Jorge Jesus alerts to the dangers of a powerful Boavista side

Jorge Jesus is fully focused on the weekend's hosting of Boavista, but alerted to the dangers posed by the visitors from the north who took Sporting CP to the wire in the reverse fixture.

"Boavista are one of the historic names in Portuguese football. They have won the league and they have a nice history, but on Saturday all that matters is on the pitch. They are a quality side who are well drilled collectively against the bigger sides", opened Jesus, highlighting the importance of creativity if his side are to carry on their run of seven unbeaten matches: "I want the players to keep calm and to focus for a match that will be hard fought. Boavista are a strong side from free-kicks and corners and they can give a good match to Portugal's best sides. We are ready, but we will have to be creative."

Jesus finished with a word on Iuri Medeiros, who is currently on loan with Boavista: "Iuri has grown and is a regular starter, which shows that Boavista are good collectively."

Beto sits down for an interview Sporting TV

After spending 11 years in the Sporting CP young system, Beto Pimparel returned to his spiritual home this season. Speaking in a lengthy interview with Sporting TV this week, the Alvalade keeper reflected on the opportunity to make the move back to Lisbon.

"When I heard that Sporting CP were interested, I asked my agent where I had to sign. Then when I called my son he cried and said 'dad, you are going to play for our club'. That really was a special feeling", said Beto, adding: "Unfortunately after 11 years I didn't get into the senior team, but this is really important to me because I promised a person I really love that I would play here."

Currently 34 years old, Beto isn't about to take off his gloves just yet: "Why not finish my career here? I haven't put a limit on anything. I could play for four or even seven more years. The people who work with me know I am a professional and I love training and playing. I always try to do my best. I feel great and well motivated."

Speaking about the years he spent in abroad, Beto proved happy to be back on Portuguese soil: "When you are far away from home you miss your family. Technology helps, but it is nothing like giving a hug on the days when you don't feel so good. It was hard, but I knew what I was doing when I went. I tried to explain to the kids why I had to go, but it was hard. Seeing my son look at the map between Porto and Cluj in Romania was hard, but today he understands that it was to make a better life for us."

Coates looks ahead to the weekend's Liga NOS hosting of Boavista

Sporting CP will host Boavista at 20h30 this Saturday, at a time when Jorge Jesus' side are really in their stride. One of the star performers this season, Coates is looking forward to another three points this weekend.

“We don't have a lot of matches to go now and we will take them as they come. The last seven matches have been good for us. We haven't always played how we would have liked, but we have won and that is what matters", said the big defender in an interview this Friday, adding a word on the weekend's action: "It will be a hard game and we will gave to do what we have been doing in the last seven games, which is to look to control the game."

The Uruguayan completed his 50th match in a green and white shirt recently and he is certainly enjoying his time in the Portuguese capital, affirming: "I am honoured to have played 50 matches for Sporting CP and hopefully I will play a lot more. I said the day I arrived that this is a club with a lot of history. It is a massive club in Portugal and it is a big responsibility to play here."

In 53 attempts Boavista have only claimed the win once in league encounters in Alvalade

It may sound strange, but it was actually way back in 1976 that Boavista last got the better of Sporting CP in Alvalade, when a goal from Salvador secured a 1-0 win. This year Miguel Leal's team will be looking to break the curse, but Jorge Jesus' side are in a rich spell of form and that certainly won't be an easy task.

Looking at Boavista's strengths, efficiency from dead ball situations stands out. A total of 17 goals have come from such situations, four of which we penalties. Miguel Leal's side are also powerful when it comes to the aerial game, winning a total of 17.9 disputed balls per game. Understandably then route-one football is Boavista's preferred strategy, relying on Philipe Sampaio (1.91m), Lucas (1.94m), Idris (1.89m) and Iván Bulos (1.88m) to rule the skies.

It was last in 2003 that Boavista claimed points in Alvalade, after a 1-1 draw. However with Sporting CP winning every encounter since, the odds are in the host's favour.

At 32 years od age, the experienced midfielder is a regular feature for Boavista. Standing at 1.89m, he is a powerful figure who is aggressive in disputing possession.

The 51 year old joined Boavista after two good seasons with Moreirense. Although not having the best of campaigns, Boavista are currently sitting in a comfortable 10th.

Sporting CP forward beats Soares and Brahimi to award

Six goals in just three matches, in addition to technical quality that has him up there with the world's best. Bas Dost rightly claimed the Liga NOS Player of the Month Award for March this week, attributed by the Portuguese Professional Football Association.

The Dutch striker, who has bagged 24 goals so far this season, claimed a total of 19.06% of votes cast.

Alvalade boss celebrates his 500th match in the top division

Jorge Jesus reached the fitting milestone of 500 matches at the top level of Portuguese football recently and the National Association of Football Coaches made the most of the occasion. Meanwhile the Alvalade coach took the opportunity to talk about the success of his profession.

Jorge Jesus reflects on another three points from what is traditionally a tough away fixture

Speaking with the press at the final whistle on Sunday, Jorge Jesus did not shy away from the difficulties felt by his side against a determined Arouca. "It is always difficult to win here", opened the Alvalade boss, continuing: "I have to point on three things: Firstly the win, second the fact that we are now seven games without losing and third that it is always hard to beat Arouca here. We were a bit slow in defence at the beginning, but the goal woke us up. We played some good football today, but another goal would have settled us a bit more. We had to hold on to possession because of that, but of course I am happy with the result."

Sporting CP score twice in two minutes to secure 10th straight win against Arouca

Sporting CP tallied a 10th straight win against Arouca this weekend, courtesy of goals from Alan Ruiz and Bruno César.

Jorge Jesus set his side out with its usual tactical shape, making just one change to the starting line-up with the introduction of Bruno César for Matheus Pereira. The encounter got off to a well disputed start, but with Sporting CP looking to take the initiative with Bryan Ruiz adding creativity to midfield along side William Carvalho. The first chance of the afternoon fell to Gelson after the skillful winger was picked out by Coates, but he was pushed off the ball in the 18-yard box for what could well have been given as a penalty.

Arouca responded in the ninth minute and actually struck from what was their first opportunity. Some determined play down the left finished with a cross from Vítor that Mateus headed into an empty net.

Unshaken by the goal, Sporting CP pushed forward and began building opportunities. First it was Bas Dost in the 27th minute with a header straight at Bolat, before Gelson fired a rocket of a shot that the Arouca keeper did well to turn away for a corner. On 32 minutes Bryan Ruiz picked out Bas Dost with a wire-guided pass, but once again Bolat was on hand to keep his team head.

Jesus' side continued to turn the screw and finally equalised in the 34th minute, when Alan Ruiz did well to control and drift into the box, before blasting a low shot into the bottom corner. Sporting CP could smell blood and just two minutes later the comeback was completed, when Bruno César blasted in from the edge of the box.

Arouca looked better after the break, relying mostly on the hard graft of Walter González in his efforts to get the better of Coates and Rúben Semedo. It was through the Paraguayan that Arouca came close to equalising, as he broke away at the half-way line and pulled a stop out of Rui Patrício on the hour-mark. Down the other end Sporting CP continued to look for space, but the final pass was lacking and some good build up play was left wanting on several occasions.

As the clock ticked down both coaches made their respective changes, with Jorge Leitão introducing the pace of Kuca and flare of Nuno Valente, while Jorge Jesus turned to João Palhinha to hold down the midfield.

With the exception of the break from González 15 minutes after the restart the second-half largely lacked clear chances. Gelson could have killed off the result late on, but Bolat was quick off his line to limit the damage to two.

Bruno César praises his side's control against a determined Arouca

"We let in an early goal, but we did well to come back. The heat didn't help, but in the second-half we controlled possession well and got the three points", said Bruno César at the final whistle on Sunday, after netting Sporting CP's second.

Questioned about the distance between Sporting CP and SL Benfica (8 points) and FC Porto (7 points), Bruno César proved relaxed: "Our objective was to win against Arouca, who are always hard to play against away, even though they are having a hard season. We are taking each game as it comes."

Luís Martins praises his players maturity in Sunday's dismantling of Olhanense

"We were lucky to have so many chances really early on. Sporting CP B were the better side. The lads showed respect for their opponent, which just goes to show that they aren't as young as some people say they are", said Luís Martins at the final whistle on Sunday.

Analysing his side's recent run of form, the Sporting CP B coach added: "It is a sixth straight win, but it is only worth three points. We know what our vulnerabilities are and most important right now is to make sure we stay in this division. However, this team has the quality to break into the top 10."