Sporting CP learn Champions League qualification fate

The draw for the UEFA Women's Champions League qualification round took place this Friday, handing Sporting CP a place in Group 8 along with BIIK-Kazygurt (Kazakhstan), do MTK Hungary (Hungary) and Hajvalia (Kosovo).

The qualification tournament will take place from the 22nd to the 28th of August, with the winner and best runner-up qualifying for the main competition.

UEFA Women's Champions League Schedule

Qualification round: 22nd to 28th of August

Last 32 draw: 1st of September

Last 32: 4th/5th and 11th/12th of October

Last 16 draw: 16th of October

Last 16 : 8th/9th and 15th/16th November

Quarter-final and semi-final draw: 24th of November

Quarter-finals: 21st/22nd and 28th and 29th of March

Semi-finals: 21st/22nd and 28th/29th of April 2018

Final: 24th of March 2018, Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium, Kiev (Ukraine)

Sporting CP outfit in action in April after winning qualification round unbeaten

Sporting CP's chess team have qualified for the sport's Champions League, taking place in April.

The team, led by João Salvador Marques (captain), is comprised of Horácio Neto, Francisco Azevedo Pessoa, António Moura and Veríssimo Dias and has qualified for the prestigious competition after winning Qualification Group A.

In the other three groups, Russian teams came out on top.

Jorge Jesus on Wednesday's defeat in Poland

Jorge Jesus pointed the finger at his side's lack of efficiency in front of goal this Wednesday, as Sporting CP's European adventure for this season was brought to an end with a harsh loss in Poland.

“It wasn't because of the referee that we were eliminated. We took on a team who believed they could qualify and a team who had already scored against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. We knew they would be dangerous on the counter attack, but that is exactly what happened in the first-half. They took the lead and then defended it. We tried to equalise and we had chances to", opened Jesus in a conversation with the press at the final whistle, adding: "We took a lot of risks in the last ten minutes, especially when we were a man down. André could have done it for us, but it just wasn't to be. Legia knew what to do and how to play. We have been missing a bit of luck, but not today. We showed that we can do better, but we didn't score."

To finish, Jesus turned his attention to the coming Lisbon Derby: "Preparation for Benfica isn't made any harder because of this loss. Time is the main issue, as we will get into Lisbon at five in the morning and will be pretty much two days without training. Of course we spent ourselves emotionally tonight, but the two matches have nothing to do with each other."

Sporting miss out on European progress with loss in the Polish capital

A tough loss to swallow, particularly with the continuation of this season's European campaign dependent on getting a least a draw in the Polish capital. The powerful Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid inevitably led the pack at the final tally in Group F, while Legia Warsaw snatched 3rd place and the respective Europa League berth.

William Carvalho set the tone of the evening with a shout across the face of goal in the 5th minute, with what was the first of a wealth of shots finishing on the wrong side of the post. Legia's response was largely through quick counter attacks and some calculated play saw the Polish hosts take in a 1-0 lead at the break.

Sporting CP attempted to rally after the break, but a lack of an eye for goal and some fine defending from Arkadiusz Malarz kept Legia ahead. André came close with 15 minutes of the clock with a snap volley that would have looped in under the bar, had it not been for the home keeper tipping over. Sporting CP's best efforts were finally dashed in the 85th minute, when William Carvalho was given his marching orders.