Luís Ferreira for Liga NOS matchday 18

Luís Ferreira, 38, from the Braga Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting's Liga NOS matchday 18 hosting of Tondela.

Nuno Manso and Luís Cabral will act as linesmen.

Sporting-Tondela will get underway at 20h30 on Friday, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Squad gets a bit of help from Herbalife's H24 range

Sporting's football stars tried something a little different for breakfast this morning. Sporting's official nutrition partner, Herbalife, hosted an event with the squad, showcasing some of their products such as the Formula 1 Sport shake, from the H24 range. Hydrate, Prolong, Rebuild Endurance and Rebuild Strength drinks also feature in this range, designed for everyone who regularly exercises.

After finishing their breakfast, the players proved happy with the formula. “It is really useful for us. It helps us to recover and develop and it is a great source of energy. This is a great partnership for the club", said João Mário, before commenting on how he feels after drinking the shake: "I notice a difference and we try out different ones to see which makes us feel better. Herbalife products definitely help me and the rest of the squad."

Matheus Pereira also have his backing to the H24 range: "It is great. I spoke with the lads from Herbalife and they explained everything. The power is great with banana or red fruits, for example. I really feel like it helps me get stronger. This partnership with Herbalife has been great and has helped us find that extra bit of energy.”

Sporting B miss out to Feirense after two penalties and two red cards

Sporting B lost 2-0 to Feirense in Santa Maria da Feira this weekend, on II Liga matchday 24.

After Luís Machado threatened's Pedro Silva with a shot that ended up just wide, the hosts took the lead in the 13th minute form the penalty spot, after an alleged foul by Rúben Ribeiro on Luís Machado. The Sporting B keeper actually saved from the 12-yard kick, but Machado converted up the rebound.

João de Deus' side tried to rally, but struggled to build anything going forward while the hosts seemed happy to rely on set pieces to probe goal. After a brilliant stop by Pedro Silva in the 27th minute, Plantiny was again given the enviable task of converting on a penalty after Ivandildo supposedly fouled Vasco Rocha, but the Feirense forward fired the shot against the bar.

with under-19 starlets Ronaldo Tavares and Bubacar Djaló now on the pitch, Deus' side went looking for an equaliser, but the afternoon's refereeing just wasn't going there way and the hosts made it 2-0 after the official waved away appeals for a foul on Pedro Silva by Rúben Oliveira.

That could have been the end of it, but Rui Oliveira really left a bitter taste in Sporting B's mouths with a red card to Francisco Geraldes (61') and Dramé (76').

The loss sees Sporting B remain in eighth place in II Liga, with 35 points.

Jorge Jesus on Sporting's comeback against Sp. Braga

"This isn't a special moment. It is a moment in which we won another three points after being 2-0 behind. Without really understanding why, we were losing at half-time. We were the best side for the whole 45 minutes. João Mário had a chance one-on-one with the goalkeeper and so did Slimani, Paulo Oliveira hit the post...Sp. Braga scored two goals created by individual quality, from two brilliant bits of skill from Rafa, but they didn't really deserve it", opened Jorge Jesus in a flash interview at the final whistle on Sunday night, after inspiring his side to a battling 3-2 comeback.

Asked what he said to his players at the break, the Alvalade boss said: “We spoke and I told them that they had the quality to turn it around. We had the fans with us, even when we were losing 2-0, which really helped in the second-half. I don't know if there were 40 thousand or 450 thousand people in the stadium today, but they were really important. It was a great game with some great refereeing. We haven't won anything yet, but today we put in another performance that shows why we are in the top places in the league. We won against a really good side today."

Adrien on his side's 3-2 win against Braga on Sunday night

Adrien Silva highlighted his team's attitude and quality in fighting back from 2-0 down against Sp. Braga this Sunday.

“I don't know if it was the kind of result that champions get, but it was a great win for a team that showed character after being down 2-0 at half-time. In the first-half we had three clear opportunities to score, but we didn't give up", said the Alvalade skipper before touching on Jorge Jesus' talk at half-time: "He told us to believe in our work and in our ability. We showed a great attitude and that converted into goals in the second-half. The fans were even with us when we were losing and they gave us the strength to turn the result around."

Sporting come back from 2-0 down at half-time

Sporting pulled off one of the most memorable comebacks since the inauguration of the new Estádio José Alvalade in 2003 this Sunday. Trailing 2-0 at half-time on what was an afternoon of absolutely torrential rain in the Portuguese capital, Jorge Jesus' side rallied in the second-half to ensure that the gap at the top of Liga NOS stays at a minimum of four points.

The visitors made their intentions for the afternoon clear in the opening exchanges, with Braga's pace and creativity looking likely to cause problems. After just a minute of action, Wilson drove a shot goalwards after a corner and five minutes later Pedro Santos had Rui Patrício twitching with a curved effort. Jorge Jesus' side weathered the early storm and were soon down the other end, with João Mário denied by Kritciuk after the Portuguese international had broken free of his marker in the area.

After two efforts that finished up the wrong side of the crossbar from Bruno César, it was Slimani's turn to break through on goal in front of the isolated Kritciuk, but the Braga keeper held his ground well to comfortably deny the Algerian's chip. Seven minutes later, João Mário curved a corner out to the onrushing Paulo Oliveira, but his header crashed against the post and Kritciuk somehow clawed the loose ball off the line. Despite the on-way traffic, it was actually Braga who took the lead, when Wilson Eduardo made the most of some scrappy play in the area to find the bottom corner. To add insult to injury, Rafa charged through the middle four minutes later and made it 2-0.

Jorge Jesus rang the changes at half-time, bringing off William Carvalho and introducing Gelson Martins down the right. After three minutes of action Bryan Ruiz was somehow denied by the Braga keeper, a minute before Rui Patrício made a fine stop from Pedro Santos. Back down the other end, Sporting finally found the back of the net when Adrien converted on a penalty after a clear handball from André Pinto.

The goal broke Braga's resistance and Slimani could have completed the comeback almost immediately with golden opportunities in the 59th and 65th minute. Kritciuk made another brilliant stop in the 71st minute from a low shot by Gelson Martins, but the Braga keeper could do little to keep Montero out five minutes later after the Colombian latched onto a shot by Jefferson.

Sp. Braga could have won it themselves in the dying stages, but Rui Patrício was on hand to deny Rafa, before Slimani sealed the result with a 90th minute header after a wire-guided cross from Bryan Ruiz.

Tobias Figueiredo

Tobias Figueiredo has undergone an arthroscopy on his right knee in Hospital CUF - Descobertas. The operation was undertaken by Dr. Pedro Pessoa and went as planned.

The player is expected to be out of action for 6 weeks.

Mobile Club Store next to Gate 4 in Estádio José Alvalade

The Mobile Club Store will again be in action for Sporting's 16h00 hosting of Sp. Braga on Sunday. The store will be open next to Gate 4 (next to CUF), while the Official Club Store at the stadium will be open until 20h00.

Sporting-Sp. Braga, will kick off at 16h00 on Sunday the 10th of January, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Marcelo Boeck

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Marcelo Boeck for the renewal of his contact, valid until 2018 with an additional optional season and a buy-out clause of 45,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Marcelo Boeck the best of professional and personal success.

Speaking after penning the deal, the Alvalade keeper was in a happy mood: "I am really satisfied with the confidence shown in me by the coach and the president. It is recognition of my work and this is a great time to be at Sporting. To be part of this is good for me. This contract is down to four and a half years of work at the club. It represents a lot of dedication to Sporting. This is like my home now and it is where I have spent a big part of my life."

Message from Bruno de Carvalho

Today may well be remembered as a day in the history of football: The International Football Association Board has opened its doors to the 21st century. It has just been announced that new technologies (in a test phase) will be introduced. This is an idea that Sporting Clube de Portugal has constantly defended over the last three years and now brings hope to all of those who fight for true sportsmanship.

Today is also a memorable day for Portuguese football and is an extraordinary opportunity. Let us hope that those in charge are up to the responsibility and expectations which will come with this change. You can, as always, count on Sporting Clube de Portugal!