Rafael Leão

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Rafael Leão for the renewal of his contact until 2018, with a buy-out clause of €45,000,000.00.

Sporting SAD wishes Rafael Leão the best of professional and personal success.

After putting pen to paper, the 16-year old forward proved satisfied with the opportunity: “I feel really happy and proud right now. It is thanks to my coach, teammates and especially my dad. It is a special feeling, because I have been here for seven years now and I want to carry on. Seven years later, I feel tougher and I take things more seriously. Everything is changing and I am getting older. I am really happy and I love playing football.” ​

Domingos Duarte

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Domingos Duarte for the renewal of his contract until 2022, with a buy-out clause of €45,000,000.00.

Sporting SAD wishes Domingos Duarte the best of professional and personal success.

Speaking after penning the deal, the defender, who arrived at Alvalade, proved ecstatic with the opportunity to represent his much-loved Sporting.

“I am really happy. I have always been a fan and Member of this club. You can expect dedication and work from me to earn the confidence put in me”, said Domingos Duarte, before reflecting on his time with the captain’s armband in place of the injured Riquicho: “We are all in contact with Riquicho and he is passing on a lot of his experience to us. It is a tough period for him, but we are here to help. Both me and Sambinha have taken on the role of captain and everything is going well.”

In parallel, the Alvalade youngster commented on his career so far: “Like any player at Sporting I want to get into the senior team as quickly as possible and to get back into the national team.”

Sporting puts five past Skënderbeu for first Europa League win of the season

Sporting claimed a first win in this year’s Europa League campaign on Thursday night, with a 5-1 thrashing of Skënderbeu courtesy of a brace from Matheus Pereira (his first goals in European competition) and goals from Aquilani, Montero and Tobias Figueiredo.

The gulf in class between the two sides was laid bare right from the opening whistle, with Shehi being tested in the visitors’ goal from almost the first kick of the encounter when Montero turned well and put a ball across goal that the Skënderbeu keeper did well to collect. Seconds later, Jonathan Silva tried his luck with his off foot following a corner, but Shehi stood firm.

Some good movement and collective passing had the Albanian visitors struggling and on 14 minutes Mané was picked out by Aquilani at the edge of the box, but the Portuguese international drove his shot straight at the keeper. Two minutes later Montero looked to have done everything right after rounding the keeper, but Vangjeli scrambled back to clear off the line and André Martins failed to capitalise on the rebound.

Jesus’ side continued to press and Carlos Mané could have finally opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a cross from Esgaio, but his header was denied by another save from Shehi. It was never going to be an easy night for the Albanians, but the task was made all the more difficult with the sending off of Salihi on 23 minutes for a second bookable offence for a needless handball.

Despite being a man up, Sporting actually eased up in attack and a long spell of possession ensued, but with few chances on goal. In fact, it wasn’t until the 37th minute that the team from Alvalade finally bagged a deserved opener, when Montero was impeded in the area by Jashanica and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Aquilani to slot away and give his side a more than fair lead. Two minutes later, Montero was again fouled in the area, this time by Vangjeli, and it was the Colombian himself who took the honours this time to make it 2-0.

Half-time did little to take the sting out of the Sporting attack and on 48 minutes the hosts could have went three up, but Shehi pulled off a double stop against Montero and the follow up from Matheus. Snowed under wave after wave of attacking football, Fatigue began to set in for the struggling Skënderbeu and Matheus Pereira obliged with a first European goal of his career with a header in the 64th minute that Shehi was helpless to stop.

Three-nil up, Sporting sensed a heavy scoreline and began to turn the screw in attack. Tobias Figueiredo made it four with a header following a free-kick guided in by Montero, before Jesus introduced Slimani, Gelson Martins and William Carvalho into the action for André Martins, Mané and Aquilani. To round off what was already a memorable night for the young forward, Matheus scored his second brace in a week with a shot across goal to grab Sporting’s 5th.

The Albanians did manage a late consolation goal through Jashanica, fairly applauded by the 20 thousand Sporting fans who had turned out for what was a completely one-sided showing.

Jorge Jesus with the press ahead of hosting of Skënderbeu

Meeting with the press ahead of Thursday’s Europa League hosting of Skënderbeu, Jesus guaranteed that his side is focused purely on the task at hand, before revealing that Matheus Pereira will feature in the starting line-up.

“This is our third match in this competition and we only have one objective: to win so that we can carry on fighting for a place in the next round. It will be a hard game against against a team that is theoretically weaker than the other teams in the group, but I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. I know that I will put out a team out that is strong enough to come away with the win and the fact that their coach has pointed out the quality of our strikers shows that he knows us well. We really do have some quality strikers and I am a lucky coach to be honest, because the way I see it we won’t lose any quality, no matter who plays”, opened the Alvalade boss adding: “We have nothing to hide. Matheus Pereira will be in the starting team and I can’t really say anything else about the rest, because we will still have another training session tomorrow. What I will say is that almost all of the players are fully recovered now, with the exception of Bryan Ruiz, who is the only player who isn’t in full training right now.

Questions about Sunday’s derby were inevitable, but Jorge Jesus played it cool, affirming that he is squarely focused on the task at hand: “All I am thinking about is the match tomorrow. I will put two teams out, one for each game, and both will be capable of winning. Relative to Sunday, all I want to say is that I am happy to see Salvio back. I hope he has recovered well, because he is a great player, professional and friend.”

With Sporting expected to put the Albanian visitors under pressure come kick off tomorrow, Jorge Jesus already has his plan thought out: “We are sure that we will face a well organised team. I don’t know exactly how good they are, but I know they will cause us problems and we are ready for that. When there is one team that falls back in defence it reduces the space a bit and you have to be patient. Tomorrow we will look to show the class needed to tackle the difficulties we will face. It will be us attacking and we will have to find a way to score.”

Matheus Pereira focuses attention on the Europa League ahead of Sunday's derby

Sporting forward Matheus Pereira was the player chosen to speak in this week’s Europa League pre-match press conference, ahead of Thursday’s hosting of Skënderbeu.

“We always take each game as it comes and our only priority is the match against Skënderbeu and winning the three points. We will start thinking about the derby against Benfica on Friday. I am not thinking about if I can earn a place against Benfica tomorrow, I just want to help the team, keep developing and to win the game”, opened the Alvalade youngster.

In parallel, Matheus also spoke about the last couple of weeks with the senior squad, stressing that he continues with his feet firmly planted on the ground: “I have enjoyed it and I feel like I can carry on contributing to what the coach wants, with the help of my teammates. The lads who have gone into the senior team came from the youth system and through the B team, which is a good thing, but the intensity is different and there are some world class players in the squad. Naldo, Jefferson, Bruno Paulista and Ewerton have really helped me, which is normal because we are all Brazilian and it is easier for us to communicate, but the whole squad has been great with me.”

“When I scored my first goal I was really happy and I honestly couldn’t believe it. I want to carry on now”, finished the striker, reflecting on his brace in the Portuguese Cup at the weekend.
Sporting-Skënderbeu will kick off at 18h00 on Thursday, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Carlos Xistra for I Liga matchday 8

Carlos Xistra, 41, from the Castelo Branco Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting’s visit to Estádio da Luz, on I Liga matchday eight.

Nuno Pereira and José Braga will act as linesmen.

This will be Carlos Xistra’s second derby, after the 2010/11 encounter in Estádio da Luz Luz. This season Xistra has already officiated a match involving Sporting, in the visit to Aveiro to face Tondela.

Benfica-Sporting will kick-off at 17h00 on Sunday the 25th of October, in Estádio da Luz.

João de Deus unhappy with his side's loss to Atlético

João de Deus was evidently displeased with his side’s loss to Atlético this Sunday, on an afternoon completely dominated by Sporting B.

"We shouldn’t have lost this game, but I congratulate Atlético. We slipped up a lot with our finishing. We created more than enough chances to win comfortably and now we have to look at where we went wrong”, said the Sporting B coach at the final whistle.

Sporting B miss out to solo strike against Atlético

Sporting B missed out to Atlético this Sunday, on II Liga matchday 11.

After an early attacking spell from the afternoon’s visitors, Sporting B wrestled into the encounter and Gauld from range and Labyad had half chances to open the scoring. However, the most flagrant chance of the afternoon for the team form Alvalade fell to Viola just after 15 minutes, when Mickäel Meira denied the striker from the penalty spot.

Atlético capitalised on the let off, with Jorge Ribeiro finding the back of the net in the 24th minute. Both Labyad and Salomão could have drawn the game level at the break, but Meira proved to be in inspiring form to keep his side ahead.

Podence had the ball in the back of the net after the break, but his effort was ruled out before Viola, Labyad, Gauld and Sacko all saw the Atlético keeper pull off a string of unlikely saves.

The result puts Sporting B in fourth place in II Liga, with 18 points.

In light of curiosity on the part of a number of journalists, SCP would like to clarify that it was agreed at the beginning of the season that the first team coach is free to use either an official tracksuit or suit in both the Portuguese Cup and League Cup.

Sporting book fourth round place with win against Vilafranquense

Sporting moved comfortably into the Portuguese Cup fourth round this Saturday, with a 4-0 win over lower league minnows Vilafranquense in Estádio António Coimbra da Mota, courtesy of goals from Matheus Pereira (2), Bruno Paulista and Gelson Martins.

Sporting, in what was Bruno Paulista’s first official senior start and a return from a lengthy injury spell for Ewerton, burst out of the blocks for the opening whistle and could have had the ball in the back of the net after just four minutes, when Matheus Pereira was put through on goal by Montero, only to put his effort wide. Aquilani was next, but the shot ended up just off target.

Dominating in the final third, it was only a matter of time before Sporting opened the scoring. Matheus Pereira obliged on 12 minutes, when William Carvalho put in a wire-guided pass into the area which the youngster rounded off with a left footed strike. Vilafranquense could do little but bunker down under the attacking storm, before Matheus Pereira hit his second in three minutes after a brilliant pass from Jonathan Silva.

Although the early blitz essentially finished the game off, Sporting continued to press. Aquilani came close to his first Sporting goal in 19 minutes, but his guided shot was unable to catch the goalkeeper off balance and another effort two minutes later lacked any real sting. Vilafranquense did eventually have a foray forward close to the half-hour mark with a dangerous cross from Lucas Linhares, but Marcelo Boeck comfortably rose to gather. Aquilani again tried his luck on 29 minutes, this time with a header, but it just wasn’t the Italian’s day in front of goal as the ball ended up inches wide.

Carlos Mané tried a cheeky chip from the half-way line just before the break, but the Vilafranquense keeper managed to scramble back and tip over for a corner, before Bruno Paulista scored from a header after a cross from Aquilani to mark his first official start with a goal and take Sporting in 3-0 up at half-time.

The second-half saw Tanaka tally up his first outing of the season (on for William Carvalho) and Aquilani again trying to open his account and again off target. The game continued with one-way football from Sporting and Montero was next to fire towards goal with a shot smothered by Nélson Pinhão, before Gelson Martins burst into the area to latch on to a pass from Tanaka, only to be denied by the Vilafranquense keeper.

Wave after wave of Sporting attacks followed, with Montero and Gelson Martins both coming close, before Vilafranquense had their first real opportunity of the evening after a slip up by Jonathan Silva that saw Bernardo Carlos break into the box, but Marcelo Boeck was on hand to stomp out what was effectively the lower league’s side clearest chance of the encounter. There was little Vilafranquense could do but struggle on, while their goalkeeper continued his fantastic showing, denying Montero on 66 minutes and Ewerton on 70 minutes.

Montero blazed high after being picked out by João Pereira, before José Lúcio fired an effort towards Marcelo Boeck from range, with the shot eventually ending up wide. Gelson Martins rounded off the final score later on from inside the area, but the damage had effectively been done in the first-half and Sporting comfortably move on to the fourth round.