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.

Benfica-Sporting tickets snapped up

Sporting Clube de Portugal informs that the tickets available at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices for the derby have now solid out.

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

‘Leões’ com melhor arranque de sempre dos últimos 20 anos

With seven games so far played this season, Sporting is flying high at the top of the I Liga table. Curiously, the team from Alvalade had also tallied 17 point at this stage of the season in the 2013/14 campaign (tem going on to lose against FC Porto 3-1). It is also not the first time that Sporting tops the table after seven games, having shared leadership with FC Porto and Benfica at this stage in 2006/07. However, it is the first time that Sporting sits in 1st with 17 points, courtesy of last weekend’s 5-1 win over Guimarães.

Speaking in an extensive interview, Sporting’s director of football, Octávio Machado, proved to be more than happy with his side’s start to the season.

“You could see right from the start of the season, with us bringing in Jorge Jesus and with the support we had in the Supercup, that we are putting different strategies in place. This season started with some rules that were approved by a majority of clubs, but which the Portuguese Football Association didn’t put into practice and that has contributed to some things which have happened to us.”

Octávio Machado went on to comment on a series incidents and matches which have gone against Sporting already this season. “When we played against Tondela and when we were comfortably ahead, Tondela scored after a foul which should have been given the other way around, an off-side position and a handball in the same play! I also recall the foul by Luisão against an Estoril player which should have been a sending off and a penalty. After that we had João Pereira sent off when he had his hands behind his back, which resulted in a penalty and a sending off. In that same match there was a clear penalty committed on Slimani, but it wasn’t given. Then on matchday three, we played Académica and a penalty was given against us and one wasn’t given for a foul on Slimani. Against Rio Ave we conceded when the player was off-side, on matchday six, Boavista-Sporting, another penalty. I think the best thing to do is for us to reflect.”

Portuguese Cup to be played in Estádio António Coimbra da Mota

The Portuguese Cup third round tie between Vilafranquense and Sporting will be played in Estoril's António Coimbra da Mota, kicking off at 17h30 on Saturday the 17th of October.

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on Sunday's win

Jorge Jesus was evidently happy with his side’s dominating performance against V. Guimarães this Sunday evening.

“It was a good game. João Mário played really well on the right and he has played there a few times with the under-21 team. We were really strong down the right in the first-half and we created chances that unbalanced Guimarães. Everything becomes that much easier when you score, but it was a shame that we conceded. We let our focus when we scored the fifth and we can’t do that. I also want to congratulate the fans. We need them, like any good team does. This win is for the fans and for the president”, opened the Alvalade coach, speaking with radio journalists at the final whistle, before speaking about the absence of Bruno de Carvalho from his habitual place on the bench.

“I wasn’t strange, because he was there mentally. We spoke before the game and he spent the morning with the team. The team is really together right now and it is really important that the fans believe in us”, said Jorge Jesus, before revealing some of his tactical thinking: “João Mário has other characteristics compared to Gelson and Mané and that can give more space to Esgaio.”

“A few players have to go on international duty now. It would be better for us to play against Benfica now, but that is how the fixtures are. What matters now is that Ewerton and  Bruno Paulista recover. We are really happy with our start to the season, we won the Supercup and we are at the top of the league.”

William speaks with the press after 5-1 win over V. Guimarães

William rubber stabbed what has been a brilliant return from injury with another dominating performance this weekend, masterminding a 5-1 win over V. Guimarães.

“The team achieved an important objective, which was to win and to play well. Now we will carry on working hard to do the same in our next game”, said the Alvalade midfielder speaking with the press, before responding to a question about the coming Lisbon derby: “We still aren’t thinking about it, because we still have a Portuguese Cup game to come first and we will be focused on that.”

In parallel, William reinforced the idea that problems off the pitch will do little to damage his side’s performance: “We have been working hard, despite what is going on. I also want to thank the fans for their support.”

Sporting breeze past V. Guimarães on I Liga matchday 7

Sporting put in the best performance of the season so far with a 5-1 thrashing of V. Guimarães this Sunday night. Slimani was the encounter’s main instigator, netting a hattrick in what was a brilliant showing all round.

With five changes relative to the side that took on Besiktas mid-week (Esgaio, Jefferson, Adrien, João Mário and Slimani), Sporting dominated right from the off, with William in particular bossing play with a midfield masterclass. Long spells of possession went largely uncontested, as Jorge Jesus’ side smartly went about exploiting the space out wide. In was only a matter of time before the ball was in the back of the net and it was Slimani who obliged, heading in a cross from João Mário.

After quarter of an hour Slimani pulled a fine save out of Douglas, before Teo Gutiérrez headed an effort against the cross bar two minutes later following a Jefferson corner. A second was only a matter of time and it was the Colombian who struck in the 24^th minute, picking up a loose pass from Montoya and rounding the keeper to slot into an empty net.

Despite having netted twice early on, Sporting continued to pressure and push forward. Bryan Ruiz was next to try his luck, tricking his way past two before being denied by Douglas in what was the Costa Rican’s last showing of the night as he was forced off by injury in place of Gelson Martins). Five minutes later, Teo had another chance, after some superb link up play between João Mário and Gelson.

The second-half actually started off with Sporting looking more cautious in attack, but a harsh tackle from Saré on 55 minutes saw Guimarães reduced to 10 men and signalled the start of wave after wave of Sporting attacks. Slimani made it three in the 58th minute following a pinpoint cross from Jefferson, before Adrien scored with a kind deflection following a free-kick on the edge of the area.

A series of set pieces followed for the visitors, while Sporting continued to throw numbers forward. After a decent chance for Gelson in the 78^th minute, only cut out by a past ditch tackle from Josué, Slimani rounded off his hattrick with a simple finish after a driven cross by Jefferson. Sérgio Conceição’s side did grab a consolation in the 82nd minute, but it did little to overshadow what was a brilliant showing from the team from Alvalade.

The result keeps Sporting in 1st with FC Porto on 17 points, three ahead of Rio Ave and four ahead of Sp. Braga.

Sporting-V. Guimarães, 5-1

I Liga matchday 7

Estádio José Alvalade, 31.295 spectators

Referee: Rui Costa (AF Porto), substituted in the 52nd minute for Hélder Malheiro

Sporting: Rui Patrício; Ricardo Esgaio, Tobias Figueiredo, Naldo, Jefferson; William, Adrien (captain, Aquilani, 61’); João Mário, Bryan Ruiz (Gelson Martins, 35’), Teo Gutiérrez (Montero, 66’) and Slimani

Coach: Jorge Jesus

V. Guimarães: Douglas (captain); Bruno Gaspar, Josué, João Afonso, Dalbert; Saré, Cafu, Tozé (João Pedro, 62’); Montoya (Licá, 35), Ricardo Valente and Tomané (Ricardo Gomes, 62’)

Coach: Sérgio Conceição

Goals: Slimani (12’, 58’ and 78’), Teo Gutiérrez (24’) and Adrien (60’); Josué (82’)

Cards: Yellow, Adrien (20’), Montoya (32’), Bruno Gaspar (59’), Gelson Martins (67’), Dalbert (75’) and Licá (90+2’). Red, Saré (55’)

Sporting B coach on his side's draw in Famalicão

João de Deus highlighted his side’s ease in creating chances against Familicão this weekend, despite the points being split at the final whistle.

“We took on a quality side. We took advantage of their mistakes and we naturally created chances”, said the Sporting B coach about the first-half, adding: “After that we had to defend a lot, because there wasn’t much we could do with so many fouls, free-kicks and cards. We felt like we could have done more, especially in the second-half.”

Diogo Salomão also spoke with Sporting TV at the final whistle: “We knew that they are a good side who can create chances on the break, but we played well. We took the lead and ended up conceding a goal through a mistake, but we showed a good attitude.”

Sporting B held to draw on II Liga matchday ten

Sporting B were held to a draw in Famalicão this Saturday, on II Liga matchday ten.

In a well disputed first-half but with very few chances on goal, Sporting took the ahead 7 minutes before the break, courtesy of Ryan Gauld.

The hosts pushed forward after the break and began to create problems for João de Deus. The equaliser came on 67 minutes, when Silvério popped up at the far post to covert on a corner.

The result leaves Sporting B in third with 18 points.