Coates looks ahead to Wednesday's visit to Real Madrid

Sebastián Coates was the player chosen to share his thoughts on Wednesday's visit to the European Champions in Sporting's return to the Champions League.

"Real Madrid are a great team and we will have to be focused and try to play to our strengths. We will see how it goes, but we will try to play our game. It doesn't matter who plays, we are all ready. I think we just have to take this competition one game at a time. We are going through a good spell now and we are full of confidence, so we will try and show that tomorrow", said the Uruguayan.

Jorge Jesus guarantees his side are ready for Real Madrid

Showing respect, but not fear. That was the challenge set out by Jorge Jesus in his Champions League pre-match press conference this Tuesday, ahead of a daunting visit to the reigning European champions.

“We have been drawn against the European champion for our first game, but that won't change how we play. We will respect Real Madrid like we do every team. We believe in the way we play and in what the team is capable of. We are ready for a hard game and we will also create our own problems for Real Madrid", affirmed the Sporting coach, before adding the inevitable word on Cristiano Ronaldo: "Cristiano is loved in Portugal, particularly by Sporting's fans. It was at the club that he grew up as a player and a person. We will have to pay attention to him, just like every other player. We don't have any special defensive focus on Ronaldo and we will play the way we always do, like we did against Moreirense."

To finish, Jorge Jesus thanked Zinedine Zidane for his complements, but did not pull his punches when it came to the match itself: "We know who we will be facing and we will show respect, but not fear. This is the strongest Real Madrid of the last few years, a lot stronger than before Zidane came in."

Information on ticket sales for Liga NOS matchday 5

Tickets for Liga NOS matchday 5, between Rio Ave Futebol Clube and Sporting Clube de Portugal, will go on sale as follows:

WEDNESDAY | Club Members with a Gamebox 2016/2017 (from 10h to 20h)
THURSDAY | Club Members (from 10h to 20h)
FRIDAY | General public (from 10h to 20h)

Gamebox or Member cards must be shown on the first two days of sales (with August 2016 fees paid), with each card valid for one ticket. Each person can bring a maximum of four cards.

The match is scheduled for Sunday the 18th of September in at 20h15, in Vila do Conde. Tickets are priced at 20€.

Former Sporting and Real Madrid star reflects on his time with two of Europe's giants

The 2001 World Player of the Year, Luís Figo, was one of the much sought after pundits ahead of this Wednesday's Champions League encounter between Sporting and Real Madrid, having represented both clubs.

Figo opened with a reflection on the Alvalade youth system: "Great players are made there. When I was there the idol was Futre. Next it was me, Simão, Cristiano and Nani. I was there from the age of 12 to 22 and I learnt everything at Sporting."

Figo also spoke about his time with Sporting as a professional: "It was a brilliant team! Balakov, Juskowiak. Then after that Paulo Sousa, Pacheco, Luisinho, Venâncio… I also played with Carlos Manuel, Douglas and even Rijkaard. I have a photograph with him as well. I had coaches like Bobby Robson, Queiroz."

Jorge Jesus takes full strength squad to the Spanish capital

Jorge Jesus has taken a full strength squad to Real Madrid for Champions League Group F matchday 1, with only Azbe Jug missing out.

Squad list in full:

1 - Rui Patrício 
2 - Ezequiel Schelotto
3 - Lazar Markovic
4 - Jefferson Moreira
7 - Joel Campbell
8 - Radosav 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
21 - João Pereira
22 - Elias Trindade
23 - Adrien Silva
25 - Marcelo Meli
28 - Bas Dost
30 - Bruno Paulista
31 - Marvin Zeegelaar
34 - Beto Pimparel
35 - Ruben Semedo
47 - Ricardo Esgaio 
73 - Matheus Pereira
77 - Gelson Martins 
88 - Vladimir Stojkovic
99 - Alan Ruiz

Aurélio Pereira on Cristiano Ronaldo and the secrets of the Sporting Academy

Just two days away from seeing his most famous student, Cristiano Ronaldo, face Sporting in the Champions League, the Sporting youth football legend Aurélio Pereira spoke about the world famous CR7 and the philosophy of the Sporting Academy.

"Knowing Cristiano Ronaldo like I do, he won't go easy on us. You can't take the professionalism out of him. At the beginning he was just an 11-year old lad from Madeira who arrived at the Academy without his parents. In 1997 he cost a lot of money. A day after he got here he was already training with the older lads and he had a capacity that we were not used to seeing. The older players all said that he was something different and he was. On top of his technical quality he had speed and could get away from his marker. He had a bit of skill in the air too", opened Pereira.

Asked to reveal the secrets of the success of the Sporting Academy, the Alvalade legend added: "Talent is one thing, but audacity is another. Players are only human and sometimes you forget that, but Ronaldo had a way of speaking with the rest of the players. On the second day he was completely relaxed with everyone, when anyone else would have packed their bags and went home if faced by the same thing. Youth football is in this club's DNA, it is in our culture. We give our young players creative liberty and we don't format anyone. We are really patient with them and treat them as people."

Bruno de Carvalho declares intention to bring the nation's hero back to Alvalade

The Sporting president dropped an absolute bombshell in his interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca this week, declaring his intention to see Cristiano Ronaldo hand up his boots in Avalade.

"I was in the stadium when we played against Manchester United I knew right then that they would take him. We will face him (on Wednesday) and he will face the club that trained him. Everybody wants to see Ronaldo against his old team. It would be magical to see Ronaldo finish his career in Portugal, with Sporting. That is my objective. We have been making a big effort to bring back some of our old players, like what happened with Nani", explained Bruno de Carvalho, before answering a question on who he sees as Sporting's best weapon for facing the Spanish giants: "Our star? Jorge Jesus of course, our leader. He is the most important person in the group and he complements what we needed. He is perfect for my vision of Sporting, with leadership and a drive for perfection. Now the players understand that they can win titles."

The full interview can be found here.

#LaPortada 'Un Madrid feliz' pic.twitter.com/0hQPxbqWWn

— MARCA (@marca) 11 de setembro de 2016

Members can still snap up a Gamebox for as little as 120€!

The fans have been packing out Alvalade so far this season, with over 44,000 fans turning out for Saturday's win against Moreirense.

However, you can still guarantee your seat, with a limited number of Gamebox (including I Liga and Champions League) packages still available.

The Dutch striker Bas Dost has already given his backing, netting on his debut with a battling goal. You can pick up your Gamebox through the club's official site or at the Official Club Store from just 120€. 

Alvalade president answers challenge by Marca with a wonder strike

Real Madrid vs. Sporting CP truely got underway on Monday, with president Bruno de Carvalho netting a penalty past the director of the Marca newspaper, Juan Ignacio Gallardo.

Manchester United legend visits Alvalade

Eric Cantona was a surprise visitor to Estádio José Alvalade this Sunday, accompanied by his brother and children. President Bruno de Carvalho of course didn't miss the opportunity to accompany the Manchester United and France legend.

"5,000 trophies is really impressive!", said Cantona in an interview after visiting the Sporting Museum, before going on to reveal that one of Alvalade's heroes is actually one of his own too: "Yazalde was an excellent player. He played in Marseilles after leaving Sporting. I used to go and watch Marseilles with my dad and brother and Yazalde was one of our heroes."

Cantona also spoke about how Sporting has developed in recent years: "I am a bit like this club: I want my children to have strong personalities. I am letting them develop their own personalities and if they want to play football then they can. I really like to see the big clubs focusing on their young teams. That is where everything starts and where you create your own playing style, like Barcelona, Manchester United and Sporting CP. I understand better now when I see Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, Futre or Nani playing. They are all the same kind of player."