Sporting miss out to Benfica after missing a wealth of chances

Sporting CP fell to a first Liga NOS home defeat of this season this weekend, missing out 1-0 to Benfica. Once again the evening's encounter proved to be the confirmation of Jorge Jesus' side's difficulty in breaking down teams who are happy to sit back and break up play with constant interruptions.

The opening exchanges were scrappy, particularly in the middle, with neither side willing to stray too far forward and both defensive lines standing firm. In fact, it was a slice of bad luck that sentenced the finally result, when a blocked shot from Samaris somehow landed at the feet of Mitroglou to give the Greek a one-on-one chance against Rui Patrício that the Sporting shotstopper could do little to stop.

While Benfica had seemed content to play on the counter-attack, the visitors' intentions to sit deep and sap away time became all the more clearer after the goal. Denied space down the middle, Sporting resorted to use of the flanks and began piling crosses into the box, but to little success. The only chance that looked likely to find th back of the net was a blistering effort from Jefferson from outside of the box, only stopped by Éderson's crossbar.

Sporting looked a totally different side after the break, pushing higher up the pitch and pegging Benfica back into their defensive third. On 61 minutes Bryan Ruiz failed to finish a great move down the right and Slimani was only able to force one of many corners form the rebound. A few minutes later, Ruiz managed to turn what looked to be a certain tap in from a couple of yards over the cross bar.

Benfica made the most of Sporting's failure to equalise with some frustrating play, using virtually every individual duel between players as a chance to go down and waste a couple of minutes. Bryan Ruiz came close in the dying stages with an audacious chip and João Mário fired a shot side from range.

The result leaves Sporting in second place, two points behind Benfica.

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts ahead of the Lisbon derby

This might be the fourth derby of the season, but Jorge Jesus is adamant that his team will be just as motivated as ever as the two Lisbon giants clash this Saturday evening.

“It will be a typical derby: difficult and passionate. I hope everything goes well and that Sporting is up to the standard that we have already shown against Benfica. The fact that we have already won three has given us a trophy, three points in the league and a win that unfortunately doesn't mean much, because we were knocked out of the Portuguese Cup. What matters right now are the three points and the lads are feeling just as confident now as they were in the first derby in the Super Cup", affirmed the Alvalade boss, going on to reject the possibility of the title being decided tomorrow: "Either team winning it doesn't resolve anything. There will still be nine more matches to play and a lot of points up for grabs. If we win tomorrow then it is just another three points."

The Sporting coach continues happy with his squad's performance so far this season. "Sometimes you can't do what you set out to do, but what we set out to do was to get Sporting in the fight for the title and today that is a reality", added Jesus, before closing with a comment on Rui Patrício's new contract: "It is a great bit of news for every Sporting fan. Three symbols of the team have already signed this season. The club has a good policy set out and the players who come through from the Academy are really important for Sporting."

Sporting CP statement regarding Rui Patrício's contract renewal

Sporting SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Rui Patrício for the renewal of his contract until 2022, with a buy-out clause of 45,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Rui Patrício the best of professional and personal success.

Speaking for the first time after penning the new deal, the Alvalade shotstopper proved ecstatic with the prospect of an extended stay at Sporting: "Sporting is my second home. I have been here now for longer than I lived at my parents' house! I feel a lof for this club and this club has helped me grow as a player and a personal. I owe everything I am today to Sporting."

Jorge Jesus at the final whistle on Monday night

The Sporting coach took a moment to speak with the press after his side's draw in Guimarães this Monday night.

“It was a really intense game, but it was also once in which Sporting had enough chances to win. The Guimarães keeper also did his bit. The big chances in the first-half were all ours and we kept Guimarães under control when they attacked. We showed a real defensive and physical capacity tonight. It was one of the best games I have seen my team play, but still we didn't win."

Jesus finshed with the inevitable, namely the coming Lisbon derby: “We have one more point than the team behind usand our next game is in Alvalade, where we want to defend first place. There are still ten games to go and it is the team that has the best run now that will win the league."

William Carvalho at the final whistle after draw in Guimarães

Sporting CP came away from Guimarães with a nil-nil draw this Monday, despite dominating from start to finish.

“It was a well fought game, especially in the midfield. I think we dominated for the 90 minutes and if anyone deserve to win, it was us", said William Carvalho at the final whistle, adding: "We had a lot of chances, but we didn't make the most of them."

The midfield finished with a comment on the coming Lisbon derby: "The next match means three points and that doesn't decide anything. Today we couldn't get the win and the fans might not have liked it, but we worked really hard."

Jorge Jesus includes 20 for trip to Guimarães

Jorge Jesus has included 20 players in his squad for Liga NOS matchday 24 against Vitória de Guimarães: 

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Azbe Jug

Defenders: Marvin, Jefferson, Ewerton, Coates, Semedo, João Pereira, Schelotto and Esgaio

Midfielders: Aquilani, João Mário and William Carvalho

Forwards: Slimani, Teo, Bryan Ruiz, Gelson Martins, Bruno César, Hernan Barcos and Carlos Mané 

V. Guimarães-Sporting CP will kick off at 20h00, in Estádio D. Afonso Henriques.

Jorge Jesus' pre-match press conference ahead of trip to V. Guimarães

"Regardless of who we play against, games in Portugal are always really difficult", warned Jorge Jesus in his pre-match press conference this Sunday afternoon, ahead of what promises to be a tasking trop north to face V. Guimarães, on Liga NOS matchday 24.

The Sporting coach went on to speak in greater depth about how he sees Monday night's opposition: "Our league is really competitive and Vitória are a hard team to play against. We will have to be at our best to claim the three points and defend out position in the league."

Jesus also used the meeting with the press to speak about his current squad options. “Except Adrien, who picked up an injury in training in Germany, only Paulo Oliveira and Bruno Paulista are out. We will see how Adrien is tomorrow, but there is a chance he will be ready", added the Alvalade boss, before speaking about Islam Slimani, Adrien and Rúben Semedo missing out on next week's Lisbon derby if they pick up a booking against Gumarães: "Like I have said a few times, I don't save players. I won't take them out of this game because of something like that, because every game is worth three points. The next game, which in this case is Guimarães, is always the most important one."

Jesus closed the press conference by congratulating Gianni Infantino for his recent election as FIFA President "He is a great guy and he will definitely bring new ideas to the game."

Alvalade to mark 50th anniversary of 3rd place finish in England

Sporting Clube de Portugal will make a tribute to Portugal's 1966 World Cup team during half-time of the Lisbon derby, on the 5th of March.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Portugal's historic 3rd place finish, which is still to this day the country's best performance in the prestigious competition.

Sporting was the most represented club for the competition hosted in England: the goalkeeper Carvalho (one match); the defenders José Carlos (two), Alexandre Baptista (five) and Hilário (played every match); the midfielders Peres (didn't play) and Morais (three); and the forwards Figueiredo and João Lourenço (also didn't play).

Also part of hte team were José Pereira, Vicente, Manuel Duarte, Germano, Fernando Cruz, Custódio Pinto, Festa, Coluna, Jaime Graça, Simões, José Augusto, Eusébio and Torres.

A partir de dia 27 de Fevereiro

Sporting Clube de Portugal informs all Club Members and fans that tickets for the Lisbon derby are in high demand. Special Seats which have not been renewed by 10h00 on the 27th of February, being 1 week before the match, will be put on sale.

Sales begin on Wednesday

Tickets for Lia NOS matchday 24, between Vitória de Guimarães and Sporting Clube de Portugal, will go on sale at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices as follows:

Wednesday: Club Members with a Gamebox and January 2016 fees paid
Thursday: until 14h00: Club Members with January 2016 fees paid
Thursday: after 14h00: General public

The Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices will be open from 10h00 to 20h00, with tickets priced at 10€ each.

Tickets will also be on sale at the Solar do Norte (www.solardonorte.org), Fafe, Braga, Gondomar, Famalicão, Vila das Aves and Vila do Conde Supporters Clubs.