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.

Jorge Jesus announces squad for Champions League matchday 6

Jorge Jesus has announced his squad to face Legia Warsaw, on Champions League matchday six:

1 – Rui Patrício
3 – Lazar Markovic
4 – Jefferson
8 – Petrovic
10 – Bryan Ruiz
11 – Bruno César
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
16 – André Felipe
19 – Douglas Teixeira
20 – Luc Castaignos
22 – Elias Trindade
23 – Adrien Silva
25 – Marcelo Meli
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
34 – Beto Pimparel
35 – Rúben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
73 – Matheus Pereira
77 – Gelson Martins
82 – Pedro Silva

Jorge Jesus dismisses the weather and affirms his side's readiness

Almost two hours after Legia coach Jacek Magier has backed Sporting CP as favourites to clinch the points in the Polish capital tomorrow, Jorge Jesus dismissed any sense of overconfidence and instead focused on the task at hand.

“What idea their coach has of us isn't that important to me. What matters is that we show what we are capable of. We know they will squeeze us on the pitch and from the stands, but the lads are used to it and it isn't the cold or the fans that will affect us", opened Jorge Jesus, going on to analyse the difference between the two sides: "You can say a team is favourite or not based on history. We could be considered as favourite because how how we have played in the group and we have been a bit unlucky really. We could have had more points, especially with how we played against Real Madrid and Dortmund. We wanted to get past the group stage, which we didn't, but we will push on anyway. We know that Legia are a creative side and tomorrow we will have to do again what we did against the other two teams in our group."

The Lisbon derby is just around the corner and Sporting CP are going in to the encounter tomorrow on the back of a tough hosting of Setúbal. However, Jesus affirmed his side's focus on tomorrow: "Like I said, 90% of what we are doing is about tomorrow. Obviously some of the lads might be carrying some knocks from Setúbal and we won't be taking any risks. Nothing special has happened yet, so I don't think we will have to worry about that sort of thing."

Bryan Ruiz confident in Sporting CP's chances of a place in the Europa League

"We won at home, but it wasn't easy and we had to fight hard to get the points. It will be a difficult match, but we believe we will get into the Europa League", said Bryan Ruiz in Tuesday's pre-match press conference.

The Polish capital is currently a good 20 degrees colder than Lisbon, however Ruiz dismissed the impact of the weather: "I don't think the cold will affect how we play. We are used to playing in places like this. We have played in Russia before and I don't think it makes a difference. We know how important it is for us to carry on in Europe and we know what we have to do tactically tomorrow."

Jesus leads his first training session Warsaw ahead of Champions League matchday 6

Useful information for Sporting CP fans travelling for Champions League matchday 6

Sporting Clube de Portugal will be in Poland on Wednesday, for a 20h45CET Champions League matchday 6 kick-off against Legia Warsaw.

To ensure that matchday is enjoyed without incident, fans should take into consideration the following:

Temperatures are expected to be between 0ºC and -9ºC, with periods of snow and rain. We recommend that our fans remain indoors until heading for the stadium. The Polish authorities have deemed that not enough visiting fans will be attending to justify a meeting point.

The recommended mode of transport is taxi, to the following address: 4 Mysliwiecka Street, which is next to the stadium and the entrance for Sporting Clube de Portugal's fans, who will enter through Gate D1 – SOUTH Zone.

Buses for Organised Fan Groups will also travel to 4 Mysliwiecka Street. Polish police will be present before, during and after the match.

It is vital that away fans avoid the NORTH zone of the stadium, including Lazienkowska Street – where Legia Warsaw's radical groups generally gather.

We further recommend that all Sporting Clube de Portugal fans avoid wearing club scarves, shirts or other material associated to Sporting CP.

The use of pyrotechnical devices in Poland is a crime and Sporting CP will pay the upmost attention to the behaviour of our fans in this respect.

Other information:

• Gates open 2 hours before kick-off (18h45CET);
• SCP fans sectors - 221 and 222 (Upper Tier) Entrance D1;
• You must bring a form of identification with you, as it may be requested at the entrance to the stadium
• € (euros) are not accepted
• Polish currency – Zloty –  1euro = 4.46 Zloty;
• Polish time = +1 hour in relation to Lisbon.