Sales news for the CTT Cup and Liga NOS

Sporting Clube de Portugal has begun ticket sales as follows:

VITÓRIA DE SETÚBAL (CTT CUP MATCHDAY 3)

. Exclusive for Sporting Clube de Portugal members
. Member fee applicable: December 2016
. Tickets priced at 7.5€ and are for the South Goal End
. Kick-off is at 20h15 on the 4th of January, in Setúbal

FEIRENSE (16ª JORNADA LIGA NOS)

. Tickets from 5€ (members) or 17€ (fans)
. Member fee applicable: December 2016
. Match included in Gamebox 2016/2017
. Kick-off is at 20h15 on the 8th of January, in Estádio José Alvalade

Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices will be open from 10h00 to 20h00.

Bas Dost strikes late to secure three points in Estádio do Restelo

A tireless away support pushed Sporting CP over the finish line in Estádio do Restelo this Thursday night, with Bas Dost netting from range deep into injury time after a brilliant cross floated across to the far post by Joel Campbell. Who better than the Dutch hitman to collect on the Costa Rican's pass, with Dost already having proved his credentials in front of goal with nine Liga NOS goals in 12 outings.

The goal was enjoyed both on and off the pitch, with William Carvalho even jumping up off the bench and running to join his colleagues to celebrate in front of the fans. The win was exactly what was needed, with Sporting CP coming into the evening on the back of three less positive results. Credit to Belenenses however, who put up a spirited display to deny Sporting CP right up until the death.

Sporting CP certainly tried to break the deadlock on several occasions (12 shots compared to Belenenses' 9), claiming 13 corners and holding down 58% of possession, however some disciplined defending from the hosts help chances to a minimum. Going forward, Belenense largely relied on counter-attacks and their was a real sense of justice as Bas Dost secured the result three minutes into stoppage time.

Jorge Jesus sits down with the press ahead of Sunday's hosting of Sp. Braga

There would be no better present for the Alvalade faithful than a win against Sp. Braga this Sunday, on Liga NOS matchday 14. However, Jorge Jesus has warned of the danger posed by the weekend's visitors from the north.

"We try to play the best football we can every week. Braga are top team though, with a long tradition. We will be facing a competent team who believe they can win points in Alvalade, so it will be a tight game", opened Jorge Jesus, before dismissing any negative impact of Braga's recent change of command: "They will be basically the same side. A new coach won't change much in a day or two. The general spirit of things were set by Peseiro, the new coach will make the spare of the moment decisions. I am expecting a strong Braga, who are just one point behind us right now."

To finish, Jesus bushed off comparisons to last season's campaign, reaffirming his side's title aspirations: "What has changed? Some played have come in and some have left and our opponents are better than they were last years. The season goes through spells and that doesn't mean it will stay like it is now. We are a much more consistent team today and our opponents recognise what we are capable of. We are competing in a league where anything can change from one second to the next. Right now we have less points than at the same period last season, but things can change."

Jorge Jesus happy with the return to business as usual

"It was objective accomplished, winning the three points and getting things back to normal", said Jorge Jesus at the final whistle on Sunday night.

For Jorge Jesus, the most important thing was the win, rather than an expressive result: A goal at the beginning of the match always helps, but we were still feeling a bit anxious because of our last two draws. We are building up a culture here and that doesn't happen in two months. We had 10 players who came in at the beginning of September, who wer not used to Sporting CP. That is the culture that we are building up and the president is creating a structure and a new dynamic at the club."

Liga NOS action will now be moved on to the back burner, with an international break coming up. However, for Jorge Jesus the stoppage doesn't come at the best time: "For us it isn't (an advantage). Most of the lads will be away and we will be without some of our most important players. Most of the new faces in the squad still haven't completely taken on what being at Sporting CP means."

Joel Campbell happy with his contribution to Sporting CP's win against Arouca on Sunday night

Joel Campbell was understandably pleased with his superb showing against Arouca on Sunday night, with the Costa Rican instrumental in Sporting CP's 3-0 win.

"It was an important result for the team and I am happy to have scored, but it is credit to the whole team", said Campbell at the final whistle, going on to share a word for the fans: "We have to thank the fans for turning out the way they did. Their support is really important for us and hopefully we can keep winning for them."

Sporting CP dominate with the help of an inspired Joel Campbell

Sporting CP turned in a convincing 3-0 win against Arouca this Sunday night, with a classy display that could well have finished with a more expressive result.

It was never going to be an easy night against a Arouca side that were always going to dig in, but an 8th minute strike from Bas Dost opened up the encounter and paved the way for what was a comfortable win.

Jorge Jesus rang the changes for the opening whistle, handing a start to Joel Campbell. The move proved to be a masterstroke, with the Costa Rican a constant headache foe the visitors with his moves in from the left flank. It was Campbell himself who scored Sporting CP's second (55'), rounded off with a cross for Bas Dost's second (69'). Despite the one-sided result, Adrien actually missed a penalty (64') just before Sporting CP's third goal, but his slip up was brushed off with a wave of songs around the Alvalade stands in tribute to the Sporting CP skipper.

Jesus announces Liga NOS matchday 10 squad

Squad to face Arouca at 20h15 on Sunday:

1 - Rui Patrício
2 - Ezequiel Schelotto
7 - Joel Campbell
10 - Bryan Ruiz
11 - Bruno César
13 - Sebastian Coates
14 - William Carvalho
15 - Paulo Oliveira
20 - Luc Castaignos
21 - João Pereira
22 - Elias Trindade
23 - Adrien Silva
28 - Bas Dost
31 - Marvin Zeegelaar
34 - Beto Pimparel
35 - Rúben Semedo
77 - Gelson Martins
99 - Alan Ruiz

Jorge Jesus expecting his side to rediscover their winning form against Arouca

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press this Saturday to speak about the coming hosting of Arouca. "What we have to do in relation to our last match against Tondela is show our usual quality and turn in three points. Every match is important and this one is no exception. The fans are used to good football and we have to get back into that habit", opened Jorge Jesus, going on to answer a question on his side's recent slip down the table: "It is always a case of zero tolerance for us. The most important thing is to start showing the quality football that we did during the first five matches of the season. We didn't do well against Tondela, but the draw was harsh for us. It isn't enough to just sit here and talk about it, we have to do the business on the pitch."

Sporting will be hosting Arouca while Benfica travel to FC Porto, opening up the possibility of closing the points gap to the league leaders. Jorge Jesus however proved more focused on the task at hand: "Firstly we have to focus on our own match. We are depending on other results, but the other teams are depending on our results as well. There is not point speaking about our rivals when we have to play against Arouca on Sunday. We know we haven't been doing well and we have to overcome that now. We spoke with the lads during the week about it."

The return of Adrien Silva from a spell out with injury of course comes as a relief for the fans as well as the Alvalade coach himself. "Adrien being out isn't the only reason behind recent results. It was also down to some other individual characteristics of players who aren't here anymore. Adrien brings quality, but he also brings attitude and an understanding of the game. That guides the players around him, but we can't expect him to be 100% tomorrow after being out for so long."

Adrien Silva looks ahead to Liga NOS matchday 10

Back in action after a spell out with injury, Adrien Silva proved confident in relation to his side's chances of securing three points against Arouca this weekend, on Liga NOS matchday 10.

“Above anything else, our objective is to win. We aren't happy with ourselves right now, but we have what it takes to turn things around. The lads are still thinking the same way they were and I am sure we can do it", said the Alvalade skipper in an interview with Sporting TV, adding: "If the boss wants me to play then I am ready, but no player can do anything on their own. We have to stick together."

Jorge Jesus on Sporting's recent run of draws after a stalemate in Madeira

Sporting CP were held a third consecutive league draw this week. Speaking with the press at the final whistle after the deadlock with Nacional, Jorge Jesus insisted that his team will find their scoring form sooner rather than later.

"We started really strong. We had a fair few chances to get ahead in the first-half, including a penalty. We carried on looking for a goal in the second-half, but the game was very stop-start. We were able to play football in the first-half, but then came a lot of fouls, which is part of what teams looking to defend the result do. The lads did what they could and I thought we showed a good attitude. Of course we were missing a bit of emotional balance at times, but we did everything we could", said the sporting coach going on to reflect on what is now a considerable margin to the top of Liga NOS: "We are seven points off and we have to try our best to turn that around. We will try and push the lads hard during the week, particularly the ones who didn't spend pre-season with us. Defensively we didn't let in any goals and we have to score."