Joel Campbell happy with his contribution to Sporting CP's win against Arouca on Sunday night

Joel Campbell was understandably pleased with his superb showing against Arouca on Sunday night, with the Costa Rican instrumental in Sporting CP's 3-0 win.

"It was an important result for the team and I am happy to have scored, but it is credit to the whole team", said Campbell at the final whistle, going on to share a word for the fans: "We have to thank the fans for turning out the way they did. Their support is really important for us and hopefully we can keep winning for them."

Sporting CP dominate with the help of an inspired Joel Campbell

Sporting CP turned in a convincing 3-0 win against Arouca this Sunday night, with a classy display that could well have finished with a more expressive result.

It was never going to be an easy night against a Arouca side that were always going to dig in, but an 8th minute strike from Bas Dost opened up the encounter and paved the way for what was a comfortable win.

Jorge Jesus rang the changes for the opening whistle, handing a start to Joel Campbell. The move proved to be a masterstroke, with the Costa Rican a constant headache foe the visitors with his moves in from the left flank. It was Campbell himself who scored Sporting CP's second (55'), rounded off with a cross for Bas Dost's second (69'). Despite the one-sided result, Adrien actually missed a penalty (64') just before Sporting CP's third goal, but his slip up was brushed off with a wave of songs around the Alvalade stands in tribute to the Sporting CP skipper.

Jesus announces Liga NOS matchday 10 squad

Squad to face Arouca at 20h15 on Sunday:

1 - Rui Patrício
2 - Ezequiel Schelotto
7 - Joel Campbell
10 - Bryan Ruiz
11 - Bruno César
13 - Sebastian Coates
14 - William Carvalho
15 - Paulo Oliveira
20 - Luc Castaignos
21 - João Pereira
22 - Elias Trindade
23 - Adrien Silva
28 - Bas Dost
31 - Marvin Zeegelaar
34 - Beto Pimparel
35 - Rúben Semedo
77 - Gelson Martins
99 - Alan Ruiz

Jorge Jesus expecting his side to rediscover their winning form against Arouca

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press this Saturday to speak about the coming hosting of Arouca. "What we have to do in relation to our last match against Tondela is show our usual quality and turn in three points. Every match is important and this one is no exception. The fans are used to good football and we have to get back into that habit", opened Jorge Jesus, going on to answer a question on his side's recent slip down the table: "It is always a case of zero tolerance for us. The most important thing is to start showing the quality football that we did during the first five matches of the season. We didn't do well against Tondela, but the draw was harsh for us. It isn't enough to just sit here and talk about it, we have to do the business on the pitch."

Sporting will be hosting Arouca while Benfica travel to FC Porto, opening up the possibility of closing the points gap to the league leaders. Jorge Jesus however proved more focused on the task at hand: "Firstly we have to focus on our own match. We are depending on other results, but the other teams are depending on our results as well. There is not point speaking about our rivals when we have to play against Arouca on Sunday. We know we haven't been doing well and we have to overcome that now. We spoke with the lads during the week about it."

The return of Adrien Silva from a spell out with injury of course comes as a relief for the fans as well as the Alvalade coach himself. "Adrien being out isn't the only reason behind recent results. It was also down to some other individual characteristics of players who aren't here anymore. Adrien brings quality, but he also brings attitude and an understanding of the game. That guides the players around him, but we can't expect him to be 100% tomorrow after being out for so long."

Adrien Silva looks ahead to Liga NOS matchday 10

Back in action after a spell out with injury, Adrien Silva proved confident in relation to his side's chances of securing three points against Arouca this weekend, on Liga NOS matchday 10.

“Above anything else, our objective is to win. We aren't happy with ourselves right now, but we have what it takes to turn things around. The lads are still thinking the same way they were and I am sure we can do it", said the Alvalade skipper in an interview with Sporting TV, adding: "If the boss wants me to play then I am ready, but no player can do anything on their own. We have to stick together."

Jorge Jesus on Sporting's recent run of draws after a stalemate in Madeira

Sporting CP were held a third consecutive league draw this week. Speaking with the press at the final whistle after the deadlock with Nacional, Jorge Jesus insisted that his team will find their scoring form sooner rather than later.

"We started really strong. We had a fair few chances to get ahead in the first-half, including a penalty. We carried on looking for a goal in the second-half, but the game was very stop-start. We were able to play football in the first-half, but then came a lot of fouls, which is part of what teams looking to defend the result do. The lads did what they could and I thought we showed a good attitude. Of course we were missing a bit of emotional balance at times, but we did everything we could", said the sporting coach going on to reflect on what is now a considerable margin to the top of Liga NOS: "We are seven points off and we have to try our best to turn that around. We will try and push the lads hard during the week, particularly the ones who didn't spend pre-season with us. Defensively we didn't let in any goals and we have to score."

Sporting CP held by Nacional on a foggy night in Madeira

Sporting were held to a stalemate in Madeira this Friday night by Nacional, in a match which saw both teams come together in a tribute to the fight against brest cancer and strokes.

Jorge Jesus made two changes to his side that took on Tondela last weekend, introducing Lazar Markovic and Bruno César for André Filipe and Elias. Sporting did look the most likely to score right from the off and a brilliant chance went wanting in the 8th minute thanks to a last ditch tackle, when William Carvalho saw a penalty saved after a push on Sebastian Coates inside the area.

The team from Alvalade were also looking sure in defence, thanks largely to some calculated defending by Sebastian Coates. On 14 minutes the big Uruguayan dispossessed Hamzaoiu, just before the Algerian broke through against Rui Patrício.

Choupana's typical fog shrouded the stadium half-way through the first 45, but it wasn't enough to slow Sporting's forays forward. Next up it was Gelson Martins with a darting run in the 21st minute, but his shot across the face of goal was denied by a sensational save from Rui Silva. The fans were up celebrating what looked to be a certain goal on the half-hour mark when Bas Dost connected, but the big Dutchman wasted his golden opportunity to open the scoring.

Manuel Machado's dug in after the break and Sporting's attacks slowed. Meanwhile, Nacional started establishing a bulkhead down the other end. On 64 minutes, Ricardo Gomes raced away from Coates and almost got the better of Rui Patrício.

Jesus responded with the replacement of Markovic and Bryan Ruiz for Alan Ruiz and Campbell, but it was Bruno César who came closest in the dying stages, testing his luck on 58’, 74’ and 82’.

Ricardo Gomes had an opportunity to steal the points in the 89th minute, but the Cape Verdean was unable to find the target with his header after getting slightly ahead of Rui Patrício.

Crowd turns out at team hotel ahead of encounter with Nacional

Dozens of Sporting fans made their way to Hotel Meliá in Madeira this afternoon, eager to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars. Goalkeeper Azbe Jug was on hand to oblige, posing for photos and signing shirts.

Sporting will take on Nacional in Estádio da Choupana, at 21h00.

Information for Club Members and fans

Sporting Clube de Portugal headed to Madeira today, ahead of Friday's encounter with Nacional.

The club will hold a some special initiatives for the local and traveling fans:

- Ticket sales for 10€ (with a free postcard gift), from 11h to 17h, at the Hotel Meliá Madeira Mare;

- Autograph session at 15h00 at the same place with one of the players.

Jorge Jesus looks ahead to a tasking trip to Madeira

After last week's slip up to Tondela, Jorge Jesus's side takes aim at Nacional, with a usually difficult trip to Madeira awaiting on Friday.

"It is hard to play against Nacional. It is hard to play Choupana. The big sides have a tough time in this stadium, but we are ready for a competitive match. To come away from Madeira with three points we will have to play well on the attack, like we did against Guimarães. We will face a Nacional team that will play like they usually do", opened the Sporting coach in his pre-match press conference this Thursday afternoon.

For Jesus, it was a meeting of reflection with the press, with the Alvalade boss going on to speak about how his team approaches each game: "We try to get the best out of the team. You can look at that as a strategy for each individual game, but what we do is believe in our players and the way we play. Of course we could look to take advantage of Nacional's weaker points, but the fact that they are letting in goals doesn't mean much.

Sporting CP will take on Nacional at 21h00 on Friday, on Liga NOS matchday 9.