Costa Rican put through paces for the first time at the Academy

Joel Campbell took part in his first training session at the Sporting Academy this Tuesday. The Costa Rican made a warm up lap of the pitch along with Bryan Ruiz and Alan Ruiz.

Campbell already looks well integrated into the squad and could also be seen talking with Adrien Silva.

Study by Universidade Europeia into Portuguese football fans

A study by Universidade Europeia in partnership with the internet portal Sapo has found that Sporting's fans are the most dedicated out of the big three clubs in Portugal. On a scale of 0 to 10, Sporting rates 9.2, ahead of Benfica and FC Porto

The study was based on more than 1505 questionnaires collected on the 28th and 29th of July. The study also revealed that although Benfica has more fans, a higher percentage of Sporting's fans are club members.

Joel Campbell signs in at Alvalade to bolster Sporting's attacking options

Joel Campbell, 24, will represent Sporting for the rest of the current campaign.

Speaking with the Sporting Journal after agreeing a loan move to Alvalade from Arsenal, the Costa Rican forward proved happy with the deal: "I am here to win the league! I want to pay back the confidence people have shown in me. Of course I spoke with Bryan Rui, who told me a lot of good things about the club, but it was the support of the president and coach that made me take this decision. I will work as hard as I can and results will speak for themselves. I know what I can do and I hope everything goes well here."

Joel Campell arrives on loan from Arsenal

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Arsenal Football Club for the loan of the player Joel Campbell for the current sports season.

Sporting SAD wishes Joel Campell the best of professional and personal success.

Jorge Jesus happy with his side's showing against Paços de Ferreira

Missing from the win against Paços de Ferreira, João Mário was inevitably one of issues put to the Sporting coach at the final whistle on Saturday.

"João Mário isn't here because of how he is physically. It would have been a risk to use him today. João Mário is a Sporting player and we have to make sure he doesn't pick up an injury when he could be moving. I didn't want him getting injured. If he improve, then he will play against FC Porto", affirmed Jorge Jesus, adding a work on the match itself: "Defensively we are more solid and you can only win games if you are well organised at the back. Paços didn't have a single opportunity. Offensively we have to do better and find our form from last season. We played against a team that has traditionally been tricky for us and it is important that we hae started off with a couple of wins. I thought Coates and Semedo did really well."

William Carvalho pleased with Sporting's second Liga NOS win

"The lads deserve a pat on the back for how we played. Our objective was to win and it is never easy to do that here", said William Carvalho at the final whistle this Saturday, adding a word on transfer speculation and his future in Lisbon: "(I am) focused on Sporting."

Sporting tally second win in as many attempts with battling performance against Paços

Six points out of six. Sporting are off to the best possible start to the new Liga NOS campaign, thanks to a solo strike from Adrien against Paços de Ferreira this Saturday.

With a hosting of FC Porto next up, an 11th consecutive league win was just what Jesus' side needed, with the cleansheet also Sporting's 4th in a row.

It was actually the hosts who had the opening opportunity of the encounter, when Mateus Silva tried his luck from range with 10 minutes on the clock. However, the effort ended up high of Rui Patrício's goal.

Sporting didnt't take long to rally and two minutes later it was danger down the other end, when a cross from Bruno César was only half cleared. Slimani looked to have found an inch to get away a shot, but Filipe Ferreira was able to get a block in.

Both sides were making a game of it and the blistering pace kept up. On 26 minutes a guided free-free tested Patrício, before an evidently rehearsed free-kick move from 30 metres out saw Adrien and William Carvalho exchange possession, before the Sporting captain blasted an effort just inches off target.

Defendi had been let off in the Paços goal so far, but he was in for a nervy evening. After trying to dribble the ball out, Buno César picked up possession and put a chip just off target.

The string of chances put wind into the Alvalade sails and more opportunities follows. On 34 minutes Bryan Ruiz floated in a cross that eventually found its way out to Alan Ruiz, but his shot was denied by a fine stop by the Paços keeper. Four minutes later, Slimani again tested Defendi's reflexes.

The opener however was destined for Adrien, after some persistent attacking. Bryan Ruiz looked up and drifted a cross towards Slimani, but the Algerian failed to get his effort away. However, the big striker didn't give up and hampered the Paços defence, who could only clear out as far as Bruno César, In came another cross and this time Gelson connected with the header, setting up Adrien for a superb bicycle kick to give his side a much deserved lead.

The Alvalade skipper's goal proved crucial at the final whistle, with Sporting missing a clinical touch in the second-half that could well hae extended the final result.

Sporting B squander first-half lead as weather takes its toll in six-goal thriller

Sporting B were looking in good form in this weekend's Ledman LigaPro hosting of Fafe, but the visitor's efficient showing in front of goal was able to steal the three points from a six-goal thriller.

João de Deus put out a largely suspected 11 for kick-off, comprised of Pedro Silva in goal, Mama Baldé, Fidel Escobar, Ivanildo and Sualehe in defence, Guima, Fábio Martins, Elvis Baldé and Pedro Empis in the middle and Pedro Marques and Ronaldo Tavares leading the attack.

Despite the massive final score, the first goal was actually made to wait until three minutes after the half-hour mark, when Ronaldo ‘El Matador’ Tavares put away a leftfooted effort past José Marçal.

In a preview of what would be some notably clinical finishing, Fafe drew leel from their first opportunity, when Alan Junior continued his rich scoring form with a cool header.

However, the scoreboard was still for barely a minute when Ronaldo Tavares again pulled stop out of Marçal and Pedro Marques poked in the rebound to put Sporting back into the lead.

The second-half was completely the opposite of the first, with Fafe taking the driving seat, courtesy largely of a strong wind in their faour. Sporting were unable to adjust to the weather and Fae slowly cranked up the pressure. Sporting B finally broke on 66 minutes, when Agostinho Carvalho made it 2-3, before Leandro Borges struck just 15 minutes later to seal the result.

The loss leaves Sporting B in 15th in Ledman LigaPro, with Fafe moving up into sixth.

Jorge Jesus looks ahead to visit to Paços de Ferreira

Jorge Jesus was in the Estádio José Alvalade press room this Friday, looking ahead at the weekend's trip to Paços de Ferreira.

"Paços de Ferreira are usually a very competitive side. It isn't easy to play in Estádio da Mata, particularly with how they play in defence. However, this is the kind of match that the season will throw at us and we have to be ready so we can come away with the three points", said the Sporting coach, before going on to fend off the inevitable questions about rumoured transfers: "I know what is being said and everything is normal. I will decide who plays and that is why Slimani will be included after coming back from suspension. This is nothing new for me to be honest and it is always the same thing, especially in August. Last year we had the same issues, because people are interested in our players. What matters most is that we defend ourselves properly. A lot of people would like to play here and normally when I mention a player they end up with Benfica or FC Porto. I think I am their best scout!"

Constant transfer speculation could of course influence performance out on the pitch, but Jesus played it cool and is ready to deal with the extra nerves: "If course I take that into consideration. This is nothing new for me or for the players. Those who have already been through this kind of period know how to deal with it. Transfer rumours reflect the quality of my technical staff, but it is up to the president to decide who goes where. My job is to get the best out of the players individually and collectively and success has its price after that."

Sporting B to host Fafe at the Academy this weekend

Sporting B will host Fafe at the Academy this Saturday, in a 16h00 kick-off on Ledman LigaPro matchday three.

“You can expect to see a stronger Sporting side than the one you saw 15 days ago (against Portimonense, thanks to the lads who have just arrived", said João de Deus in a pre-match press conference this Friday, going on to highlight the return of Jovane Cabral.

However, the Sporting B coach is not expecting an easy encounter: “We know that Fafe are a hard team and they can do some interesting stuff in attack. We will have to focus in defence."