Rúben Semedo on Sporting's win in Moreirense

Rúben Semedo again featured along side Sebastián Coates at the heart of the Sporting defence this Saturday, contributing with a cleansheet that puts the Alvalade side back at the top of Liga NOS.

“We knew it would be difficult to play here, but we did well. The squad is confident and it was a deserved win. Even if we hadn't scored early it would have been hard, but we did our job and we defended well", said Semedo at the final whistle.

Sporting CP reclaim Liga NOS top spot with solo strike from Slimani

Sporting CP moved back onto the top of the Liga NOS pile this Saturday night with a battling win against Moreirense, courtesy of a 16th minute strike from Islam Slimani.

With the Liga NOS top spot up for grabs, Sporting showed their intentions early on to go on the attack and Jorge Jesus' side could have taken the lead from the very first play, when Slimani forced a corner that ended up harmlessly wide of Stefanovic's goal. Moreirense responded down the other end with a chance of their own, with a corner from Fábio Espinho headed just wide of the mark by André Micael. Not to be outdone, Sporting charged back and a break away from João Mário down the right ended up with the ball at Bryan Ruiz's feet, but the Costa Rican was unable to get his shot away. The next opportunity came when Adrien was brought down at the edge of the area for a free-kick and Bryan Ruiz stepped up for the resulting set piece, only to be denied by a decent save by Stefanovic.

Sporting continued to press and it paid off in the 16th minute, when Teo Gutiérrez found Schelloto with a delicate pass that the Italian-Argentinean diverted on to Slimani. With the goal at his mercy, the Algerian did what he does best and gave Sporting a deserved lead. The goal did little to slow up the team from Alvalade, while Moreirense could do little but resort to dead ball situations in reply. on 35 minutes, Nildo called Rui Patrício into a rare bit of action, with the Sporting keeper instinctively parrying away for a corner from the Brazilian's free-kick. Three minutes later, Teo Gutiérrez could have doubled his side's lead, but the Colombian came up just inches short of a cross from João Mário.

Looking to add a bit of comfort to their lead, Jesus' side continued to turn the screw and give minutes before the break João Mário tried to curl in a guided shot, but his effort finished the wrong side of the crossbar after a breakaway spearheaded by William Carvalho. Teo Gutiérrez actually had the ball in the back of the Moreirense net just before the break, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The second-half got underway with the masses of traveling fans pushing Sporting for a second and the players responded with a wave of forays forward. Around the hour mark, Teo Gutiérrez had the goal at his mercy, but he was unable to keep his header on target. To their credit, Moreirense had attacking intentions of their own and did manage to force the odd slip up out of Sporting. However, a second goal for the visitors always looked more likely than an equaliser for the hosts and next it was William Carvalho to threaten, but he was unable to find the back of the net with his header following a Bruno César corner.

To add a bit of late drama, Bruno Paixão actually sent off Jorge Jesus after Rafael Martins put a hard tackle in on Schelloto, right in front of the Sporting bench. Jesus appealed for the referee to discipline the foul, but Bruno Paixão saw fit to instead send off the Sporting boss.

Trailing by just a single goal, the hosts rallied late on with some moves down the flanks, but Sporting stood firm. On 86 minutes Adrien dribbled his way through the middle, but once again the ball ended up off target. Sporting might not have scored a second, but Moreirense were even further away from an equaliser and as the final sounded the three points headed for Alvalade.

Mama Baldé ahead of Sunday's derby

Mama Baldé has been one of Sporting B's star performers this season, despite being drafted in to right-back after having spent most of his career so far as a foward. Standing in front of Baldé and his side this weekend is Benfica B, however the Alvalade star fully expects Sporting B to tally yet another Ledman LigaPro win.

“We are still recovering from the game on Wednesday, but we will be ready for Benfica B. We have been training hard and we are expecting a win. Of course we have to win, but we don't feel under pressure", said Mama Baldé in an interview with Sporting TV, going on to refect on his season so far in his new position: "I think I have been playing alright. The coach has helped me a lot, just like the rest of the team. I am learning how to play in this new position. I don't feel under pressure and I like playing there."

Sporting CP B-Benfica B will get underway at 16h00 on Sunday the 17th of April, at the Sporting Academy.

Jorge Jesus on Saturday's visit to Moreirense

Jorge Jesus was with the press this Friday afternoon for his usual pre-match press conference, ahead of a potentially trip to 14th placed Moreirense.

"Experience tells us that it is always hard to play in Moreira de Cónegos. Moreirense are a strong team at home and we know that, but we are ready for whatever they throw at us", affirmed the Sporting coach, highlighting his side's current form: "We have been really strong recently and I think we will be in Moreira de Cónegos as well, with the help of our fans.”

Commenting on the fact that Sporting have played more matches than any other side this season, Jesus proved pleased with what is actually now an empty medical room: "We have played more matches, but the lads are all in foot shape. Thankfully we don't have any problems right now in terms of injuries, except Bruno Paulista. That is great for a coach."

The Sports Journalist Association has named Adrien Silva and João Mário in the running for Player of the Year, while Gelson Martins and Iuri Medeiros feature in the Revelation of the Year and Francisco Geraldes in the Ledman LigaPro Player of the year nomination list. A fact, of course, not wasted on Jorge Jesus: "It is the result of the work we have been putting in, which is getting the best out of a lot of the players. They are quality players, which makes things a lot easier. We are really happy with the nominations."

Moreirense-Sporting CP will kick-off at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.

Luís Godinho for Ledman LigaPro matchday 42

Luís Godinho, 30, from the Évora Football Association, has been named for Ledman LigaPro matchday 42, between Sporting B and Benfica B.

José Braga and Valter Rufo will act as linesmen

This will be Godinho's second Sporting B match of the season, after the matchday 18 hosting of  Ac. Viseu.

Sporting CP B-Benfica B will get underway at 16h00 on Sunday the 17th of April, at the Sporting Academy.

Sporting CP with two names in Sports Journalist Association list

João Mário and Adrien are included in a list of five players shortlisted for the Sports Journalist Association's 2016 Player of the Year Award. Also in the running are André André, Jonas and Rafa.

Sporting CP also had two players in the list for Revelation of the Year, namely Gelson Martins and the on-loan Iuri Medeiros. In the list for Ledman LigaPro player of the year, Sporting B's Francisco Geraldes is in the running along side André Silva, Ewerton, Pedrinho and Platiny.

Voting will take place on the 29th of April, with winners announced on the 2nd of May.

Bruno Paixão named for Liga NOS matchday 30

Bruno Paixão, 31, from the Setúbal Football Association, has been named to take charge of sporting's visit to Moreirense, on Liga NOS matchday 30.

António Godinho and Rodrigo Pereira will act as linesmen.

This will be Bruno Paixão's second Sporting match of the season, following the matchday 22 visit to Nacional.

Moreirense-Sporting CP will get underway at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio Comendador Joaquim Almeida de Freitas.

National team to face Argentina Argentina, Algeria and Honduras

The national Olympic football team will feature in Group D in Rio 2016, along with Argentina, Algeria and Honduras.

the Portuguese will open on the 4th of August against Argentina in the João Havelange Olympic Stadium, before facing Honduras three days later in the same stadium. On the 10th of August, Portugal will face Algeria in Estádio Mineirão.

Draw in full:

Group A: Brazil, South Africa, Iraq and Denmark

Group B: Sweden, Colombia, Nigeria and Japan

Group C: Fiji, South Korea, Mexico and Germany

Group D: Honduras, Algeria, Portugal and Argentina 

Fábio Martins double secures third consecutive win for Sporting B

Sporting continued in their rich streak of form this Wednesday afternoon, this time claiming Ac. Viseu as their victim on Ledman LigaPro matchday 41.

With Stojkovic, Mama Baldé, Domingos Duarte, Rukas, Rúben Ribeiro, Kikas, Fábio Martins, Ryan Gauld, Francisco Geraldes, Daniel Podence and Ponde chosen for the kick-off, Sporting B took the lead after 17 minutes, when Francisco Geraldes picked out Fábio Martins for the opener. The hosts responded a couple of minutes after the half-hour mark, courtesy of Zé Pedro, before Fábio Martins scored his second just seconds before the break after latching on to a driven cross by Podence.

Viseu pumped up the pressure in the second-half, but it was Sporting B who could have put the encounter to bed, had Francisco Geraldes converted on a one-on-one chance with the home keeper. Deep into injury time Stojkovic made an excellent save to ensure the points were all brought back to Alvalade.

Find out more about this week's International Congress

Sporting Clube de Portugal will host the second edition of The Future of Football International Congress this week, from the 18th to the 21st of April. It isn't too late to get involved and you can sign up at www.thefutureoffootball.org.

the congress itself will open on Wednesday afternoon (14h30) in the Artur Agostinho Auditorium, with an open session attended by Bruno de Carvalho, President of Sporting CP, João Wengorovius Meneses, Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, and Fernando Gomes, President of the UEFA Competitions Committee and the Portuguese Football Federation.

The first panel, titled Innovation in Football, will get underway at 15h00 and will touch on themes including new technologies, innovation in other sports, technologies and new rules and metrics in football. After a coffee break at 17h00 a panel titled Relation with the Media will get underway, focusing on issues such as counter-information, bias vs. impartiality, the impact of public figures and social networks.

On the 21st of April, the day will begin at 09h30, with a panel on New Sources of Revenue for Clubs, including themes such as advertising, television right and growth strategy. To finish a session on Emerging Markets will start at 11h30, including India, the United States, Asia and Africa.

The closing session will be attended by Sporting Clube de Portugal President Bruno de Carvalho, FIFA Vice-President Ángel Maria Villar and the President of the League Pedro Proença.