Gelson Dala happy with his return to action and four goals against Olhanense

Back from a two-week spell on the sidelines through injury, Gelson Dala ran riot this Sunday against Olhanense, netting four goals in a 5-1 win.

Dala bags four as Sporting CP B secure sixth consecutive win

"There is nothing better than coming back from injury and scoring four goals", was how Gelson Dala summarised his performance against Olhanense at the final whistle this Sunday, as Sporting CP B netted five to tally a sixth successive win.

Squad list for Liga NOS matchday 27

Coach Jorge Jesus has announced his squad list for Sunday's 18h00 visit to Arouca.

Goalkeepers

Rui Patrício

Beto Pimparel

Defenders

Ezequiel Schelotto

Sebastián Coates

Rúben Semedo

Paulo Oliveira

Marvin Zeegelaar

Ricardo Esgaio

Midfielders

William Carvalho

João Palhinha

Bruno César

Bryan Ruiz

Matheus Pereira

Gelson Martins

Ryan Gauld

Forwards

Alan Ruiz

Bas Dost

Luc Castaignos

Daniel Podence

Luís Martins looking to extend unbeaten Ledman LigaPro run

Looking ahead to do Ledman LigaPro matchday 34, which will see Sporting CP B host Olhanense, coach Luís Martins warned his players to alert, despite their recent rich run of form.

"There are no easy matches and this is a really specific context. We are coming out of a tough situation and we want to keep this positive run going. We know it will be difficult and we can relate with Olhanense in relation to the fight against relegation. Of course we want the points, especially playing at home. We want to show that the international break has helped us a bit. We haven't won anything yet, but the lads are focused on getting the three points", said Luís Martins.

Jorge Jesus reaffirms his confidence in his youngsters against an unpredictable Arouca side

Speaking in his pre-match press conference this Saturday afternoon, coach Jorge Jesus guaranteed the continuation of his policy of giving time on the pitch to his young players, going on to explain the process behind the adaptation of Alvalade's latest generation of superstars: "I see the development of Matheus Pereira as the same as I am doing with Daniel Podence, Gelson Martins, Rúben Semedo, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha and Francisco Geraldes. It is a strategy that we have built up based on the quality of the young players Sporting CP produces. If a team has quality young players then it has to be highlighted, which is what we are doing with Matheus. He played a few times last year, but we need to carefully control his development."

Arouca are the next Liga NOS challenge to Sporting CP's unbeaten run of six games, while the weekend's hosts have gone six without a win, resulting in the replacement of Manuel Machado for Jorge Leitão. "Arouca are looking to stay in the league and we have gone a few games without winning. We want to carry on putting the pressure on our rivals. All I can really do is look at Arouca individually, because technically I don't know as they are on their third coach this season. I don't know what will happen, but Arouca are a quality side. We will have to keep the pressure up", said Jesus, also touching on the return of players from international duty: "The lads who arrive hack now are always a bit tired and we have a few in that situation. We had a look at the squad on Friday and did a bit of work. The most important thing is that no one picked up an injury."

Jorge Jesus finished with his opinion of the transfer market and this weekend's encounter between SL Benfica and FC Porto: "If we could be sure that certain players would leave at the end of the season, then of course that effects the structure of the team, like it did last year. Last season Sporting CP lost three players who scored 55 goals between them: Slimani, João Mário and Teo Gutierrez. Maybe nobody remembers that. Developing players and then maybe losing them is part of the game, but of course I don't like it. However that is the reality for Portuguese teams...Honestly the result between Benfica and Porto doesn't matter, but it won't benefit us anyway."

Arouca vs. Sporting CP

When Arouca came back from the summer break, the fans' expectations were understandably high after beating Heracles in the Europa League and nobody expected such a tough campaign domestically. However, Arouca will come into the weekend's hosting of Sporting CP on the back of six straight loses, with Manuel Machado unable to claim a single point and the former youth team coach Jorge Leitão being drafted in.

Just six matches ago things were looking stable in the league, with Arouca in 10th place. However, now currently in 13th a tricky hosting of Sporting CP is on the cards.

Arouca have particularly struggled against the Liga NOS top-6, so far losing to FC Porto (0-3 and 4-0), Benfica (1-2 and 3-0) and Sporting CP (3-0). Arouca did manage to get a point out of Sp. Braga and went a step further with a win against Marítimo. History is on Sporting CP's side going into this one, with the team from Alvalade having tallied nine wins in nine encounters between the two. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Arouca managed just a single shot on target, along with 31% of possession.

The young forward has plenty of potential and has so far netted on five occasions this season. Dangerous on the break with his movement, González has also set up four goals for his teammates.

It is difficult to assess how Jorge Leitão will deal with his new role with the senior team, particularly having taken over following a series of six loses. Not a lot of changes should be expected for the hosting of Sporting CP this weekend.

Sales underway on Tuesday the 28th of March for for the next two Liga NOS home encounters

SPORTING CP vs BOAVISTA FC
LIGA NOS: matchday 28
DATE: 8th of April (Saturday) at 20h30
PRICES: from €5 for Club Members or from €17 for fans
FAMILY TICKET: €21 for 3 people (minimum of 1 Club Member)

SPORTING CP vs SL BENFICA
LIGA NOS: matchday 30
DATE: 22nd of April (Saturday) at 20h30
PRICES: from €35 (exclusively for Club Members)

for the derby each Club Member can purchase two fan tickets. Tickets will not be sold to the general public. Special seats can be renewed until the 10th of April (inclusive), with the possibility of renewing your 20-year seat for for the match. After this date these seats will be put on sale at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices.

Club Member fees applicable for both matches: March 2017.

The Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices will be open as usual (from 10h to 20h), with tickets also on sale via the Sporting CP official website.

Portugal beats Hungary to keep up the pressure on Switzerland

The national football team continued in strong form in their World Cup 2018 qualification campaign this weekend, beating Hungary 3-0 in Estádio da Luz.

Rui Patrício and William Carvalho were in the starting line-up as usual and the Sporting CP keeper had a quiet night, making just a single stop in a dominating Portuguese showing.

Sporting CP's youth system of course dominated the squad, with six out of a total of 14 players featuring produced by the Sporting Academy: Cédric, José Fonte, João Mário, Ricardo Quaresma, João Moutinho, Rui Patrício and William Carvalho.

Bas Dost sits down the with Dutch press to reflect on his time at Alvalade

Bas Dost spoke with the Dutch press this week about his experience in the Portuguese capital so far, reflecting on everything to his brilliant form and Jorge Jesus' influence.

"I have never had a coach who knows so much about what I can and can't do. Jorge Jesus knows me inside out and he knows how to convince the lads to play in a way that will get the best of my characteristics. I get exactly the passes that I want. If Jesus didn't have such an important role at the club then I wouldn't be here, because Wolfsburg had already refused two offers. Then the Wolfsburg president said he had another offer, from a club with fantastic coach. I took the chance, but I am scoring the goals and that is down to the coach", said Dost.

Speaking with Dagblad van het Noorden, the Dutch striker drew a comparison between Burno de Carvalho and Wolfsburg's Francisco Javier Sanz: "The president is almost always in our training sessions here. All that is missing is him actually leading our sessions, because he is there for everything else. He is on the substitutes' bench and the fans re-elected him in record numbers. I never actually saw the Wolfsburg president, except at our Christmas party."

Wealth of Alvalade faces feature in under-21 Euro 2017 qualifier win

The national under-21 team beat Norway 3-1 in a Euro 2017 qualifier this week, with Alvalade's Rúben Semedo finding the back of the net with a 59th minute header.

Also in action were Sporting CP's Iuri Medeiros (on loan to Boavista), Daniel Podence and Carlos Mané (on loan to Stuttgart), while Domingos Duarte (on loan to Belenenses) and Tobias Figueiredo (on loan to Nacional) were introduced off the bench.