Player loaned to Nacional da Madeira for the coming season

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Clube Desportivo Nacional – Futebol, SAD for the loan of the player Tobias Figueiredo for the 2016/17 season, with no option for a permanent transfer.

Sporting SAD wishes Tobias Figueiredo the best of personal and professional success.

Jorge Jesus after his side's 4-0 win against Nacional

Although surprised by such a dominating final score against Nacional this Saturday, Jorge Jesus highlighted his team's quality in what was an important three points in the title race.

“If you had asked me if we would win by four goals, then I would have said no. Nacional are a good team and in terms of strategy they have one of the best coaches in our league. Not only that, but this pitch is hard to play on as well", said the Sporting coach at the final whistle, adding: "We had a bit of trouble in the first-half in the one-on-one situations, but scoring helps inject confidence into the lads. In defence I thought we were really strong. Rúben Semedo and Coates played really well. We won, which was the objective, even it it was by half a goal. Sometimes teams aren't at their best, but Sporting does not know how to play badly."

William Carvalho on Saturday's win in Madeira

"It has been a really happy week for me. I renewed by contract, Sporting showed trust in me and I am really happy to stay here", opened William Carvalho in a flash interview after his side's 4-0 win against Nacional this Saturday.

Moving on to the match itself, the Portuguese midfielder affirmed: "It was a good game and we played really well. Now we will start focusing on Thursday's match. This was worth three points, just like it always is. All we have to think about is what we are doing and not what our rivals are doing."

The Sporting Academy graduate finished with a word on his recent form and Thursday's Europa League encounter: "I have been working hard in the week and I know my best form will come through soon. Thursday will be an important match. It is over two legs and with the first at home we want to win it."

Jorge Jesus' side move clear at the top of Liga NOS with dominating showing in Madeira

Sporting CP moved clear at the top of Liga NOS this weekend, courtesy of a dominating performance in Madeira. Slimani netted twice, with and Adrien and João Mário also finding the back of the net in a 4-0 win.

Needing a win to create a bit of breathing room at the top of the table, Jorge Jesus' side were straight to business at the opening whistle and after just three minutes a João Mário corner saw Slimani ghost around the Nacional defence and head in the first of the evening.

Buoyed by the early goal, Sporting simply oozed confidence, moving possession around and pushing forward almost at will. Chances soon began to materialise, but Nacional managed to keep their deficit to a minimum, also in part due to some sloppy finishing. On 28 minutes, João Pereira broke away down the right flank and pulled a cross back into the area, but João Aurélio managed to scramble in front of Slimani and Bryan Ruiz and desperately clear away.

Nacional were doing very little in attack, but a dead-ball situation in the 33rd minute did have Rui Patrício twitching, when Salvador Agra blazed a free-kick just over the bar. With the hosts' best chance so far finishing up in the stands, Sporting again took control of proceedings and the typically dominating Adrien Silva and William Carvalho complete bossed the middle of the park.

Sporting have been particularly deadly going forward on the break so far this season and the evening in Madeira was proving no different, but set pieces were also looking particularly venomous for the hosts. On 38 minutes, Bryan Ruiz floated in a cross and Coates won the duel with his defender, but the final header finished up the wrong side of Gottardi's post. Shortly after, an injury to Bruno César saw Carlos Mané introduced into the action behind Slimani, while Bryan Ruiz moved out wide.

It was actually Carlos Mané who could have extended his side's lead, after a move from João Mário and Slimani set up the Portuguese international inside the area, but the under-21's placed effort ended up the wrong side of the woodwork to keep the score at 1-0 as the half-time whistle sounded.

The second-half got underway as the first had finished, with Jorge Jesus' side going forward at will. After a long spell of pressure, Nacional finally broke in the 52nd minute, when Adrien converted on a penalty after Rui Correia had handballed in the area. However, the 2-0 lead was shortlived, because 11 minutes late Slimani showed his usual determination to battled back possession in the area and lashed a shot against the crossbar. The Algerian was left frustrated, but João Mário was on hand to put away the rebound.

Sporting continued to dominate and another goal for the visitors always looked more likely than a first for the hosts. Next to try their luck were Slimani and Aquilani, but Gottardi managed to save the Algerian's shot and Aquilani was unable to find the target. A fourth looked to be just a matter of time in coming and with 5 minutes left of regulation time, Schelotto was brought crashing down by Sequeira in the area for a penalty. Slimani was called up for the resulting spot-kick and the Alvalade forward smartly obliged by sending Gottardi the wrong way to set the final result at 4-0.

Jorge Jesus' pre-match press conference ahead of trip to Madeira

Jorge Jesus was with the press this Friday to share his thoughts on what he believes will be a tough trip to Madeira. Affirming that his side will guarantee the full three points, the Sporting coach also dismissed the opportunity to comment on today's encounter between Benfica and FC Porto.

“This will be one of those typically difficult matches. Nacional are not an easy team to face and they have a coach that is doing a good job, but Sporting always has to play for the win. That is how we have looked at it since the start of the season and that is why we are in first. We want to keep in the fight for the title and to show we can come away with the points form these kinds of matches. Whatever happens between Benfica and FC Porto, what matters is that we win in Madeira", opened Jesus, going on to reveal that Naldo, Paulo Oliveira, Tobias Figueiredo, Jefferson and Bruno Paulista will all miss out through injury: "I wouldn't say we are having issues with injuries, because in 21 league matches, as well as in other competitions, we have Naldo, Jefferson and Paulo all fit. It is funny that injuries have only really hit centre-backs, at Benfica an FC Porto was well as Sporting."

In parallel, the Sporting coach added that the pressure of battling for the league title is also being felt elsewhere and that recent results have done little to take away from his side's confidence: "Against Rio Ave we had a lot of chance, but football can be like that. The fact that we have drawn two games doesn't mean that the team has lost quality and we played well in our last game. We have won a lot of games and have been consistently at the top of the league. We believe in our capacity to stay there."

To finish, Jesus also touched on William Carvalho's current form: "He hasn't been at the same level as say Adrien or João Mário who you also mentioned here today and we know why. It has nothing to do with his contract or his behaviour. He was out of competition for three months and he is looking for his best form, but we believe in him and we are counting on his input."

Nacional-Sporting CP will kick off at 18h30 on Saturday, in Estádio da Madeira.

Jorge Jesus reflects on another three I Liga points

“It was hard to win against a side that defended well”, opened Jorge Jesus in a post-match press conference after his side’s battling victory against Nacional on Monday night.

For the Sporting coach, the key to unlocking the three points was some calm nerves in the closing stages: “We never showed anxiety and that it why we scored. Only a team that keeps their calm can make the difference when it matters. In the first-half we had trouble finding space. Montero was important to remedy that.”

Reflecting on the win, Jesus added: “You have to battle to win. There are no easy games and that is why we are at the top of the table. It was important to win and we want to fight for the title until the end. The lads deserve a pat on the back for playing as a team like they did. To win the league you have to suffer sometimes and the fans really got behind us.”

Montero scores late winner to keep Sporting ahead of the pack

Jorge Jesus’ side were only interested in a win this Monday evening against Nacional that would keep Sporting at the top of the I Liga table and no other result looked likely, with the team from Alvalade holding down long spells of possession and pegging the visitors back into their final third.

Chance after chance failed to put the ball in the ball of the net, with Gelson, Slimani and Jefferson all coming close in the first-half. However, the pressure soon paid off, when Sequeira was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence. A man down, the visitors could do little more than bunker down in defence, while Sporting continued to press for a goal.

The second-half was much of the game, with Jorge Jesus’ charges piling on the pressure but struggling to create space to get a shot away against a closed Nacional defence. Nerves began to show in the crowd, but some calm, collective play finally got its reward four minutes from time, when Montero found a yard to tuck away the winner.

The result keeps Sporting in 1st, tied on 13 points with FC Porto. Sporting are next in action at the weekend against Boavista, in Estádio do Bessa.

Montero happy with Monday's winner against Nacional

Fredy Montero proved crucial in Monday’s win over Nacional, coming off the bench to score the winner four minutes from time.

"We knew that Nacional are a tough side. We tried to score early, but we didn’t and that makes things harder”, opened the Colombian at the final whistle, adding a word on his side’s recovery from last week’s loss to Lokomotiv Moscow: “Sporting has some really experienced players and we know how to deal with this kind of situation.”

In parallel, Montero promised to keep putting in the work to keep up his goal streak: “I am going to carry on working and I will try to take opportunities when they come to score and to help the team.”

Jorge Jesus includes 19 for I Liga matchday five

Jorge Jesus, has included a total of 19 players in his I Liga matchday five squad to face Nacional:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Marcelo Boeck;
Defenders: Ricardo Esgaio, Paulo Oliveira, Naldo, Tobias Figueiredo, Jefferson and Jonathan Silva;
Midfielders: Adrien, Bruno Paulista, Aquilani, André Martins and João Mário;
Forwards: Gelson Martins, Bryan Ruiz, Carlos Mané, Montero, Teo Gutiérrez and Slimani.

Sporting-Nacional will get underway at 21h00 on Monday the 21st of September, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on hosting of Nacional

Jorge Jesus is expecting his side to put Thursday’s Europa League loss to Lokomotiv Moscow squarely behind them, starting with Monday night’s hosting of Nacional.

“I am not expecting it to be easy. We have to play at the level we have been at offensively and a bit better in defence compared to our last game, because we want to win. If we want to stay at the top of the table, we have to win”, opened the Alvalade coach, guaranteeing that his side have shaken off last week’s setback: “Of course you aren’t happy when you lose, but what matters is that we have understood what was wrong in defence. When you are at this stage of the season, in the middle of several competitions, you don’t have that much time to change tactics and you have to focus on getting the players in shape for the next match. Our main focus is the league and we want to stay in first, which starts with Nacional tomorrow.”

Jesus also stressed that Sunday’s encounter between FC Porto and Benfica will in no way effect his players: “What matters is that if we win tomorrow, then we will still be in first. What happens between FC Porto and Benfica doesn’t make a difference. We have to focus on our own match.”

Asked to reflect on his side’s solid form outside of Alvalade this season, the sporting coach added: “We have played more games away and won all of them. At home we only didn’t beat Paços de Ferreira. What I want is the players to show class and power, just like they have been doing. We don’t want to slip away from the top of the table and to make sure we don’t we have to win tomorrow.”

Jorge Jesus also spared a few words for Sporting B star Matheus Pereira, who have been working with the senior squad. “He is a young player with a lot of potential and who fits in with the team. We believe in him, just like we believe in Gelson. He could come into the team at any time, but he is still developing”, said Jesus before finishing on the recovery of William Carvalho and Ewerton after long spells out through injury: “They are back in full training now, but they have been out of action for around two months. Clinically they are 100%, but physically, technically and tactically they aren’t, so we will work with them during the week.”

Sporting-Nacional will kick-off at 21h00 on Monday the 21st of September, in Estádio José Alvalade.