Liga NOS race goes right down to the wire after 5-0 win against V.Setúbal

Not even a day of torrential rain in Lisbon was enough to stop Jorge Jesus' side dismantling V. Setúbal this Saturday, with a clinical display of finishing that saw Gelson Martins, Byan Ruiz and Teo Gutierrez tally up a total of five games between them. The result moves Sporting to the top of Liga NOS, with Benfica still to play against Marítimo on Sunday.

More than 43 thousand fans braved the weather to pace out Alvalade for the last home game of the season and it wasn't long before their dedication was rewarded, with Sporting almost instantly on the attack. First it was Slimani raining down his usual havoc up front, forcing Ricardo into two early stops in the Setúbal goal. Coates looked to have put Sporting ahead with a looping header from a corner, but Ruca somehow managed to clear off the line. However, the desperate defending was only delaying the inevitable, as Bryan Ruiz picked out Gelson Martins at the edge of the box, for the speedy winger to break through and dink the ball over the isolated Setúbal keeper after 25 minutes.

The goal only encouraged Jorge Jesus' charges to force home their dominance and 12 minutes later the ball was again in the back of the next. This time it was William Carvalho with the key pass, after bringing possession out of midfield and setting up Teo Gutierrez for the finish. Slimani could have made it three seconds before the break, but the big Algerian was denied by a fine save by Ricardo.

The second-half was, of course, much of the same. The visitors proved completely incapable of even putting a dent in Sporting's attack and the scoreboard again began to tick over. Teo had a glorious chance denied in the 55th minute by a Setúbal defender who tracked back to block hit shot, but Gelson Martins did the business with well placed finish after a break away instigated by Adrien and a classy pass from Slimani. With the result all but secured, Jesus brought off Slimani for Marvin. Setúbal were wrong if they thought the substitution would ease their defensive worries, as Sporting pushed for a fourth. Vasco Costa was rightly shown a second yellow card for a foul at the edge of the box and to add insult to injury, Bruno César's wire-guided cross was converted on by a typically brilliant Bryan Ruiz finish.

Barcos was also given a run out for Gelson Martins and he could well have scored a goal of his own after controlling well inside the 18-yard box, had it not been for Ricardo pulling off the best save of the night down low to his right. There was however still time for Ruiz to grab his second, this time with a cheeky free-kick through the wall that the Setúbal keeper didn't even react to.

Jorge Jesus on his side's 5-0 win against V. Setúbal

Jorge Jesus was understandably pleased with his side's 5-0 victory against V. Setúbal this Saturday, in what was Sporting's eighth consecutive win.

"We played really well again and I would say we are in our best form. The speed of and movement of this team is really hard to stop", opened Jesus at the final whistle, going on to add a word on João Mário's absence: "We waited right up to the last minute to see how we was, but we were a bit worried about risking him. Luckily Gelson Martins played really well and scored two."

As for the title race, Jesus was clear: "Sporting is the best team in the league."

Gelson Martins scores twice in 5-0 win

Gelson Martins repaid Jorge Jesus' confidence with a brilliant showing in Sporting's 5-0 thrashing of V. Setúbal this Saturday, in the last home game of the Liga NOS campaign.

"We started well and controlled the game from the start. We scored and that helps the team", said the youngster in an interview with radio journalists at the final whistle, adding a comment on his place in the starting line-up: "I am happy. Every player trains so that they can make the most of opportunities and that is what I did. We have done our bit and now we will wait and see."

Activities for the fans around Estádio José Alvalade

The area around Estádio José Alvalade is sure to attract the fans this Saturday, with the club organising demonstrations of various sports, as well as opportunities for fans to try for themselves.

Various regional food stands will also be open on the day, ahead of the opening of the turnstiles at 19h15.

Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as sales are progressing quickly and the match is expected to sell out.
 

Play your part in reaching a milestone this Saturday

Estádio José Alvalade will see its 9,000,000 fan come through the turnstiles this weekend, in what has been an absolute wave of support since the stadium's inauguration on the 6th of August 2003. The lucky fan who will tip the scale will be the 18,517th fan entering the stadium this Saturday, with three prices up for grabs:

. Two Champions Gamebox 2016/2017
. Official 2015/2016 shirt, signed by the entire squad
. Official match ball, signed by the entire squad

A total of 41 thousand tickets have already been sold for what will be the last home match of the season. Tickets are available from as little as 5€ (Anti-Crisis Member ticket), with the stadium ticket offices open from 10h00 to 20h00.

Tickets on sale for last home game of the season

Tickets of Liga NOS matchday 33, between Sporting CP and Vitória de Setúbal, are on sale as follows:

STAND A
Central – 25€ for Members and 37€ for fans
Lateral – 20€ for Members and 32€ for fans
Goal End – 15€ for Members and 27€ for fans
Under-23/Senior – 15€ for Members
Under-11 – 5€ for Members

STAND B
Central – 20€ for Members and 26€ for fans
Lateral – 15€ for Members and 21€ for fans
Goal End – 10€ for Members and 16€ for fans
Under-23/Senior – 10€ for Members
Sub 11 – 5€ for Members

Anti-Crisis – 5€ for Members
Family Ticket - 21€ (3 people) // 25€ (4 people)

@ ANTI-CRISIS TICKET
. sectors A9 and A11
. special price of 5€ (sales exclusively for Club Members)

@ FAMILY TICKET
. Available for all North Goal End sectors – Stand A and B
. Family of 3 (Member + Adult + Under-11): 21€
. Family of 4 (Member + Adult + Under-23 + Under-11): 25€
. Additional tickets for Family of 4 option (maximum of 2): Adult (10€) and Under-23 (5€)
. Gamebox holders can use this promotion (replacing their usual seat)
. Category B Members can only purcahse this product for Goal End Stand B

@ REDUCED MOBILITY TICKET
. Member » 10€
. Fan: 16€
. Ticket valid for two people (fan/Member with reduced mobility + 1)
. Stadium areas with dedicated bathrooms and elevators:

                - Level 2 South Goal End (entry next to Clinica CUF)
                - Level 2 North Goal End (entry through Multisport Centre)

STADIUM REGULATIONS

. Entry prohibited to children under the age of 3
. Children over the age of 3 (inclusive) require a ticket
. Child Member ticket (under-11) valid until the age of 11
. Child Member ticket valid for any sector of the stadium
. Youth Member ticket (under-23) valid from the age of 11 to 23
. Senior Member ticket valid from the age of 65
. Youth and Senior Member tickets with different prices for Stand A and B
. Non-renewed special seats have preference until 72 hours before kick-off
. Fan tickets purchased on matchday are subject to a 3€ tax
. Member fee applicable: April 2016

SALES POINTS

ESTÁDIO JOSÉ ALVALADE TICKET OFFICES
- Open from 10h00 to 20h00
- Matchday: open from 10h00 until half-time

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.sporting.pt
- Payment methods available: Multibanco, VISA and Mastercard
- Multibanco option only available until 24 hours before kick-off
- PDF ticket: delivered by email (to be printed on A4, can be black and white)

Bruno César on his dream debut in Setúbal

Bruno César made a dream start to his Sporting career this Wednesday night with two goals and an assist for Slimani. Speaking at the final whistle, the Brazilian preferred to focus on the collective performance: "I played well, just like the whole team did. Our objective was to win, to play well and to stay at the top of the league. I am happy to have helped the team. It was a good debut for me, but the most important thing was the win."

Although his side now extend their lead to four points at the top of Liga NOS, César played down thoughts of silverware come May: "I don't think we are the big favourites. We in first and we always go for the win, but we will take each match as it comes. We are focused, but we will keep our feet firmly planted on the ground. Nothing is won yet."

Sporting put six past Setúbal, with Bruno César debut double

Sporting dished out an absolute thrashing of Vitória de Setúbal this Wednesday night, with braces from Slimani and Bruno César and strikes from João Mário and Alberto Aquilani securing a 6-0 win. With FC Porto also held to a draw by Rio Ave, the team from Alvalade now extend their lead at the top of Liga NOS to four points.

With Bruno César handed his debut, João Mário down the right and Bryan Ruiz again featuring off Slimani in attack, Jorge Jesus' made it clear early on that Lukas Raeder was going to be given a busy night in the hosts' goal. Slimani has the first chance of the encounter with a header that lacked power and Ruiz followed up with a decent opportunity after a cross by Bruno César knocked on by Adrien, but the Costa Rican's shot was deflected over.

It really looked like just a matter of time before the evening's opening goal and Slimani obliged in the 18th minute, converting on a cross from Bruno César after Jefferson released the Alvalade newcomer down the wing. Sporting set up camp in the Setúbal half and chances naturally followed, next with Paulo Oliveira pulling a stop out of Raeder with a shot following a corner.

Bruno César, who had already done his fair share on his debut by setting up Slimani's opener, began what would go on to become a dream start in a sporting shirt with a goal of his own, after João Mário linked up with Slimani charging forward. Possession ended up with the Brazilian and he obliged with a great strike three minutes before the break.

Vitória introduced Vasco Costa to the action alongside Suk in attack (in place of Paulo Tavares), but the change did little to alter the hosts fortunes against a rampant Sporting. In the 52nd minute Slimani struck again, heading in after some brilliant team play and a pinpoint cross from Bryan Ruiz.

The third goal finally broke the Setúbal's resistance and Sporting turned on the flare. Next on the scoresheet was João Mário, bursting away down the left and into the middle, leaving defenders trailing and finding the net from range. Not to be outdone, Bruno César again struck (61') with another unstoppable leftfoot from the edge of the area.

With the win comfortably secured, Jesus made the most of the dying stages to bring on Gelson, Aquilani and Matheus Pereira (for Bruno César, Adrien and Bryan Ruiz, respectively). However, not even the change in personnel slowed down the Alvalade attack and after Slimani saw his hattrick denied by Lukas Raeder's instinctive save, it was the recently introduced Italian who rounded off the scoring with five minutes left on the clock, beating the keeper with a classy finish after João Mário had danced his way into the area.

Tickets snapped up in just four hours

Jorge Jesus' pre-match press conference ahead of trip to V. Setúbal

While accepting that his side will face a tough trip to Setúbal this Wednesday evening, Jorge Jesus was in an affirmative mood in his pre-match press conference this week, setting out his objective of staying on top of the Liga NOS pile for as long as possible.

“It will be difficult, not only because of the quality of our opponent, but also because of how their fans get behind their team. However, we are back in first place and we want to defend that and we will play to win like we always do. I won't say a lot about possible changes. We have made some in the Europa League, but of course we might do it again and that is my way of playing", opened the Alvalade boss, going on to speak about Vitória, recent praise for him from the opposition coach and the likely state of the pitch: "Vitória are having a good season. We all like to be ready for our critics, in the good and the bad times, and I think I have contributed to Portuguese football. The Vitória coach is doing that as well, just like other coaches who have welcomed new ideas. The hardest thing for us will be how V. Setúbal approach the game, as well as the quality of some of their individual players. I don't know how the pitch will be and I don't know if Vitória have trained there or not. I know that Quim Machado, the Vitória coach, would like to have a good pitch as well, because we both play good football and it will be harder if the pitch is full of holes.”

In parallel, Jesus dismissed the suggestion of added pressure brought by topping the league table: "First place doesn't bring any pressure or extra responsibility. We had the goal of getting into first and we were for a while. We lost it for one match and now we are back in first. We are on the right track, amongst Benfica and FC Porto. We have shown in the first third of the season that we have what it takes. Tomorrow is a tough step, but we want to carry on where we are."

To finish, the Sporting coach commented on Teo Gutiérrez, as well as rumours of a search for a defender during the transfer window: "As well as Slimani I have Montero and Tanaka up front. Teo is authorised to be what he is doing and what matters are the players I have available right now. He will be back at the end of the week and we will go into the next third of the season with him. Tobias has been a true professional and he has shown a lot of respect for the club. Even when he wasn't ready, he tried his best to help. Speaking about possible signings isn't worth it right now, especially because we have players in the B team if we need them."

V. Setúbal-Sporting will kick off at 20h15 tomorrow in Estádio do Bonfim, Setúbal.