Lisbon replaces Istanbul as the host city for the final

The Estádio José Alvalade will host two UEFA Champions League games this week, as the tournament relocates to Lisbon for a modified format that includes the quarterfinals, semifinals and final.

The decision was announced back in June, and saw the Portuguese capital chosen as the location for the entirety of the closing stages. Sporting CP's famous stadium will hold two quarter finals, plus one of the semifinals, played over single games.

The competition would normally follow a schedule of two-legged ties, taking in both home and away matches for the participating teams, before a final game to crown the European champions. However, the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and the risk inherent to international travel has led to a change of venue and a compacted format.

Lisbon replaces Istanbul, Turkey, as the host city for the final, originally set for May 30th at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.

Matches confirmed for the José Alvalade are the quarterfinals between RB Leipzig and Atlético Madrid, and Manchester City vs. Olympique Lyonnais. The second of the two semifinals, set for the 18th & 19th of August, will also be held at the ground.

The José Alvalade has 5-star classification from UEFA, and has previously been the venue for the 2005 UEFA Cup final. In that game, Sporting CP missed out on the trophy in a defeat to CSKA Moscow.

All Champions League games at the stadium will be played behind closed doors, in accordance with UEFA's protocol for the competition. Upon making the decision, UEFA made a commitment to "constantly evaluate the situation across the continent and contact local authorities to determine when a gradual return for spectators will be possible", but it has not yet been deemed safe for supporters to attend the closing stages of the tournament.

2019/20 UEFA Champions League calendar:

Quarterfinals
August 12th: Atalanta vs. Paris Saint Germain (8pm local time)
August 13th: RB Leipzig vs. Atlético Madrid (8pm, Estádio José Alvalade)
August 14th: FC Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich (8pm)
August 15th: Manchester City vs. Olympique Lyonnais (8pm, Estádio José Alvalade)

Semifinals
August 18th: Semifinal 1 (8pm)
August 19th: Semifinal 2 (8pm, Estádio José Alvalade)

Final
August 23rd: UEFA Champions League final (8pm)

The Portuguese International is standing out!

Tiago Rocha, part of our Handball team, was elected as the Best Player of the 8th Round of the Group Stage of EHF Champions League.

The seven goals scored against HT Tatran Prešov, contributing to the 22-37 win, was the main factor for him to be voted as the Best Player of the round. Tiago Rocha told  Jornal Sporting, how proud he was for having been distinguished.

"I want to thank everyone who voted for me. Having a Sporting CP player nominated for best player of the week is extremely important, especially in a competition that has the best players in the planet. This just shows how big Sporting CP is and I am truly satisfied with that. It was equally important to win the game", he started by saying. Tiago also mentioned his team mates, who are the reason for having played so well against HT Tatran Prešov.

Tiago Rocha finished his interview by saying the he expects Sporting CP Handball team to go ahead with the good exhibitions for the next two games of the EHF Champions League. The objective is still to go through to the next stage of the Competition.

For the second time in a row & the 37th European Cup for Sporting CP.

Sporting CP won this Saturday and for the second year in a row, the European Juda Champions League. The Lions beat the Russians from Yawara-Newa in the final with the result of 3-2.

Everything started with a top level win in the quarter-finals against one of the favourites: Golden Gori, from Georgia. Kherlen Ganbold won the battle against Vazha Margvelashvili with an ippon in the -66kg category. João Fernando (-73kg) lost by the minimum points against Lasha Shavdatuashvili.

After this came another big win by João Martinho over Luka Maisuradze in the -81kg category. The opponent started ahead but João Martinho managed an ippon which caught everyone's attention at the pavilion. Victory came with the next battle when Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (-90kg) beat Beka Gviniashvili with an ippon. Although the victory was already awarded, the last fight had to happen. Jorge Fonseca (+90kg) lost against Gela Zaalishvili. The green and white team won with an end result of 3-2.

In the semi-finals, Sporting CP faced Ratiborets, from Russia. The Lions won by 4-1. David Reis lost the first fight against Muloradzhab Khalifaev in the -66kg category, but João Fernando (ippon, -73kg), Frank de Wit (ippon, -81kg), Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (ippon, -90kg) and Jorge Fonseca (waza-ari, +90kg) beat their opponents Gamzat Zurgaraev, Alim Kalaev, Ekubzhon Nazirov and Dmitrii Dovgan, respectively.

Lastly, the big final had arrived. A reedition of the 2018 final against the same opponents: Yawara-Newa (Rússia). Kherlen Ganbold started the best way possible having won against Zelimkhan Ozdoev with an ippon on the golden point. João Fernando lost his battle against Denis Iartcev.

João Martinho followed with another win in a very close fight against Denis Kalinin. The Green and White athlete won with a waza-ari on the golden point and lit the crowd in the pavilion on fire.

Nikoloz Sherazadishvili was next with a fight that would seal the victory and give Sporting CP the European Champions League Title. The Pavilion erupted with massive celebrations after the win for the second year in a row. 

Jorge Fonseca still had to fight Anton Krivobokovbut he wasn't able to win. It didn't matter anymore as Sporting CP reached once again Europe's summit in Judo. The Club now counts 37 European Cups in its trophy cabinet. 

HT Tatran Prešov stood no chance against the Lions

Sporting CPs Handball team flew to Slovakia to play against HT Tatran Prešov. The Lions won by expressive 22-37 for the eighth round of the group stage of the EHF Champions League.

The Lions dominated the match from early on, having reached half time already winning by 10-16. Sporting CP never stopped gaining momentum and the game finished with a difference of 15 goals to the home team. 

Tiago Rocha and Valentin Ghionea were the top scorers of the match, with 7 goals each. With this win, Sporting CP is now in second place of Group C, with 11 points, and well placed to go through to the next phase of the EHF Champions League.

This Saturday, 16th of November, Thierry Anti's lads will visit FC Porto, the Portuguese National Champion.

Sporting CP: Pedro Valdés (3), Gonçalo Vieira, Carlos Ruesga (4), Frankis Carol (C, 5), Aljoša Čudić (GR), Tiago Rocha (7), Tomás Van Zeller (GR), Francisco Tavares (2), Manuel Gaspar (GR), Arnaud Bingo (3), Valentin Ghionea (8), Nemanja Mladenović (1), Ivan Nikčević (1), Marko Vujin (3) and Luís Frade.