Gelson Martins on Sporting's 2-1 win against FC Porto on Sunday night

Gelson Martins was the player chosen to speak with the press after Sporting's 2-1 win against Fc Porto this Sunday and the Alvalade younger was more than clear on his interpretation of the encounter: "It was a deserved win. We didn't start well, but we improved and had a good game overall."

Avoiding commenting on the sending off of Jorge Jesus, Gelson added a word on how the season has been developing so far: "We have made a good start, but it is still really early in the season. We still have a lot of matches to play and we have to make sure we don't get carried away. I hope this season is the big one for me and that is what I am working hard every day for."

Win in first classic of the season moves Sporting top of Liga NOS

Sporting turned in a convincing win against the visiting FC Porto this weekend, with three points that puts the team from Alvalade top of Liga NOS.

Jesus set his side out with Bryan Ruiz working the space behind Slimani, when Bruno César and Gelson Martins occupied the space out wide. It was actually FC Porto who made the better start to the encounter, with Felipe netting after 8 minutes. However, Jorge Jesus' side brushed off the early setback and drew level just five minutes later, when Slimani popped up in the right place at the right time to make the most of a Bruno César free-kick ricocheted off the post and out to the big Algerian for his 56th goal in a Sporting shirt.

FC Porto's roaring start soon faded under a mature performance by Jorge Jesus' men right across the park and Gelson scored a second to give Sporting a thoroughly deserved lead. With the hosts dominating possession, the 49,399 fans who had packed out Alvalade saw out a relatively uneventful second-half, with the exception of a baffling sending off for Jorge Jesus and the team doctor Frederico Varandas. However, the blow to the Sporting bench did little to upset the action on the pitch and their was still time for Campbell and Paulista to come off the bench and finish off proceedings with showings that look promising for the coming campaign.

Jesus on his side's 2-1 win against FC Porto on Sunday night

Jorge Jesus had warned that an FC Porto visit is never easy, but a mature performance from his side saw Sporting come from behind and secure the spoils from the first classic of the current Liga NOS campaign.

"We were losing pretty much from the start and that was down in part to our positioning. Slimani and Bryan Ruiz didn't have a lot of chances and we didn't have the opportunity to do what we usually do, which took away from our quality a bit. However our tactics made the difference and we were winning at half-time. In the second-half we did well to manage the result. FC Porto didn't create a single chance on goal. Bruno Paulista was to give a bit of help to Adrien and I thought we were tactically better disciplined than FC Porto. The fans were brilliant tonight as well", said Jesus in his post-match press conference.

Jesus was actually given his marking orders in the second-half with baffling decision from the referee. "I didn't say anything to the referee. I was no where near him. The rules say that coaches can't say anything, but the coach is part of the match. As long as we don't interfere with the referee's job then I don't see why we can't speak, especially when it is with our own players. All I said was that it was that the foul should have been the other way around and I was sent off", reflected the Sporting coach.

Transfer activity was inevitably a focus off the press conference and first up was Slimani's situation: "I am not sure. I have been a coach for a long time and this is normal. A lot of clubs have been putting bids in for a lot of players and it puts a lot of pressure on us, but it is a sign of the lads' quality. With the exception of João Mário, all of the other players are part of the squad. Not just anyone can turn up here and take players and the president knows what I think and I know what he thinks."

Next up was Bas Dost: "In some ways he is similar to Slimani, but there is only one Slimani. Even with everything that is going on, he has been a great professional for the club and the team. He knows that he will only leave if Sporting wants him to."

Adrien was next: "He is also attracting attention, just like William Carvalho, Rui Patrício and Slimani and like João Mário was. It is the consequence of our success. We didn't win the league last season, but we finished second and the national team had influenced things as well."

Jorge Jesus on Sunday's classic and Sporting's transfer activity

Jorge Jesus saw down with the media this Saturday afternoon, for one of the most eagerly awaited press conferences of the Liga NOS campaign so far, with Sporting busy in the transfer market and FC Porto visiting Alvalade on Sunday.

"It is a classic, at the beginning of the season. Normally both teams know everything there is to know about each other and I know exactly what FC Porto can do. It will be an intense game, with both sides with their own strategy and tactics. We will try and impose ourselves on the match and if we do then we will be one step closer to getting the three points", opened the Sporting coach, going on to speak about João Mário's expected absence tomorrow: "I am not surprised. Some things you just can't get surprised about. What would surprise me is if we were not selling players at this price on the back of the success we have had. João Mário had an offer that isn't normal in this club or Portugal for that matter. I don't know if anything had been decided, but I do know that he is in Italy. What is there to talk about? Until he signs, nothing is decided. What has to be said is that he is a quality player and that is why a price has been agreed, but Sporting isn't just João Mário. Some of the other players have big teams looking at them as well. I wouldn't say we are weaker without João Mário. He is a young player with a bright future ahead of him and I wish him the best of luck if everything works out, but Sporting will still be here tomorrow and we have plenty of quality players."

Nuno Espírito Santo has already taken on Jorge Jesus on six occasions and has the unenviable record of having lost all six. However, Jesus is not expecting an easy afternoon' work: "How two teams balance up to each other can be down to the coaches and tactics can make the difference. Nuno was always at a disadvantage in the other matches, with weaker teams, but that is different now. We both have quality players to work with."

Sporting has certainly been busy in the transfer market, bringing in Campbell, André and Douglas and Jorge Jesus was kind enough to clear up some questions in relation to his squad for tomorrow: "Slimani will play. He has always done his best and been a great professional. I don't know what will happen with Slimani and that isn't down to me. My job is to get the best out of the players that I have available. Joel Campbell has all of his paperwork done and he will be in the squad. Douglas and André aren't ready yet."

Jesus saved his last words for pre-match predictions: "When two teams are balanced in football, their are no favourites. Both sides have their strong points and the lads are used to these big occasions. I wouldn't say FC Porto are stronger this season. We were in first when they came here last year, but you can't make any predictions after just three matches. What I will say is that FC Porto look strong, just like they did last season."

Just two thousand tickets left for weekend's hosting of FC Porto

Just 2000 tickets remain on sale for Liga NOS matchday 3, against FC Porto.

Tickets are available for the Central Stand A and B. Ticket offices will open at 10h00 on Thursday, with tickets expected to sell out early.

Full house expected in Estádio José Alvalade for Liga NOS matchday 3

The last 5,000 tickets for the weekend's hosting of FC Porto, on Liga NOS matchday 3, went on sale this Monday morning.

Tickets are priced as follows:
CENTRAL - STAND A | Member (40€) or fan accompanying a Member (65€)
CENTRAL - STAND B | Member (35€) or fan accompanying a Member (55€)

Tickets for the match are certain to sell out. This match is classified as high risk, with children under the age of three prohibited and all spectators requiring a valid ticket (Gamebox 2016/2017 or match ticket). The applicable membership fee for the match is July 2016. Gates will open two hours before kick-off.

Jorge Jesus happy with his side's showing against Paços de Ferreira

Missing from the win against Paços de Ferreira, João Mário was inevitably one of issues put to the Sporting coach at the final whistle on Saturday.

"João Mário isn't here because of how he is physically. It would have been a risk to use him today. João Mário is a Sporting player and we have to make sure he doesn't pick up an injury when he could be moving. I didn't want him getting injured. If he improve, then he will play against FC Porto", affirmed Jorge Jesus, adding a work on the match itself: "Defensively we are more solid and you can only win games if you are well organised at the back. Paços didn't have a single opportunity. Offensively we have to do better and find our form from last season. We played against a team that has traditionally been tricky for us and it is important that we hae started off with a couple of wins. I thought Coates and Semedo did really well."

William Carvalho pleased with Sporting's second Liga NOS win

"The lads deserve a pat on the back for how we played. Our objective was to win and it is never easy to do that here", said William Carvalho at the final whistle this Saturday, adding a word on transfer speculation and his future in Lisbon: "(I am) focused on Sporting."

Sporting tally second win in as many attempts with battling performance against Paços

Six points out of six. Sporting are off to the best possible start to the new Liga NOS campaign, thanks to a solo strike from Adrien against Paços de Ferreira this Saturday.

With a hosting of FC Porto next up, an 11th consecutive league win was just what Jesus' side needed, with the cleansheet also Sporting's 4th in a row.

It was actually the hosts who had the opening opportunity of the encounter, when Mateus Silva tried his luck from range with 10 minutes on the clock. However, the effort ended up high of Rui Patrício's goal.

Sporting didnt't take long to rally and two minutes later it was danger down the other end, when a cross from Bruno César was only half cleared. Slimani looked to have found an inch to get away a shot, but Filipe Ferreira was able to get a block in.

Both sides were making a game of it and the blistering pace kept up. On 26 minutes a guided free-free tested Patrício, before an evidently rehearsed free-kick move from 30 metres out saw Adrien and William Carvalho exchange possession, before the Sporting captain blasted an effort just inches off target.

Defendi had been let off in the Paços goal so far, but he was in for a nervy evening. After trying to dribble the ball out, Buno César picked up possession and put a chip just off target.

The string of chances put wind into the Alvalade sails and more opportunities follows. On 34 minutes Bryan Ruiz floated in a cross that eventually found its way out to Alan Ruiz, but his shot was denied by a fine stop by the Paços keeper. Four minutes later, Slimani again tested Defendi's reflexes.

The opener however was destined for Adrien, after some persistent attacking. Bryan Ruiz looked up and drifted a cross towards Slimani, but the Algerian failed to get his effort away. However, the big striker didn't give up and hampered the Paços defence, who could only clear out as far as Bruno César, In came another cross and this time Gelson connected with the header, setting up Adrien for a superb bicycle kick to give his side a much deserved lead.

The Alvalade skipper's goal proved crucial at the final whistle, with Sporting missing a clinical touch in the second-half that could well hae extended the final result.

Jorge Jesus looks ahead to visit to Paços de Ferreira

Jorge Jesus was in the Estádio José Alvalade press room this Friday, looking ahead at the weekend's trip to Paços de Ferreira.

"Paços de Ferreira are usually a very competitive side. It isn't easy to play in Estádio da Mata, particularly with how they play in defence. However, this is the kind of match that the season will throw at us and we have to be ready so we can come away with the three points", said the Sporting coach, before going on to fend off the inevitable questions about rumoured transfers: "I know what is being said and everything is normal. I will decide who plays and that is why Slimani will be included after coming back from suspension. This is nothing new for me to be honest and it is always the same thing, especially in August. Last year we had the same issues, because people are interested in our players. What matters most is that we defend ourselves properly. A lot of people would like to play here and normally when I mention a player they end up with Benfica or FC Porto. I think I am their best scout!"

Constant transfer speculation could of course influence performance out on the pitch, but Jesus played it cool and is ready to deal with the extra nerves: "If course I take that into consideration. This is nothing new for me or for the players. Those who have already been through this kind of period know how to deal with it. Transfer rumours reflect the quality of my technical staff, but it is up to the president to decide who goes where. My job is to get the best out of the players individually and collectively and success has its price after that."