Sporting CP dominate in Challenge Cup first-leg

Zupo Equisoain

Sporting Clube de Portugal has reached an mutual agreement with coach Zupo Equisoain for the termination of his contract.

Sporting CP wishes Zupo the best of personal and professional success.

Professor Hugo Canela will act as temporary coach for the senior handball team, assisted by Professor Luís Cruz as youth coach. André Teixeira will continue as goalkeeping coach.

Marcon renews partnership with Alvalade football, futsal, handball and roller hockey

Following the success of the deal signed in 2014, Sporting Clube de Portugal and Macron have officially penned a new partnership, valid until 2020/2021.

In addition to football, futsal, handball and roller hockey, Macron is also lending backing to Sporting CP's Olympic ambitions in Tokyo 2020.

The past two and a half seasons have seen the two brands go from strength to strength, increasing visibility and marker share with a project that has bolstered both Sporting CP's and Macron's position in both national and international markets.

Alvalade handball stars again with the home advantage

Sporting CP will host HC Pelister Bitola in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, in a double header scheduled for the 18th and 19th of February in the Ginásio do Sul Arena.

The team from Alvalade secured the quarter-final spot courtesy of a 32-25 and 37-24 win over the Italian side ASD Romagna back in November.

Champions League winner Marco Oneto agrees contract until the end of the season

Sporting CP has officially signed the Chilean captain Marco Oneto. With more than 80 international caps under his belt, Oneto was also crucial in his country's run to a 3rd place finish in the Pan American Games.

The 34-year old is an imposing figure, standing 2.04m tall and weighing in at 112 kilos. He has enjoyed a brilliant career in Spain, winning the Copa del Rey twice, along with a Spanish Supercup and a National Championship. He was also part of the FC Barcelona team that won the 2011 Champions League.

Reflecting on the deal, Oneto proved happy with the move to the Portuguese capital: "Sporting CP is a globally recognised name. It is one of the bet clubs in Europe and fights for the title. This is a great opportunity and I want to build on the expectations that people have. I know a lot about the Portuguese League already and I know it is really competitive, which is good for my career. I am really looking forward to getting down to work."

Zupo Equisoain on the Challenge Cup last-32 draw

The Challenge Cup last-32 draw has pitted Sporting CP against the Macedonian side Pelister Bitola.

Sporting CP cruise into Challenge Cup last-16

After setting the pace wth a 32-25 win on Saturday, Sporting CP breezed past ASD Romagna on Sunday by a convincing margin of 37-24, securing a place in the Challenge Cup last-16 in the process.

As the final result suggests, Zupo's side once again dominated. A special note for the junior star Manuel Gaspar, who stepped in for Cudic in goal in the second-half and put on a fine display.

"It was a good debut and I did what I have been doing in training. I could have done a bit better a times, but that is part of it. Hopefully I will keep improving over time", said Gaspar at the final whistle.

Zupo also spoke with the press at the final whistle: "It was an easy game. The Italians were tired from two games in 24 hours, especially in the second-half. We created problems for them when we started playing 5x1 in defence and started to steal possession. That made it a lot easier."

Carlos Carneiro expecting an even stronger Sporting CP for Sunday's second-leg

Carlos Carneiro took a moment to speak with radio journalists after Sporting CP's Challenge Cup first-leg win against Romagna Handball (32-25) on Saturday afternoon.

"Romagna have their strong points and they didn't give up. We did alright and we controlled things", said Carneiro, happy with his side's seven goal lead going into Sunday's second-leg: "Tomorrow we will play as if it was 0-0 and we want to do better than we did today. We have what it takes to take on anyone in this competition."

Sporting CP off on the right foot in Challenge Cup third round

Sporting CP cliamed an important first-leg win against Romagna Handball (32-25) this Saturday afternoon, in the Challenge Cup third round.

The team from Alvalade controlled from start to finish and eventually opened up a seven-goal lead going into Sunday's second-leg. Romagna Handball did not have the benefit of Sporting CP's wealth of European experience and Zupo's side comfortably went about building up the final result.

Coach Zupo Equisoain on the weekend's hosting of Romagna

Alvalade handball coach Zupo Equisoain was with the press ahead of the weekend's Challenge Cup hosting of the Italian outfit Romagna.

"They are made up of Italian players and don't have a single foreign player. Their left winger and one of the centres are really important for how they play, but we have the better team. The lads are in a good space psychologically right now, especially after the derby win. We will try and win both games and play the best handball possible", said Equisoain.