Sporting CP and Legia Warsaw draw on UEFA Youth League matchday 2

Sporting might have snatched points from the jaws of defeat in Madrid on UEFA Youth League matchday 1, but it was exactly the opposite at the Sporting Academy this week, with the team from Alvalade conceding a last minute goal to Legia Warsaw.

Tiago Fernandes made three changes from matchday 1, introducing Luís Maximiano, Tiago Djaló and André Franco for Pedro Silva, Ricciulli and Miguel Luís.

The Sporting under-19's were actually under the watchful eye of Jorge Jesus, who made the trip to the Academy to see the next generation in action. Despite Sporting dominating the opening half an hour, the first real chance of the afternoon was made to wait until the 19th minute, when Pedro Marques was denied by Majecki one-on-one. The Polish keeper might have got the best of the first round, but he certainly didn’t in the second, when the Sporting forward latched onto a pass from Diogo Bragança to fire in the opener.

The goal actually saw Sporting somewhat lose their way for the rest of the half and Legia began to hold down a bit of possession. Szymanski fired a shot off the bar in the 35th minute, before Djaló brought down Szcepanski in the area that would have drawn the Polish visitors level, had Luís Maximiano not ensured otherwise in the Alvalade goal.

Legia’s pressing eventually paid off, when Ryczkowski’s shot was parried by the Sporting keeper into the path of Kulenovic for the equaliser.

Tiago Fernandes was not happy and began to ring the changes, bringing on Nuno Moreira and Elves Baldé after the break. The move proved to be a stroke of genius and it took Moreira just 17 minutes to put sporting back into the lead, netting with a superb placed effort into the top corner.

The goal lifted Sporting going into the final stages and Fernandes’s side looked to be heading for the win, before Szczepanski blasted in an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area with just seconds left on the clock.

The draw leaves Sporting in third place on two points, behind B. Dortmund and Real Madrid.

Jorge Jesus on Champions League matchday 2

Missing out in Real Madrid after such a brilliant performance was not easy for Jesus' team. However, the Sporting coach has had time to brush off the blow and prepare for Tuesday's hosting of Legia Warsaw in Alvalade.

"Legia are just as ambitious as we are and they think they can beat us. All we are thinking about is the three points. We know this will be a tough match against a really aggressive team who are quick on the break", opened the Alvalade coach in his pre-match press conference on Monday, adding a word on Polish football and Legia's loss to Dortmund on matchday 1: "The Polish league has evolved and the performances of the Polish national team is proof of that. A lot of good footballers have been produced in Poland and the match against Dortmund was not normal.

As for the Legia coach, Jacek Magiera, making his Champions League debut, Jesus had a light-hearted message of his own: "Obviously I hope that his first match doesn't go well and that he focuses more on Legia's next game in Poland."

Former Sporting striker back to commentate for Champions League encounter

It was 21 years ago that Andrzej Juskowiac last put on the green and white shirt, after 87 games and 31 goals for Sporting, from 1992 to 1995.

The Sporting legend was back in Alvalade on Monday, where he will commentate on the Champions League hosting of Legia Warsaw for Polish television.

“Legia are going through a tough time right now, they fired their coach last week. The new coach, Magiera, will have a hard time and maybe the result isn't even that important. Poland hasn't had a team in the Champions League group stage for 20 years and to come back into the competition with a 6-0 loss (against B.Dortmund) is really tough", said the former Sporting forward, adding: "We are talking about a team that not physically prepared and that will play on the defensive. If Sporting pushes the pace, Legia won't have a chance. Their most dangerous player is Nikolic, who did well in the qualification round. He didn't play in the first game, but he will tomorrow probably. Legia have a good keeper as well, Malarz."

André Filipe looks ahead to Tuesday's hosting of Legia Warsaw

André Felipe could make his Champions League debut this Tuesday, after scoring his first Sporting goal in Friday's 4-2 win against Estoril.

"It is an honour to be in this competition for Sporting and I am focused on helping the team. Every Brazilian player dreams of being in the Champions League and of course I would love for my first match to be a win", said André Felipe in a pre-match press conference on Monday, adding a word on his strike against Estoril: "It is the start of something that I really want to grow. Scoring gave me confidence and I want to carry on and make sure I am an option for the coach."

Morning session open to the press for 30 minutes

As is normally the case before UEFA competition matches, this morning's training session was open to the press for 30 minutes.

Just after 9h30 Jorge Jesus led his squad onto the pitch, with 28 players taking part: Rui Patrício, Beto Pimparel and Azbe Jug; Jefferson, Paulo Oliveira, Ricardo Esgaio, Schelotto, Coates, Douglas, João Pereira, Marvin and Rúben Semedo; William, Adrien, Petrovic, Bruno César, Elias, Meli and Bruno Paulista; Alan Ruiz, Matheus Pereira, Gelson Martins, Markovic, Campbell, André, Castaignos, Bas Dost and Bryan Ruiz.

Hosting of the side from the Polish capital set for 10th consecutive crowd over the 40k mark

A total of 38,000 tickets have already been sold for Sporting's Champions League hosting of Legia Warsaw on Tuesday, in Estádio José Alvalade.

With sales expected to continue on Monday, this could be Sporting's 10th consecutive official match with more than 40,000 fans packing out Alvalade:

Tickets for Champions League matchday 2 are available from €15 for Members and €25 for fans, with the match included in all Gamebox 2016/2017 packages.

Onlines sales are exclusively for Sporting Clube de Portugal members (maximum of 4 per member. The Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices are open from 10h to 20h, with tickets available for both Members and fans.

Entry is prohibited to children under the age of 3 and all spectators must have a valid ticket.

Jorge Jesus side receive much deserved applause from the world press for performance in Madrid

Wednesday's newspapers were full of thoroughly deserved press for Sporting, after Jorge Jesus' side came just seconds away from a memorable in the Santiago Bernabéu.

El Mundo highlighted the role of the Sporting coach in masterminding his side's performance: “Jorge Jesus gave Zidane a lesson in tactics and strategy. A magnificent Sporting that deserved to be leading at half-time.”

The Madrid press also suggested that Marcelo go for a check-up after being twisted every which way by Gelson. Tomás Roncero, journalist for AS, was full of praise for the Sporting youngster too: "Gelson Martins (just 21 years old) looked like Figo's son, bringing memories of Figo's performance down the right wing in the 1994 UEFA Cup. William Carvalho is a Yaya Touré but 10 years younger. Adrien Silva is a captain full of guts and talent."

On British shores, The Sun noted the coordinated showing of the Sporting back-line and the fantastic showing of Sebastian ‘El Patrón’ Coates. In Italy, Gazzetta dello Sport added: "(Real Madrid were frozen like) an iceberg that only melted in the last minute, thanks to Ronaldo and Morata.”

Argentina's Olé called Madrid's win a “Champion's miracle", while Lance in Brazil noted Zidane's as having got off at the speed of a turtle. Likewise, Globo said said: "Bruno César silenced the Spanish capital."

Bruno César reflects on his goal in the Bernabéu

The author of Sporting's strike in the Bernabéu on Wednesday night, Bruno César spoke with the press at the final whistle.

"We came here with the intention of going for the win. Everything went well until the last five minutes. We played really well and we showed what we are capable of. Now we have to focus on our coming matches. Of course we are upset, but we stood toe to toe against against a team you can't even compare. We can be proud of what we did", said the Brazilian.

Gelson Martins on Sporting's performance against Real Madrid on Wednesday night

Gelson Martins has been without doubt one of Sporting's star performers under the watchful eye of Jorge Jesus and he certainly didn't disappoint with his showing against Real Madrid.

Reflecting on his side's performance in the Spanish capital, the skillful youngster affirmed: "Of course the team if frustrated with the result. We started well and took control. We showed that we are not inferior and that we could have won. It was hard to take those two goals. We thought we controlled the game and had done enough to win. We trained hard for the game and we knew what we had to do. A win or draw would have been nice, but we still have a long way to go."

Adrien Silva praises his side and the fans for Wednesday's showing in the Spanish capital

The Alvalade skipper was the first voice of the Sporting dressing room to speak about his side's showing against Real Madrid, in a night that could have gone down in history as an unlikely win against the reigning European champion.

"It is hard to come away from the Santiago Bernabéu with a loss like this. After the way we played and the quality and personality we showed, with so many chances against a club like Real Madrid. We had the best chances and we fought really hard. Our fans were brilliant and that shows how together we all are", affirmed Adrien Silva.