Pregame
13:30 – UEFA Champions League: Arsenal FC (ENG) v FC Bayern Munchen (GER) Fox Soccer
16:00 – UEFA Champions League: FC Porto (POR) v Malaga CF (ESP) DELAYED Fox Soccer

Wed Feb 20
13:00 – UEFA Champions League Pregame Fox Soccer
13:30 – UEFA Champions League: AC Milan (ITA) v FC Barcelona (ESP) Fox Soccer
16:00 – UEFA Champions League: Galatasaray AS (TUR) v FC Schalke 04 (GER) DELAYED Fox Soccer

Lucho Gonzalez of Porto -Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

With the anticipation of the Barcelona/AC Milan and Bayern Munich/Arsenal fixtures, it seems as if the weeks other two Champions League round of 16 ties are being overlooked.

Big mistake.

FC Porto will host Malaga on Tuesday at Estadio do Dragao in what could prove to be the most competitive match of the week.

While 13 of the places in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 are filled, including all four Spanish entrants, the remaining three remain up for grabs with holders Chelsea FC among the six teams in contention in the final group games on 4 and 5 December.

First place in four groups, with seeding in the round of 16 draw, will also be decided then as will the identities of five of the eight teams that will transfer to the UEFA Europa League round of 32 by finishing third.

It's been a bad day for Tottenham Hotspur. FC Porto have announced that they've sold striker Joao Moutinho to Monaco for a transfer fee of £21 million. The White Hart Lane club were reportedly within minutes of signing Moutinho last summer, but failed to beat the deadline to bring the highly-sought after footballer to England.

By DAN KARELL

AS Monaco is serious about competing next season in Ligue.

The recently promoted side finalized the transfer of two of the best midfielders in the world from FC Porto, paying a price of $90.5 million for James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho. Both clubs confirmed the transfer on Friday, which according to Porto is the largest transfer fee in the history of Portuguese soccer.

While many people last week were discussing the situation of Mexican international Javier Chicharito Hernandez at Manchester United, another Mexican player made headlines. Hector Herrera, in an interview with Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, stated he'd be joining FC Porto in Portugal next season.

"I've given my word to Porto," Herrera, 23, said.

3 To See: Crystal Palace, Porto v Benfica, Farewell Sir Alex at Old Trafford is a post from: Just Football

The weekend's 3 to See for the weekend 10th-13th May, as brought to you by Just Football:

(Friday 10th May 19.45 GMT)

After Leicester and Watford did battle in the first of the Championship play-off semi finals on Thursday attention turns to the teams who finished 5th and 4th in the Championship respectively, as Crystal Palace face fierce rivals Brighton and Hove Albion in what should be a tense and dramatic play off.

3 To See: Manchester United v Manchester City, Fiorentina, FC Porto is a post from: Just Football

by Ebrahim Sadien

(Sunday, April 7th2013)

A resurgent AC Milan take on Fiorentina at a sold out Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday evening.

Alex Sandro of FC Porto (Google Creative Commons)

Manchester United have had success with French players over the years, and Patrice Evra certainly stands among that list. Signed from Monaco back in 2006, the 31-year-old has gone on to become one of the important players at United. However, there is a feeling at Old Trafford that his time at the club is certainly coming to an end.

AVB All Past, No Future? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

When Andre Villas-Boas first took over at Chelsea, if you had played spot the difference between him and the previous Portuguese incumbent of the Stamford Bridge hot seat, you'd have been hard-pressed to find even one.

At least that was the impression.

The Night That Made Mourinho - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Every legacy has a starting point... and Jose Mourinho's was on Tuesday, 9th March 2004.

That was the night his Porto side beat Manchester United 3-2 on aggregate in the last 16 of the Champions League. The night he ran down the touchline, arms flailing, celebrating a goal that didn't just win a football match, it changed his life and, in time, the lives of football fans across Europe.

Joao Moutinho of FC Porto (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

FC Porto's prowess at developing and selling on talent has been well documented here at SWOL. Their ability to consistently produce world-class players has been astounding in the last decade and beyond, and it continues today.

James Rodriguez of FC Porto (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

January is coming ever more closely and for me, that means the dreaded finals week, but for the soccer world, it marks the start of the January transfer window, where clubs across the world are able to add talent in the middle of their season.

Manchester City FA Cup 2011 (Flickr Commons)

With the news of Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement still being digested by many, as well as rampant speculation regarding the future of Jose Mourinho in Spain, it's safe to say that it's been a pretty eventful week in football so far. And with the weekend on the horizon, we can now look ahead to the range of on-the-field matters that look set to be settled in the coming days.

Braga celebrate victory in the Portuguese Cup (Image via the Record.pt)

In the sixth edition of the competition, SC Braga wins their fourth official title in history. SC Braga scored the only goal in a penalty at the end of the first half, playing the rest of the game with one more man. The game took place in Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra.

FC Porto ves Braga is without a doubt the game of the weekend. It'll be a matchup between the 2nd and the 4th, both teams trying to keep up with their rivals, Benfica and Paços de Ferreira respectively. Benfica, with one more game, is sevenpoints ahead of FC Porto, with five more games to go, that means 15 points in discussion (18 for FC Porto) and no margin of error for the Dragons.

Nicola Leali during the Serie A match between Reggina Calcio and SS Virtus Lanciano (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Mohamed Al-Hendy breaks down the best under-21 world football players in the game, starting with 100 and going all the way to number one. Stick with SWOL for the following installments of the SWOL Top 100 U-21′s to Watch in 2013.

BY DAN KARELL

Bayern Munich can extend their winning streak to twelve matches in all competitions, if they defeat Arsenal on Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena.

The German side defeated the Gunners in London on February 19, striking a dagger into the hearts of the English side.

Radamel Falcao of Club Atletico de Madrid (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

After quickly appointing a new manager following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea will now be able to focus again on the task of winning the Premier League title.

While the hopes for the 2012-13 season are dwindling week by week, with Chelsea in 3rd position, already 10 points back of league leaders Manchester United, the London side have great appeal in world football and present themselves as a favorable destination for those players who wish to ply their trade in the Europe's top league.

Christian Atsu of FC Porto (Google Creative Commons)

According to TalkSport on Wednesday may 15, 2013, reports claim that Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is looking to make a move for a former player of his from earlier in his career.

Two years ago Villas-Boas was still at the helm of Portuguese side FC Porto where he lead the Dragons to a treble of the UEFA Europa League title, Portuguese Cup and the Portuguese League title.

SWOL analyst Mohamed Al-Hendy continues his countdown of the best U21 footballers in the world that you should watch in 2013 as we close out the 60′s with places 65-61.

Viktor Fischer of Ajax (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

65. Viktor Fischer

A product of the fabled Ajax academy, Viktor Fischer has been a terrific addition to Ajax's squad this season.