Lisbon reserve derby ends in a draw

Sporting CP B were held to a draw by SL Benfica B this Friday, after the team from Alvalade led twice.

The encounter got off to a well-disputed opening, with two similar set ups largely cancelling each other out. The first clear chance of the afternoon was made to wait until the 9th minute, when Leonardo Ruiz headed just wide of the post from inside the six-yard box. Gelson Dala did the same following a move down the right wing, before the Benfica defence just about managed to scramble away a lethal looking cross from Pedro Delgado in the 17th minute.

Three minutes alter Ruix and Delgado linked up to pick out Gelson Dala and the Angolan forward wasted little time in doing what he does best with his 12th goal in 16 Ledman LigaPro outings.

Some superb movement from Ruiz and Dala at the attacking end of the pitch kept Benfica chasing shadows and on 31 minutes Ruiz came close to making it 2-0 after some good play between Delgado and Bubacar Djaló.

Bilel found a yard of space and scuffed his attempt across goal, before João Félix responded down the other end with a chip that Silva did well to divert away. Sporting CP B looked to have secured the lead at the break, however a late strike from José Gomes levelled just before the referee called the players into the dressing room for half-time.

Sporting CP again took control at the restart, against a Benfica side that looked happy to make the most of the odd counter-attack. Escobar fired a free-kick over the bar, after Dala could have done better to score his second after an attack triggered by André Geraldes down the flank. Benfica threatened twice through Heriberto, but it was Sporting CP B who struck, with Escobar scooped up some sloppy possession to set up Leonardo Ruiz.

Benfica responded with an injection of pace and Empis did well to deny the visitors from an equaliser in the 74th minute. However, sixty seconds later José Gomes found the back of the net to restore the deadlock.

With two matches to play in Ledman LigaPro, Sporting CP B currently sits in 13th overall with 54 points.

José Quintela travels for Marco Ficini's funeral

Sporting CP board member José Quintela was at the funeral of Marco Ficini this week, the Sporting CP and Fiorentina fan who tragically lost his life in Lisbon recently.

The Alvalade director left a special message for Marco Ficini's family: "It is a sad moment and we wish it hadn't happened. Sporting CP and me personally really wanted to be at the funeral. Our president met with Marco's family in Portugal and now we are here to accompany the family and show our support at this difficult time", said Quintela speaking with Sporting TV.

Bruno de Carvalho reflects on the introduction of the video-referee

The Portuguese Football Federation and and Portuguese Football League have officially announced that the video assistant referee will be used in national championship matches in 2017/2018.

For president Bruno de Carvalho, the decision is a welcome one following the club's proposal over recent seasons: "Today will go down in history. People are listening to those who have been defending the idea of the video assistant referee for a long time now. We are don't expect this to fix everything, but it will avoid some of the biggers errors, which Sporting CP has consistently been on the receiving end of. Football is changing."

Visiting the Santa Maria Sporting Supporters' Club in the Azores, the Alvalade leader was understandably happy with the announcement: "History is proving us right. Funds are banned and their is a real revolution going on in UEFA and FIFA, with new technology helping to give credibility. Everything that certain people were saying has proven not to be true. Clubs haven't gone bankrupt without funds and the video assistant referee isn't just the idea of a populist. My vision for Sporting CP and football in general was right."

Jorge Jesus' charges look to keep up 100% winning streak

It's official: Sunday's Liga NOS matchday 32 hosting of Clube Futebol Os Belenenses is a complete sell out.

This match is dedicated to the club's female fans (10th time) and Sporting Clube de Portugal have won every single match on these occasions:

2006/2007 | Sporting CP vs Estrela da Amadora | 3-1
2007/2008 | Sporting CP vs Marítimo | 2-1
2008/2009 | Sporting CP vs Paços de Ferreira | 2-0
2009/2010 | Sporting CP vs Vitória de Guimarães | 3-1
2010/2011 | Sporting CP vs Portimonense | 2-1
2011/2012 | Sporting CP vs Vitória de Guimarães | 5-0
2012/2013 | Sporting CP vs Olhanense | 1-0
2013/2014 | Sporting CP vs Vitória de Guimarães | 1-0
2014/2015 | Sporting CP vs Nacional | 2-0
2015/2016 | Sporting CP vs União da Madeira | 2-0

. Gates open at 10h15 (an hour and a half before kick-off)
. We recommend entering the stadium as early as possible, in order to avoid excessive waiting times
. Public transport should be used to reach the stadium
. Children under the age of 3 are prohibited 
. All fans must have a valid ticket
. Member fee applicable: April 2017

This season's Liga NOS fixtures have been attended by an average of 43,253 spectators, smashing every record since 2003.

Alvalade boss thanks the fans for their support

I am writing to thank the hundreds of people from every club and all parts of society who over the last few days have sent me words of comfort following the death of my father.

I cannot remain indifferent to such displays of affection, which although cannot take away the pain being felt by me and my family, have encourages and help me through a difficult time.

Over recent decades, sport in general and football in particular, has shown that something really important exists beyond our health rivalries: solidarity and respect for one another.

For that I am deeply grateful to all of the directors, coaches, athletes, referees and citizens who have given tributes to my father.

Thank you everyone,

Jorge Jesus           

Alan Ruiz and João Palhinha

Sporting Clube de Portugal's medical department has released the following clinical information:

Alan Ruiz
Injury to ligaments in left knee
Expected recover time: 6 to 8 weeks

João Palhinha
Myalgia in right adductor muscles
Specific training

Jorge Jesus sees Sunday's win in Braga as more than deserved and looks to Bas Dost as inspiration for the rest of the squad

Jorge Jesus spoke with the press after his side's 3-2 win in Braga this Sunday afternoon and the Alvalade boss was sure to thank the players and fans for the tribute to his father, who passed away last week.

"My players always want to give me wins and it would have been a huge injustice if we didn't get the three points today. We were really good in the first-half, we missed a penalty and Sp. Braga scored from the only chance they had. This team is growing with every game and we just need a bit more defensively. At half-time I told the lads that goals will come, but that we had to defend better out wide", said Jesus, adding a word on the unstoppable form of Bas Dost: "Bas has the mentality of champion, the image of what I want the future of Sporting CP to be. If he can win the Golden Boot, well Messi is having a really good end to the season."

Bas Dost hattrick sinks Sp. Braga

An injury, a missed penalty and five goals made for an emotional afternoon in Braga this Sunday, with Sporting CP coming away with the three points on Liga NOS matchday 31 courtesy of a hattrick from none other than Bas Dost.

Jorge Jesus' side were dealt an early below with an injury picked up by Alan Ruiz in the 25th minute, which saw the striker carried away to the dressing rooms obviously suffering with his right knee. Not to worry though, as Bas Dost was of course on hand to compensate. With another hattrick added to his personal tally, Dost has now netted on 31 occasions in 28 Liga NOS appearances, totalling 50% of all of Sporting CP 's goals scored in league matches so far this season. The three strikes also keeps up the pressure on Lionel Messi in the race for this season's Golden Boot.

Despite the Dutchman's masterclass, it was a hard afternoon's work for the team from the Portuguese capital, who battled through to secure three points in tribute to Jorge Jesus after the Alvalade boss lost his father during the week. On 13 minutes Ricardo Horta opened the scoring after capitalising on a shot from Rui Fonte that fell into his path after hitting the woodwork. Trailing, Sporting CP rallied on the attack, but possession was proving difficult to translate into chances.

With Podence thrust into the action in place of the injured Ruiz, Sporting CP's first chance to equaliser soon materialised. The number 56 was brought crashing down for a penalty and Adrien Silva stepped up for the spot kick, which he uncharacteristically put wide. Despite a good string of chances, led mostly through the restless Gelson Martins, Sp. Braga held on to their slender lead until the break. However, the second-half was a completely different story, with the starting gun fired from the penalty spot by Bas Dost as Marcelo Goiano fouled Gelson Martins in the area.

Jorge Jesus' charges needed just another 15 minutes to go 2-1 up, when Bas Dost did the business after a pass from Zeegelaar. Braga responded four minutes later when Rui Fonte made the most of a defensive mix-up, but Sporting's Dutch assassin wasn't about to be out done and Dost rounded off his hattrick with a header from a cross whipped in by Schelotto.

Luís Martins happy with his side's performance, despite missing out to FC Porto B

Luís Martins took a moment to speak with the press after Sunday's loss to FC Porto B, reflecting on what he sees as a final result influenced by some dubious refereeing.

"It was a well-disputed match between two good teams, with a third team that I didn't think were in their best form. We could have done better, considering the chances we had. We didn't do very well in defence and we don't usually let in so many goals, even when we are down to 10 men. The sending off was the key moment for FC Porto B, but I give them credit for the result and applaud my players for keeping their cool when things started going against us", said Martins.

Also speaking at the final whistle was the Sporting CP B striker Leonardo Ruiz, who actually used to play for FC Porto B: "It was a hard game, the kind that every player loves to be involved in. We aren't happy with the result, but we are happy because we did out best. I was very welcome at FC Porto, but of course we are rivals on the pitch now."

Sporting CP B miss out after Dala strikes twice and Barbosa sees straight red

Sporting CP B slipped to a battling defeat in the Dr. Jorge Sampaio Municipal Stadium this weekend against FC Porto B (3-2). Gelson Dala struck twice for the team from Alvalade, on an afternoon which saw Rafael Barbosa sent off.

The match got off to a tough start for Luís Martins' team, when FC Porto B took the lead after one minute when Galeno opened up play for Kayembe to finish. With an early goal the hosts continued in the early stages, before Sporting CP B found their footing after ten minutes on the ropes. Gauld, Gelson Dala and Rafael Barbosa all tried their luck, but the first real opportunity came though Matheus Pereira, denied by Raul Gudiño in the FC Porto B goal. With Sporting CP B in control, Gelson Dala netted the equaliser on 24 minutes, with a superb bit of dribbling around the keeper and a simple finish.

The deadlock didn't last, as FC Porto B struck just three minutes later when Rui Moreira unleashed a brilliant shot past Pedro Silva. Both sides continued to push the pace in a tantalising game to watch and the drama was taken up another notch when Sporting CP levelled four minutes after the half-hour mark with Dala's second of the afternoon.

Both teams came out swinging in the second-half and piled forward, before a straight red card for Rafael Barbosa in the 67th minute gave FC Porto B the edge. The hosts secured the result though André Pereira, after another darting run by Galeno down the flank.