Bas Dost nets four with striking masterclass supported by Matheus and Podence

Bas Dost was the star of the show in Saturday night, dispatching Tondela with four goals on Liga NOS matchday 25, with the help of some brilliant ball control from Daniel Podence and Matheus Pereira.

With Daniel Podence making his first senior start and Zeegelaar and Matheus Pereira down a new-look left wing, Sporting CP focused much of their attacking attention out wide. The trio of Podence, Martins and Pereira were a constant source of danger for the Tondela back line, as the three youngsters forced depth against a defence more accustomed to man marking. However, it was actually the hosts who created the first chance, when Jailson fired a shot towards goal following a corner.

Bryan Ruiz responded after 10 minutes with a shot that pulled a save out of Cláudio Ramos and from then on Sporting CP controlled the action. Short link-up passing down the flanks defined the Alvalade approach, while Tondela looked to do damage through the pace of Murillo down the left, countered by Paulo Oliveira dropping in behind Schelotto whenever the the Argentinean probed forward. Despite the one-way traffic, Tondela created another pair of chances, both from dead-ball situations through Pedro Nuno (22’ and 30’). 

As the clock ticked over Matheus Pereira found his feet and Podence began turning the screw with some fantastic dribbling skills. On 34 minutes Zeegelaar triggered a break down the left, Podence darted into the box and pulled a cross back a cross goal and who else but Bas Dost to slot home a half volley to open the scoring.

The game opened up after the break and Matheus Pereira began to show what he can really do, finding Bas Dost with a wire-guided cross that the Dutchman came close to converting on with a diving header. Trailing and in desperate need of points, Tondela pushed forward and managed to pull level three minutes before the hour, when Murillo rounded off an excellent team move. 

Just a minute after letting one in, Sporting CP struck. Of course it was Bas Dost who did the business, keeping is calm under pressure to slot home after Matheus Pereira did well to go around a couple of defenders. Not to be outdone by his fellow Sporting Academy graduates, Gelson began testing luck and was able to win a penalty after breaking into the box. Up stepped Dost and dispatched from 12 yards, before doing the same again six minutes later after being pushed in the back in the 6-yard box.

Jesus names squad for Liga NOS matchday 25

1 – Rui Patrício
34 – Beto Pimparel
2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
4 – Jefferson
7 – Joel Campbell
10 – Bryan Ruiz
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
18 – Francisco Geraldes
20 – Luc Castaignos
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
35 – Ruben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
56 – Daniel Podence
66 – João Palhinha
73 – Matheus Pereira
77 – Gelson Martins

Jorge Jesus looking to prepare the 2017/2018 campaign with an introduction of even more starlets

Speaking with the press ahead of Liga NOS matchday 25, which will see Sporting CP travel to Tondela, Jorge Jesus highlighted the importance of a strong run in to the end of the season, as preparation for coming campaign get underway.

"Wins bring confidence and points. We have to get as close a we can to our rivals, although we know it won't be easy. João Palhinha has been given an opportunity and this weekend we will do the same with some of the others like Daniel Podence", said Jesus, going on to answer a question in relation to the possible introduction of Francisco Geraldes in the middle of the park: "Bruno César and Alan Ruiz have been really important. Francisco [Geraldes] doesn't have the characteristics to play as an attacking midfielder, he is more like João Mário. He doesn't have the athletic or individual characteristics to play as a defensive midfielder, but I think he will adapt better to playing off a forward. Our young players have a lot of individual quality, but for most of the game you don't touch the ball so tactical understanding comes into it as well."

Speaking in greater depth about the weekend's opposition, Jesus affirmed that Sporting CP's recent run of improving form has little influence: "Tondela want the points, to avoid relegation. They are learning how to play under a new coach, but I think Pepa [current coach] are both good examples of the quality of young Portuguese coaches. We have gone four matches without losing, but we are used to doing better than that. We know that the smaller clubs work that little bit harder against the big clubs, but we are ready and we can't let Tondela be more intensive than us."

Sales for Liga NOS matchday 25 get underway on Wednesday the 8th of March

Tickets of Liga NOS matchday 25, between Clube Desportivo de Tondela and Sporting Clube de Portugal will go on sale on Wednesday the 8th of March from 10h00 to 20h00, at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices.

Tickets are for the east stand and are priced at 20€ each.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20h30 on Saturday the 11th of Match, in Tondela's Estádio João Cardoso.

Jorge Jesus reflects on a dominating opening, frustrated by the final result

Speaking with the press at the final whistle on Sunday, Jorge Jesus conceded that the second-half did not live up to expectations after his side controlled the opening stages.

"We were better in the first-half and a bit closer to where we want to be. We had a great 35 minutes, we scored and we looked good down the wings, but this isn't the result we wanted. We were really strong in attack, but we couldn't keep it up in the second-half", opened the Alvalade coach, going on to reflect on his second-half substitution of Alan Ruiz and Bruno César (both suspended for the next game for accumulating yellow cards: "When Alan Ruiz and Bruno César we improved in defence, but lost a bit of quality in terms of moving the ball around. I was a bit concerned that the lads couldn't be as aggressive as I would like them to be, because of the yellow cards. Bryan Ruiz is good with the ball in the middle and João Palhinha is more defensive, but I wanted to avoid the game being divided up. Vitória de Guimarães ended up scoring, despite not creating too many problems for us."

Speaking in greater depth about Vitória de Guimarães, Jesuse finished: "We knew we would be playing against a team that have only missed out a few times away from home and that they would force us to defend at times. We knew about how they playing going forward and Hernâni gives them options. With Ricardo Esgaio himself being quick, I thought he would be able to stop him. Sometimes he did, sometimes he didn't, but I think he did everything we asked of him."

Squad list for Liga NOS matchday 24

Jorge Jesus has released his squad list for Sunday's hosting of Vitória de Guimarães (20h30):

1 – Rui Patrício
26 – Azbe Jug
34 – Beto Pimparel

2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
4 – Jefferson Moreira
7 – Joel Campbell
10 – Bryan Ruiz
11 – Bruno César
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
20 – Luc Castaignos
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
35 – Rúben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
56 – Daniel Podence
66 – João Palhinha
77 – Gelson Martins
99 – Alan Ruiz

Jesus looks ahead to Liga NOS matchday 24

Estádio José Alvalade will host Liga NOS matchday 24 between Sporting CP and V. Guimarães this Sunday, with Sporting CP looking to put together a fourth consecutive win.

For coach Jorge Jesus, there is no margin for error against a Guimarães team that also have their eyes on a European spot: "The obligation to win is part of being at Sporting CP. Our last few wins have given us confidence and you can see the players improving. We know we will be facing one of the league's better sides, so I am sure it will be an emotionally charged game."

Jorge Jesus happy with his side's third consecutive Liga NOS win

"We are looking to turn in consecutive wins to build up more confidence", opened Jorge Jesus at the final whistle on Saturday evening, after watching his side beat Estoril 2-0.

Despite having tallied what is now a third consecutive Liga NOS win, Jesus is keen to see his team put away more of the abundance of the opportunities being created: "We played well, although we were better in the second-half. We were better today than we were against Rio Ave and the lads are starting to understand better now our defensive processes, which gives us time to score. We didn't have a lot of chances early on, but we scored as soon as we did. The second-half was better for us and we had opportunities through against the Estoril keeper. We have to be more effective when we have chances like those."

Asked to comment on his midfield choice, bringing in Palhinha in place of Adrien, along side the injured William Carvalho, Jesus was full of praise for the pair: "William played a lot better after the break. He wasn't playing in his usual position, so he was a bit lost in terms of positioning in the first-half. Palhinha is a young lad who is learning to keep his cool, but he is really strong physically and I am sure he will have a great career. Step by step we will give the youngsters opportunities."

Bryan Ruiz and Bas Dost secure third consecutive Liga NOS victory

Two Sporting CP goals in Estádio António Coimbra da Mota without response secured a third successive Liga NOS win for Jorge Jesus' side this weekend. It was Bryan Ruiz and Bas Dost who found the net, with the latter taking his season tally to 18 in 20 matches.

Dost's late goal (86') was the cherry on the top of the cake after some quick attacking football that first found the net in the 22nd minute, when Alan Ruiz broke away down the right and drove a cross into the box. Schelotto failed to capitalise, but Bryan Ruiz was on hand at the far post to slot in from close range. In all honesty, Sporting CP could and should have walked away with a much more express margin of victory, but a lack of a more clinical touch in front of goal saw various opportunities left wanting.

Jorge Jesus sits down with the press ahead of the weekend's short trip to Estoril

Although Estoril Praia are having a tough season, Jorge Jesus did not dismiss the potential of this Saturday's opponent, particularly on home turf.

"Playing in Amoreira is always hard for the big teams. They need the points to try to get out of a position that they aren't used to being in, but we need them as well to get closer to our rivals. It is going to be a hard fought game and we will be under pressure at times, but that is part of it. The best teams can't always dominate", said the Sporting CP coach, adding: "We will have to do the best we can with the players we have available and we fully trust in the lads. Obviously Adrien would be in the team and he is our captain, so it won't be the same, but we believe in whoever comes in."

Currently nine points off 2nd in Liga NOS, Jorge Jesus dismissed the idea of difficulty in motivating his players. After all, playing for Sporting CP is enough to fire up any athlete: "It isn't hard to motivate players, because this is a club that always fights to be at the top. Tomorrow our objective is to ge the three points and we want to secure a Champions League place as soon as possible."

The Alvalade boss finished with an analysis of Estoril, led by Pedro Carmona: "The new Estoril coach is still implementing his ideas. It won't be an Estoril team that looks to get forward, that is our job. They will be well organised at the back, from dead balls and attacking on the break."