Rúben Semedo highlights pre-season positives

Nobody likes to lose and Rúben Semedo is no exception. Speaking with radio journalists after Sporting's 4-2 defeat to Zenit, the Alvalade defender highlighted that pre-season results are far from being the most important factor: "We are getting better, despite the loss. We are looking for our best physical and tactical form. With how hard we have been working in training, it is only normal for us to be tired, but the squad is still taking on everything right now."

Sporting CP slip to 4-2 defeat in third friendly in Switzerland

Jorge Jesus kept his team in his preferred 4x4x2 formation for this Saturday's encounter with Zenit and with Bruno César down the left and Gelson Martins down the right, Sporting looked terrorising going forward in the opening exchanges. Hernán Barcos proved a constant nuisance for the Zenit defence, with Alan Ruiz in support with some incisive passing and shots from range. Petrovic sat at the base of midfield, behind Bryan Ruiz (who was again given the captain's armband). Jesus repeated his defensive selection that opened against Monaco, with Schelotto, Coates, Rúben Semedo and Marvin Zeegelaar in front of Azbe Jug.

Although Sporting looked by far the most threatening early on, it was Zenit, who already had six pre-season matches under their belts, who took the lead after just seven minutes when Javi Garcia escaped Coates marking and headed in from a corner. The lead for Mircea Lucescu's side lasted just two minutes, thanks to a darting run by Gelson Martins and a final pass for Bruno César to net the equaliser.

Just as the team from Alvalade were again cranking up the pressure, Zenit made the most of two defensive blunders in as many minutes to go 3-1 ahead. First it was Zhirkov who struck with an effort that Azbe Jug should have done better to stop, before Rúben Semedo approached a header wrong and ended up setting Kerzhakov through on goal. There was still time before the break however for Gelson Martins to get a much deserved goal, after a decent pass from Barcos.

The second-half brought with it the expected slowing of the pace, with not even a string of Sporting substitutions (Alan Ruiz, Matheus Pereira, Petrovic and Gelson Martins for Daniel Podence, Bruno César, Palhinha AND Iuri Medeiros). able to inject any energy into the action. Some good team play did see Sporting edge back up the pitch, but the first chance was made to wait until the 71st minute, when Podence had a chance to get a shot away attempted to set up Slimani, and the opportunity fizzled out. Five minutes from time, Djordjevic made it 4-2 for Zenit.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Peyroteo: seperated by generations, but both immortal on the football pitch

On the 26th of June 1937, an eager 19-year old named Fernando Peyroteo arrived in Lisbon. He had been playing for Sporting de Luanda, but made the trip to Lisbon from Angola to accompany his mother, who was struggling with health problems. In the Portuguese capital, Aníbal Paciência, a friend of Peyroteo's from Angola, invited him join Sporting and he never looked back, despite FC Porto offering him considerably more money.

Cristiano Ronaldo's path was a little different. He arrived in Lisbon from Madeira at the age of just 12, after being invited to for trails at the Sporting Academy. "After five minutes he was already on first name terms with everyone and was telling people to pass hi mthe ball. That isn't normal. We knew we had to sign him straight away, he just had to join us", commented Aurélio Pereira in a recent interview with the Observador.

The stories of the two Alvalade heroes are now, of course, the stuff of legends. Both have a unique ability for finding the back of the yet, with Peyroteo still the best scorer in Portuguese history, with an average of 1.62 goals per game over the 541 matches played for Sporting. Cristiano Ronaldo played just 31 senior games for Sporting, but he captured the world's hearts with Manchester United and Real Madrid, where he has won the European Golden Boot on four occasions.

Split by so many decades, it is difficult to compare the two. Peyroteo reigned over Portugal's pitches in the 30's and 40's, before European competitions even existed, while Cristiano Ronaldo has spread his magic across Europe. One thing is for sure, both players have absolutely dominated their respective generations of footballers and become true idols of the game... for everyone except goalkeepers of course

Sporting CP to face Russians in Switzerland

Building on the friendlies against Monaco and Stade Nyonnais during the week, Jorge Jesus' side will face a testing encounter against Zenit this Saturday evening.

The Sporting coach had his squad out on the training pitch in the morning, putting the final touches to the 19h00CET kick-off, in Stade de Chailly, Montreux.

FC Porto visit Alvalade on matchday 3, before matchday 13 trip to Benfica

The official fixture list for the 2016/17 National Championship campaign was released this Saturday. Sporting will open with a hosting of Marítimo on August the 14th, before visiting Paços de Ferreira on matchday 2. A hosting of FC Porto awaits on matchday three.

Rui Patrício was named as Goalkeeper of the Season at the draw and the Alvalade shotstopper couldn't be happier: "I want to thank everyone for this trophy, but to also say that it isn't only mine. It is for the whole squad

Fixture list in full:

Matchday 1 (14/8): Sporting CP - Marítimo (22/1) matchday 18

Matchday 2 (21/8): Paços de Ferreira - Sporting CP (28/1) matchday 19

Matchday 3 (28/8): Sporting CP - FC Porto (5/2) matchday 20

Matchday 4 (11/9): Sporting CP - Moreirense (12/2) matchday 21

Matchday 5 (18/9): Rio Ave - Sporting CP (19/2) matchday 22

Matchday 6 (25/9): Sporting CP - Estoril (26/2) matchday 23

Matchday 7 (2/10): V. Guimarães - Sporting CP (5/3) matchday 24

Matchday 8 (23/10): Sporting CP - Tondela (11/3) matchday 25

Matchday 9 (30/10): Nacional - Sporting CP (19/2) matchday 26

Matchday 10 (6/11): Sporting CP - Arouca (2/4) matchday 27

Matchday 11 (27/11): Boavista - Sporting CP (9/4) matchday 28

Matchday 12 (4/12): Sporting CP - V. Setúbal (15/4) matchday 29

Matchday 13 (11/12): Benfica - Sporting CP (23/4) matchday 30

Matchday 14 (18/12): Sporting CP - Sp. Braga (30/4) matchday 31

Matchday 15 (21/12): Belenenses - Sporting CP (7/5) matchday 32

Matchday 16 (8/1): Sporting CP - Feirense (14/5) matchday 33

Matchday 17 (15/1): Chaves - Sporting CP (21/5) matchday 34

João Pereira happy with Sporting's first pre-season win

João Pereira, who was rested for Wednesday's encounter against Monaco, was given a start against Nyonnais this Thursday and the wing-back obliged with Sporting's second goal in a 3-1 win.

“It is always good to win in the pre-season and it is always better to fix mistakes by winning instead of losing. In the first-half I thought we played well, although we missed a few opportunities. In the second-half we weren't as good, but we won and we can still improve a lot", said Pereira in a post-match interview, adding: "We have 29 players here in the squad and any one of us could be in the team. We are fighting for places and the more competition, the better. I am here to fight for my place as well and then the coach will decide. The new players are taking things on board bit by bit and we will improve."

Sporting CP tally first pre-season win with goals from Alan Ruiz, João Pereira and Jefferson

Jorge Jesus side claimed their first pre-season scalp this Thursday afternoon, with a 3-1 win against Nyonnais secured by a team totally different to the XI who started against Monaco a day earlier.

The first-half actually started well for Nyonnais, with Sporting giving up a little too much space in th area, however Stojkovic was able to make a stop. From then on it was all one-way traffic controlled by the team from Alvalade. Sporting's first chance came through a stroke of creativity from Aquilani, when the Italian picked out Alan Ruiz for a shot that was deflected wide. Next up it as Bruno César, brought down for a penalty that Alan Ruiz converted on for his first goal in a Sporting shirt.

Leading on the scoreboard, Jesus' side settled and more chances naturally followed. A string of good play down the wing between Bruno César and Jefferson create another chance for the latter, before Aquilani fired off target after a counter-attack led by Alan Ruiz. A deserved second goal came after a move down the right flank, rounded off by a pass from Alan Ruiz to release João Pereira for the finish.

Their was still time for another strike before the break. After Spalvis wasted a handful of chances to write his own name on the scoresheet, Jefferson netted a penalty to make it 3-0.

As would be largely expected at this stage of the season, the second-half saw the pace slow and the Swiss side made the most of it to pull a goal back through Besnik almost immediately after the restart. Sporting responded with a couple of chances of their own, first with Iuri Medeiros putting a shot painfully wide and later with Barcos denied by the keeper.

Sporting will next be in action at 18h00GMT on Saturday, against Zenit.

Statement regarding the loan of Heldon

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol SAD has reached an agreement with Rio Ave Futebol Clube – Futebol SDUQ, Lda. for the loan of the player Heldon for the 2016/17 season, with no option for a permanent transfer.

Sporting SAD wishes Heldon the best of professional and personal success.

Fans with the chance to see their stars in training this weekend

Sporting Clube de Portugal notes that Sunday the 17th of June's training session in Switzerland will be open to the public.

The session will be held in the Juan Antonio Samaranch Stadium, Lausanne, at 09h00CET.

Tobias Figueiredo, Ricardo Esgaio and Carlos Mané to feature for Portugal in Rio 2016

Rui Jorge announced his squad list for the football competition in the coming Rio 2016 Olympic Games this week. Three Sporting players feature: Ricardo Esgaio, Carlos Mané and Tobias Figueiredo (who is currently with Nacional da Madeira on loan."

Speaking about the squad, Rui Jorge revealed the difficulties faced in putting together a list: "When we picked 35 players, we did so thinking we could put together an ideal squad for the Olympics. With some clubs saying no, we only got 11 of those 35. That has really limited us."

Portugal will play in Group D, along with Argentina, Honduras and Algeria.

Squad list in full:

Goalkeepers: Bruno Varela (V. Setúbal) and Joel Pereira (Manchester United).

Defenders: Edgar Ié (Villarreal), Ricardo Esgaio (Sporting), Tobias Figueiredo (Nacional) and Tiago Ilori (Liverpool).

Midfielders: André Martins (free agent), Bruno Fernandes (Udinese), Fábio Sturgeon (Belenenses), Francisco Ramos (Chaves), Sérgio Oliveira (FC Porto), Tiago Silva (Feirense) and Tomás Podstawski (FC Porto).

Forwards: Carlos Mané (Sporting), Gonçalo Paciência (FC Porto), Nuno Santos (V. Setúbal) and Salvador Agra (Nacional).