Sporting CP play Gil Vicente on September 19th

The 2020/2021 Liga NOS season will get underway for Sporting Clube de Portugal on September 19th, as they play Gil Vicente FC at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Liga Portugal have also published kick-off times for Sporting CP’s first three fixtures of the campaign. Between league encounters, they will also play the Third Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League, against either Aberdeen or Viking FK.

Matchday 1.
Saturday, September 19th
Sporting CP vs. Gil Vicente FC – 6:30pm local time

Matchday 2.
Sunday, September 27th
FC Paços Ferreira vs. Sporting CP - 6:30pm local time

Matchday 3.
Sunday, October 4th
Portimonense SC vs. Sporting CP – 9:00pm local time

Varzim's win against Famalicão guarantees Sporting CP B's place in II Liga

With a brilliant turn around triggered by the arrival of Luís Martins in the Sporting CP B hotseat, a much deserved place in next season's Ledman LigPro competition was secured by Varzim's 1-0 against Famalicão this weekend.

Luís Martins shakes of derby draw with praise for his players

Sporting CP B coach Luís Martins praised his side's attitude in the Lisbon reserve derby this Friday, despite the points being split at the final whistle: "We were well prepared. We didn't let the goals get to us and reacted really well. We didn't play our best quality football, but we can't do that 100% of the time of course. However, we got a point and this was only the first match in which we haven't won all three points at home. I am happy with our consistency and to see the players learning and growing. The lads are more confident now and ready to respond."

The Colombian striker Leonardo Ruiz mirrored his coach's comments: "We felt good and did our best. It was a realyl good match and we showed that we are well prepared for anything."

Lisbon reserve derby ends in a draw

Sporting CP B were held to a draw by SL Benfica B this Friday, after the team from Alvalade led twice.

The encounter got off to a well-disputed opening, with two similar set ups largely cancelling each other out. The first clear chance of the afternoon was made to wait until the 9th minute, when Leonardo Ruiz headed just wide of the post from inside the six-yard box. Gelson Dala did the same following a move down the right wing, before the Benfica defence just about managed to scramble away a lethal looking cross from Pedro Delgado in the 17th minute.

Three minutes alter Ruix and Delgado linked up to pick out Gelson Dala and the Angolan forward wasted little time in doing what he does best with his 12th goal in 16 Ledman LigaPro outings.

Some superb movement from Ruiz and Dala at the attacking end of the pitch kept Benfica chasing shadows and on 31 minutes Ruiz came close to making it 2-0 after some good play between Delgado and Bubacar Djaló.

Bilel found a yard of space and scuffed his attempt across goal, before João Félix responded down the other end with a chip that Silva did well to divert away. Sporting CP B looked to have secured the lead at the break, however a late strike from José Gomes levelled just before the referee called the players into the dressing room for half-time.

Sporting CP again took control at the restart, against a Benfica side that looked happy to make the most of the odd counter-attack. Escobar fired a free-kick over the bar, after Dala could have done better to score his second after an attack triggered by André Geraldes down the flank. Benfica threatened twice through Heriberto, but it was Sporting CP B who struck, with Escobar scooped up some sloppy possession to set up Leonardo Ruiz.

Benfica responded with an injection of pace and Empis did well to deny the visitors from an equaliser in the 74th minute. However, sixty seconds later José Gomes found the back of the net to restore the deadlock.

With two matches to play in Ledman LigaPro, Sporting CP B currently sits in 13th overall with 54 points.

Luís Martins happy with his side's performance, despite missing out to FC Porto B

Luís Martins took a moment to speak with the press after Sunday's loss to FC Porto B, reflecting on what he sees as a final result influenced by some dubious refereeing.

"It was a well-disputed match between two good teams, with a third team that I didn't think were in their best form. We could have done better, considering the chances we had. We didn't do very well in defence and we don't usually let in so many goals, even when we are down to 10 men. The sending off was the key moment for FC Porto B, but I give them credit for the result and applaud my players for keeping their cool when things started going against us", said Martins.

Also speaking at the final whistle was the Sporting CP B striker Leonardo Ruiz, who actually used to play for FC Porto B: "It was a hard game, the kind that every player loves to be involved in. We aren't happy with the result, but we are happy because we did out best. I was very welcome at FC Porto, but of course we are rivals on the pitch now."

Sporting CP B miss out after Dala strikes twice and Barbosa sees straight red

Sporting CP B slipped to a battling defeat in the Dr. Jorge Sampaio Municipal Stadium this weekend against FC Porto B (3-2). Gelson Dala struck twice for the team from Alvalade, on an afternoon which saw Rafael Barbosa sent off.

The match got off to a tough start for Luís Martins' team, when FC Porto B took the lead after one minute when Galeno opened up play for Kayembe to finish. With an early goal the hosts continued in the early stages, before Sporting CP B found their footing after ten minutes on the ropes. Gauld, Gelson Dala and Rafael Barbosa all tried their luck, but the first real opportunity came though Matheus Pereira, denied by Raul Gudiño in the FC Porto B goal. With Sporting CP B in control, Gelson Dala netted the equaliser on 24 minutes, with a superb bit of dribbling around the keeper and a simple finish.

The deadlock didn't last, as FC Porto B struck just three minutes later when Rui Moreira unleashed a brilliant shot past Pedro Silva. Both sides continued to push the pace in a tantalising game to watch and the drama was taken up another notch when Sporting CP levelled four minutes after the half-hour mark with Dala's second of the afternoon.

Both teams came out swinging in the second-half and piled forward, before a straight red card for Rafael Barbosa in the 67th minute gave FC Porto B the edge. The hosts secured the result though André Pereira, after another darting run by Galeno down the flank.

Luís Martins' fantastic run finally brought to a close by Penafiel

Luís Martins' Sporting CP B tasted defeat for the first time this Wednesday, in a visit to Penafiel that saw three goals in the first-half and two shots against the post.

It was a fantastic series of 10 matches unbeaten for Martins' charges, who actually led after just 7 minutes when Gelson Dala set up Leonardo Ruiz. The hosts responded well and levelled through Djibril Zidnaba 16 minutes later, before Gonçalo Abreu put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot just before the break.

The pace slowed for the first half an hour after the break, before Sporting CP B pushed on in the last 15 minutes. On three occasions Martins' side came close to equalising, two of which were denied by the woodwork.

Luís Martins highlights his side's maturity against União da Madeira

The Sporting CP B coach Luís Martins praised his side's maturity at the final whistle this weekend, after masterminding a ninth successive unbeaten outing.

"We set out with a specific idea that we had been working on and we won. It was our hardest match so far I think. Our opponent had done their homework and you could see that. We have our weaknesses, but we were competent out their today and showed a real maturity", said Martins, continuing with a word on the importance of securing points against the Ledman LigaPro big-hitters: "We had already beaten the team in second and now we beat União da Madeira. These matches are really important to help the lads grow. We were disciplines, coherent and deserve a pat on the back."

Rafael Barbosa was also on hand to share his thoughts at the final whistle, commenting on his goal: "It was an important goal because it helped get the points. We drew in the Azores (Santa Clara), which wasn't a fair result, so it was important for us to get a decent win today."