Sporting fail to reach Champions League group stage after loss in Moscow

Sporting will miss out on this season’s Champions League group stages after a 3-1 loss in Moscow (4-3 on aggregate).

In what was a game of few clear chances and some tough battles for possession, Jorge Jesus’ side took the lead in the 36th minute, when João Pereira set up Teo Gutiérrez. Doumbia was first to strike for the hosts four minutes after the break, before grabbing a second in the 72nd minute to level the scores on aggregate after a header by Slimani had been ruled out by the referee after the ball had allegedly arched out of play from Carrillo’s corner.

The encounter looked to be heading for extra-time, but Musa’s strike five minutes from time secured qualification for CKSA, while Sporting now head for the Europa League.

João Mário comments after penning new deal

Having arrived at Alvalade back in 2008 as a promising young talent, João Mário has now penned a deal that extends his stay at Sporting until 2020.

The up and coming midfielders proved happy with the contract extension and is more than ever hungry for titles: “This is really important for my career. I am really happy to be with Sporting for even longer. This is recognition of my work. It has always been a dream for me to play for the first team and luckily I am doing that.”

João Mário went on to speak about the season so far: “We have started the best way possible and it is always important to win titles like we did on Sunday. It gives us for confidence going into the Champions League playoffs.”

Slimani happy with Alvalade extension

Islam Slimani renewed his contract with Sporting this week up to 2020, with a buy-out clause of 30,000,000.00€.

“I am really happy with renewing my contract with Sporting. It is recognition of the work I have been doing here. I have developed as a player and I hope to win more titles with Sporting”, said the Algerian giant after penning the deal.

Gelson Martins shares his thoughts with Sporting TV

Gelson Martins spoke with Sporting TV this week ahead of Friday’s encounter with I Liga new-comers Tondela.

“The week has gone well for us, the lads are motivated and we are focused on our match against Tondela. There are no easy games and we will play against Tondela like we would against any other team. We have to work hard to be ready”, opened the winger, adding: “It is always great to have the fans behind us and this will be just like it was in the Supercup final in the Algarve.”

Individually, Gelson proved happy with how he is fitting into the senior squad: “It has been going well for me and the older players have been helping me a lot. I am really happy and I feel like I have to work to show that it was worth taking a bet on me.”

Islam Slimani

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Islam Slimani for the renewal of his contract until 2020, with a buy-out clause of 30,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Slimani the best of professional and personal success.

João Mário

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with João Mário for the renewal of his contract until 2020, with a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes João Mário the best of professional and personal success.

UEFA announces champions League squads

Sporting’s Squad B List was released today, adding another 14 players to those announced earlier in the week: Guilherme Oliveira, Pedro Silva, Vladimir Stojkovic, Riquicho, Tobias Figueiredo, Domingos Duarte, Francisco Geraldes, Rafael Barbosa, Fábio Martins, Gelson Martins, Daniel Podence, Matheus Pereira, Carlos Mané and Cristian Ponde.

Complete squad list in full:
Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício, Marcelo Boeck, Azbe Jug, Guilherme Oliveira, Pedro Silva and Vladimir Stojkovic
Defenders: João Pereira, Ricardo Esgaio, Riquicho, Paulo Oliveira, Naldo, Ewerton, Tobias Figueiredo, Domingos Duarte, Jefferson and Jonathan Silva
Midfielders: William, Adrien, Aquilani, João Mário, André Martins, Francisco Geraldes, Rafael Barbosa and Fábio Martins
Forwards: Carrillo, Carlos Mané, Gelson Martins, Bryan Ruiz, Matheus Pereira, Daniel Podence, Cristian Ponde, Tanaka, Montero, Teo Gutiérrez and Slimani

Sporting coach speaks with the press after Supercup win

“The winner tonight is Sporting and the players”, opened Jorge Jesus in a post-match interview, after leading his side to an eighth Supercup with a 1-0 win over Benfica.

For the Alvalade boss, there is no doubt that his side earned their silverware. “It isn’t easy to get the team playing like they did in just five weeks and it is all down to the intelligence of the players. We were the best team throughout the 90 minutes and we had the most chances. We scored another goal, but it was ruled out”, affirmed Jesus, adding: “ Benfica was scared of Sporting and that is down to how we started the game. I felt like Benfica was afraid and Sporting was more of a team. The players and the fans deserve to be congratulated.”

Asked if he will be bringing the national championship title to Sporting this season, Jesus commented: “Any Sporting coach has to play for the tittle. Saying things like ‘we are going to try’ don’t wash with the history that this club has and we have to go for it.”

Sporting open 2015/16 campaign with win over Benfica

Sporting made the best possible to the 2015/16 domestic campaign this Sunday night, beating Benfica 1-0 in the final of the Supercup to bring the trophy to Alvalade for the 8th time.

Sporting’s fiery start to the encounter left little doubt that Jorge Jesus’ side had made the trip to the Algarve fully focused on bringing silverware back to Lisbon. Looking deadly in attack, Sporting dominated right from the off, holding down long spells of possession and pressing in defence. Making the most of Benfica’s nervy start and sloppy passing, the team from Alvalade pushed high up the pitch and Téo came painfully close to connecting with a cross from Jefferson, but Júlio César was quick off his line to intercept. Benfica responded with a cross by Ola John that Jonas failed to connect with, before Adrien tried his luck in the 18th minute with an effort from the edge of the area that Júlio César comfortably saved.

Despite Sporting’s clear dominance, the first golden opportunity fell to Benfica, when Jonas headed wide following a corner whipped into the far post by Gaitán. Sporting rallied and two minutes later Téo looked to have an open goal in front of him, but Jardel made a last ditch clearance to cut out Bryan Ruiz cross. Téo actually had the ball in the back of the net a few minutes later after taking advantage of some confusion in the area, but his goal was wrongly ruled out for offside.

Jorge Jesus’ charges continued to dominate after the break and it looked to be only a matter of time before Benfica collapsed under the avalanche of attacking football. On 48 minutes João Mário pulled a low stop out of Júlio César, before Téo headed just wide from a stinging cross by Jefferson. On 53 minutes, Carrillo found space at the edge of the box to release a shot towards goal and Téo added a slight deflection to finally beat Júlio César.

Trailing, Benfica proved uninspired in their attempts to get back into the fixture, with Rui Vitória’s side doing little more than push the ball out wide.

Slimani could have doubled the lead, but the Algerian’s shot across goal ended up the wrong side of the post after he had earned a yard of space at a tight angle. Benfica had one final chance in the dying stages, but Lisandro’s header lacked pace and barely troubled Patrício. As the final whistle sounded, Sporting came away with a well-earned win and eighth Supercup.

Alvalade boss speaks with the press ahead of Sunday's Supercup encounter

“Both sides want to win and we will see who is the better side”, opened Jorge Jesus in a press conference on Saturday, setting the stage for Sporting’s Supercup encounter with Benfica in Estádio Algarve.

“It is a final between two rivals and we are all aware of how important this game is. We have prepared ourselves as well as we could during the pre-season. Only the best teams reach this match and it is a good sign for Sporting to be involved”, reflected the Sporting coach.

Questioned about how his new-look side is progressing, Jorge Jesus proved happy: “It isn’t the same thing to arrive at a club and try and implant an idea. With different ideas, you also have to work in a different way, so we have to accept that things won’t go as good as I want them to sometimes. However, I am happy to be working with some very intelligent players, which helps a lot. We are a club with national prestige and we want to do our best to win the Supercup.”

Asked for his thoughts on Sunday’s opposition, Jorge Jesus added: “Benfica is champion and their players have won seven trophies out of eight, but being favourite doesn’t give you the right to win. We are feeling confident that we have the capacity to play in a final against a team like Benfica.”