William speaks with the press after 5-1 win over V. Guimarães

William rubber stabbed what has been a brilliant return from injury with another dominating performance this weekend, masterminding a 5-1 win over V. Guimarães.

“The team achieved an important objective, which was to win and to play well. Now we will carry on working hard to do the same in our next game”, said the Alvalade midfielder speaking with the press, before responding to a question about the coming Lisbon derby: “We still aren’t thinking about it, because we still have a Portuguese Cup game to come first and we will be focused on that.”

In parallel, William reinforced the idea that problems off the pitch will do little to damage his side’s performance: “We have been working hard, despite what is going on. I also want to thank the fans for their support.”

Sporting breeze past V. Guimarães on I Liga matchday 7

Sporting put in the best performance of the season so far with a 5-1 thrashing of V. Guimarães this Sunday night. Slimani was the encounter’s main instigator, netting a hattrick in what was a brilliant showing all round.

With five changes relative to the side that took on Besiktas mid-week (Esgaio, Jefferson, Adrien, João Mário and Slimani), Sporting dominated right from the off, with William in particular bossing play with a midfield masterclass. Long spells of possession went largely uncontested, as Jorge Jesus’ side smartly went about exploiting the space out wide. In was only a matter of time before the ball was in the back of the net and it was Slimani who obliged, heading in a cross from João Mário.

After quarter of an hour Slimani pulled a fine save out of Douglas, before Teo Gutiérrez headed an effort against the cross bar two minutes later following a Jefferson corner. A second was only a matter of time and it was the Colombian who struck in the 24^th minute, picking up a loose pass from Montoya and rounding the keeper to slot into an empty net.

Despite having netted twice early on, Sporting continued to pressure and push forward. Bryan Ruiz was next to try his luck, tricking his way past two before being denied by Douglas in what was the Costa Rican’s last showing of the night as he was forced off by injury in place of Gelson Martins). Five minutes later, Teo had another chance, after some superb link up play between João Mário and Gelson.

The second-half actually started off with Sporting looking more cautious in attack, but a harsh tackle from Saré on 55 minutes saw Guimarães reduced to 10 men and signalled the start of wave after wave of Sporting attacks. Slimani made it three in the 58th minute following a pinpoint cross from Jefferson, before Adrien scored with a kind deflection following a free-kick on the edge of the area.

A series of set pieces followed for the visitors, while Sporting continued to throw numbers forward. After a decent chance for Gelson in the 78^th minute, only cut out by a past ditch tackle from Josué, Slimani rounded off his hattrick with a simple finish after a driven cross by Jefferson. Sérgio Conceição’s side did grab a consolation in the 82nd minute, but it did little to overshadow what was a brilliant showing from the team from Alvalade.

The result keeps Sporting in 1st with FC Porto on 17 points, three ahead of Rio Ave and four ahead of Sp. Braga.

Sporting-V. Guimarães, 5-1

I Liga matchday 7

Estádio José Alvalade, 31.295 spectators

Referee: Rui Costa (AF Porto), substituted in the 52nd minute for Hélder Malheiro

Sporting: Rui Patrício; Ricardo Esgaio, Tobias Figueiredo, Naldo, Jefferson; William, Adrien (captain, Aquilani, 61’); João Mário, Bryan Ruiz (Gelson Martins, 35’), Teo Gutiérrez (Montero, 66’) and Slimani

Coach: Jorge Jesus

V. Guimarães: Douglas (captain); Bruno Gaspar, Josué, João Afonso, Dalbert; Saré, Cafu, Tozé (João Pedro, 62’); Montoya (Licá, 35), Ricardo Valente and Tomané (Ricardo Gomes, 62’)

Coach: Sérgio Conceição

Goals: Slimani (12’, 58’ and 78’), Teo Gutiérrez (24’) and Adrien (60’); Josué (82’)

Cards: Yellow, Adrien (20’), Montoya (32’), Bruno Gaspar (59’), Gelson Martins (67’), Dalbert (75’) and Licá (90+2’). Red, Saré (55’)

Jorge Jesus with the press ahead of visit to V. Guimarães

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Rui Costa named for I Liga matchday 8

Rui Costa, 39, from the Porto Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting’s hosting of V. Guimarães, on I Liga matchday eight.

Miguel Aguilar and João Silva will act as linesmen.

Sporting-V. Guimarães will kick off at 20h30 on Sunday the 4th October, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Jorge Jesus on his side's draw with Boavista

Speaking at the final whistle on Saturday, Jorge Jesus considered that his side did enough to claim the three points.

“We lost the chance to clear into first. We knew we could go clear, but we had to beat Boavista in a difficult game. Offensively, we created three chances which could have given us the win, but we were not effective. Defensively we played well, but we wanted to come away from here with a different result and we did what we could to deserve that”, affirmed the Sporting coach.

Speaking in greater depth about the game, Jesus analysed: “From my point of view there were two situations which should be looked at: the penalty against Paulo Vinícius for handball stopping Slimani from scoring and Slimani’s goal that was ruled out. I didn’t like the refereeing. Boavista kept fouling us to stop the game and they didn’t get many yellow cards, even when it would have been justified. They fought hard, but other than dead ball situations they didn’t get near our goal. They did well in defence and we didn’t know what to do. Having the mentality to win the league and winning every now and then are two different things and we are trying to teach the lads that.”

To finish, Jorge Jesus spoke about the return of William Carvalho: “William has been out for two months and he needs to play to get back up to speed. He could have played regardless of the result. He will play more on Thursday and, bit by bit, we will try and use the quality he has, which is really important for the team.”

Sporting held to goalless draw by Boavista

Sporting missed out on the chance to go clear at the top of I Liga this weekend, after being held to a goalless draw in Estádio do Bessa.

The team from Alvalade had Boavista pinned back in defence almost immediately from the off, with some steady build-up down the flanks holding down long spells of possession but creating very few clear chances on goal. In fact, it was actually the hosts who created the first notable opportunity, when Zé Manuel headed wide following a free-kick.

Sporting continued to dominate possession and were having a relatively easy time in arriving to the edge of the Boavista 18-yard box, but the final penetrating pass was proving hard to come by. On 29 minutes, Slimani did put the ball in the back of the net, but referee Artur Soares Dias ruled out the Algerian’s effort for an alleged foul. Another chance quickly followed when Montero linked up with a cross from João Mário, but Nuno Henrique threw himself in front of the effort to keep the scoreboard blank. Slimani again came close just before the break with a header, but Mika did well to stretch out a hand and keep the scores tied at the break.

The second-half was much of the same, with Sporting holding on to the ball and showing patience in the build-up, but coming up against a Boavista defensive wall in the final third. With Teo Gutiérrez on the pitch in place of Montero, Sporting created a superb chance when Slimani floated a pass to the far post which Gelson Martins put back across goal, but the Colombian forward blazed his shot wide of the mark.

William Carvalho made a long awaited return from injury in the 69th minute, coming on in place of João Mário in midfield. A minute later, Carlos Mané found a rare inch of space, but the Portuguese international was unable to find the target. Slimani followed a couple of minutes later after controlling well, but the Boavista keeper did well to rush out and deny the Algerian from a tight angle. Adrien saw a free-kick deflect off the wall and harmlessly away in the 90^th minute, before João Pereira had the last roll of the dice of the evening with shot that ended up going out for a throw in.

Despite the dropped points, Sporting remains at the top of I Liga, level on 14 points with FC Porto.

Gelson Martins reflects on Sporting's draw with Boavista

Gelson Martins spoke briefly with radio journalists after Sporting’s draw with Boavista on Saturday night.

"We started well, but we slipped up when it came to finishing”, opened the Alvalade younger, going on to add that the result does little to influence the title race: “We didn’t want this result, but our objectives are the same. We are still at the top and we want to be champions.”

Jorge Jesus names squad of 19

Jorge Jesus has included a total of 19 players in his squad to face Boavista, in I Liga matchday six:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Marcelo Boeck;
Defenders: Ricardo Esgaio, João Pereira, Paulo Oliveira, Naldo, Tobias Figueiredo and Jefferson;
Midfielders: Adrien, Aquilani, William Carvalho and João Mário;
Forwards: Gelson Martins, Matheus Pereira, Bryan Ruiz, Carlos Mané, Montero, Teo Gutiérrez and Slimani.

Boavista-Sporting will get underway at 20h45 on Saturday the 26th of September, in Estádio do Bessa.

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Jorge Jesus ahead of Saturday's visit to Boavista

“It was a good week for us, with William and Ewerton coming back”, opened Jorge Jesus in Friday’s pre-match press conference, ahead of what the Sporting coach sees as a tough weekend trip north to take on Boavista

While visits to Estádio do Bessa is never an easy task, the Alvalade boss is looking to build on recent results: “After a win, things always go that bit better, but we are going to take on a good team who are recovering well. They are a team with a long history and it will be a hard game, like they all are in this league. Boavista throw everything they can at you, but we are ready.”

Jesus also commented on his possible squad for tomorrow: “William is included and he is recovering quicker than Ewerton. Thing could change tomorrow, but I will decide tomorrow. His (William) characteristics will fit into the way we play. Good players get into any team.”

The Sporting coach also spoke about Fredy Montero’s recent scoring form, as well as Gelson Martins’ spell with the senior squad and the inclusion of Matheus Pereira: “The lads win their place during the week and on the pitch, which goes for those who normally play and for those who are coming in for the first time. It is good to know that we have two players like Teo and Montero, who are both quality players for both the team and the squad. Gelson Martins has been playing well and he is a young lad with a lot of potential, just like Mateus. We believe in their potential and they will get their chance. We are really happy with Gelson.”

Boavista-Sporting will kick-off at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio do Bessa, Porto.

Artur Soares Dias named for I Liga matchday six

Artur Soares Dias, 36, from the Porto Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting's visit to Boavista, on I Liga matchday six.

Rui Licínio and Bruno Rodrigues will act as linesmen.

Boavista-Sporting will kick off at 20h45 on Saturday the 26th of September, in Estádio do Bessa (Porto).