Sebastián Coates was a largely unknown name for many Sporting fans when arriving at Alvalade this January, but the backing given by fellow Uruguayan and former teammate at Liverpool, Luís Suárez, has certainly rung true: "A player like Sebastián brings lot of quality to a team. I am certain he will be a great signing." Since arriving in the Portuguese capital, Sabastián truly has bossed the Sporting defence in an intimidating double-team with Rúben Semedo.
"All players dream of playing for a club that is fighting for titles, with ambitious objectives, and that made the difference for me", said Coates in an interview with the Sporting website after signing his loan extension, before adding a word on his odd forays forward: "Personally, my role is to defend, but If I can help in attack then I will."
Jorge Jesus' focus on defence has actually taken the Uruguayan by surprise, considering that goals are need to turn in wins. However, the final result can of course be decided by good defending. "The coach worries a lot about how we defend. Of course goals are needed to win, but he really worries about getting us all defending. Not every coach does that and it makes a big difference", said the defensive giant, finishing: "This is a great club with fans who are always pushing the players. I want to do my best for this shirt for us to get the results that we all want."
Alvalade president sits down with the Sporting president ahead of league showdown
You have to go back 42 years for the last time that Sporting and Benfica took the title race down to the last match of the season. It was in 1974, when millions waited for the final whistle. History isn't on Sporting's side, with the league leaders going into the decisive fixture tending to hold out and take the trophy, however Bruno de Carvalho sees things a little differently.
“Going into the last match of the season, we are two points behind first place. Of course it isn't the place we would prefer to be in and of course we would like to be in first. However, we are completely focused and we know anything could happen. That is what makes football such a beautiful game. While it is mathematically possible, anything can happen", commented the Alvalade president in an interview with the Sporting Journal this week, adding: "What I see is a Sporting team focused on our match and that believes that we can bring home a title that we have been missing for so long now. We will do everything we can to do that."
Sporting's hopes of silverware after the dust settles this weekend does however not just depend on what happens in Estádio Municipal de Braga. Meanwhile in Lisbon, Benfica will host Nacional, with Sporting needing the team from Madeira to at least steal a point.
“Looking at Benfica-Nacional, well from what I have seen and heard it seems like Nacional doesn't count for anything. It seems like Nacional doesn't care. That if what I have felt when listening to commentators associated with Benfica, but honestly I don't believe it", affirmed Carvalho, continuing: "Nacional are a good side and I don't think they want to be the side show for the league title. I know how hard Rui Alves has been working to put Nacional on the map and they are fighting for places further up the league now. Of course Benfica are motivated, because winning gives them the league, but Nacional are motivated as well."
Preseason for Sporting Clube de Portugal got underway this past week, and has included the full integration of Fotis Ioannidis -the Greek international striker having recovered from the injury that prevented him from contributing to the group during part of the last season.
The Sporting CP player spoke following the opening days of work at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, stating that “Preseason is very important for the team and we know that. We have to work hard to achieve our goals at the end of the season.”
“The last campaign didn't end as we had hoped. We were on track throughout the season, but in the end we didn't achieve our goal. However, this season we are hungrier than ever and we are eager to fight for the Liga Portugal title -and for everything else.”
The striker also spoke about his first contact with the new reinforcements for the squad.
“They seem excellent to me. They’re really friendly, and I hope they can help us throughout the season. I'm sure they will do that.”
Ioannidis also addressed the main challenges posed in preseason.
“I think fatigue and the temperature, which has been very hot, play a big part, but it's a normal process in football. We are here to work, to get better every day. We have time for that and we are very committed.”
“It’s been a long time since I played, so I really miss that. I’m working hard because I had some tough moments last season. But now I’m ready to play.”
“The Sporting CP fans are always very close to us. I was very happy with their support last season. They got behind us a lot and I’m sure they will do that again this year. Let’s hope that we can deliver what they want and deserve,” he concluded by saying.
Sporting Clube de Portugal held another pre-season training session this Friday, working alongside the B team.
Amidst intense heat in Alcochete, Rui Borges' side were joined by reserves -coached by Tiago Fernandes– for a joint training session that included a game, which ended 2-1.
The players were used in a mixed format during the session, which consisted of two 30-minute halves. The goals were scored by Paulo Cardoso, Flávio Gonçalves and Gabriel Silva.
The squad will have a day off this Saturday, returning to training on Sunday morning.
Sporting Clube de Portugal will begin the 2026/27 Liga Portugal season away from home against CF Estrela da Amadora.
In the draw held this Thursday for professional competitions, the full calendar for the season was announced. The campaign is set to get underway on August 9th.
The first home game for Rui Borges’ men will be against Vitória SC at the Estádio José Alvalade, scheduled for August 16th.
This will be followed by another home game against FC Alverca, scheduled for August 23rd.
In terms of Clássicos and derbies, on Matchday 10 Sporting CP will visit FC Porto, whilst they play SL Benfica away on Matchday 16. The second half of the season sees the reverse fixtures at the Estádio José Alvalade, on Matchdays 29 and 33, respectively.
Sporting CP complete Liga Portugal calendar
Matchday 1/18 (09/08 – 17/01/2027): CF Estrela da Amadora vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 2/19 (16/08 – 24/01/2027): Sporting CP vs. Vitória SC
Matchday 3/20 (23/08 – 31/01): Sporting CP vs. FC Alverca
Matchday 4/21 (30/08 – 07/02): Rio Ave FC vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 5/22 (06/09 – 14/02): Sporting CP vs. CD Nacional
Matchday 6/23 (13/09 – 21/02): FC Famalicão vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 7/24 (20/09 – 28/02): Sporting CP vs. FC Arouca
Matchday 8/25 (11/10 – 07/03): SC Braga vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 9/26 (25/10 – 14/03): Sporting CP vs. Académico Viseu FC
Matchday 10/27 (01/11 – 21/03): Casa Pia AC vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 11/28 (08/11 – 04/04): Sporting CP vs. Moreirense FC
Matchday 12/29 (29/11 – 11/04): FC Porto vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 13/30 (06/12 – 18/04): Sporting CP vs. CS Marítimo
Matchday 14/31 (13/12 – 25/04): Gil Vicente FC vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 15/32 (20/12 – 02/05): Sporting CP vs. GD Estoril Praia
Matchday 16/33 (27/12 – 09/05): SL Benfica vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 17/34 (10/01/2027 – 16/05): Sporting CP vs. Santa Clara
Preseason preparations get underway for the first team
The 2026/27 season has begun for Sporting Clube de Portugal. On Wednesday, July 1st (the 120th anniversary of the club), 29 players arrived at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo in the early morning to resume training.
João Virgínia, Diego Callai, Francisco Silva, Guilherme Pires, Nuno Santos, Iván Fresneda, Eduardo Quaresma, Ricardo Mangas, Rodrigo Dias, Miguel Alves, Bruno Ramos, Rafael Mota, Salvador Blopa, João Simões, Pedro Gonçalves, Pedro Lima, Daniel Bragança, Flávio Gonçalves, Eduardo Felicíssimo, Issa Doumbia, Silas Andersen, Koba Koindredi, Sergi Altimira, Geny Catamo, Souleymane Faye, Luís Guilherme, Fotis Ioannidis, Rafael Nel and Mauro Couto were the players present on the first day of preseason.
Under the watchful eye of Rui Borges and the rest of the coaching staff, the players underwent fitness tests and medical examinations in the morning, with the first on-field training session coming in the afternoon.
Morten Hjulmand, Giorgi Kochorashvili, and Georgios Vagiannidis were authorised to report back at a later date, having represented their respective national teams this summer.
The same applies to Rui Silva, Gonçalo Inácio, Francisco Trincão, Maxi Araújo, Rodrigo Zalazar, Ousmane Diomande, Luis Suárez, and Zeno Debast, who featured in the World Cup.
The squad will return with a training camp and a series of preseason friendlies
Sporting Clube de Portugal will return to training for the 2026/27 season on July 1st, beginning preseason at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.
From July 11th to the 20th, the team will hold their traditional training camp in the Algarve, with two friendlies scheduled during this period: Against Scottish champions Celtic FC (July 14th) and against French side RC Strasbourg (July 20th), who finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season. Both games will take place at the Estádio Algarve.
On July 25th, AS Monaco (seventh in Ligue 1 in 2025/26) will visit the Estádio José Alvalade for the Cinco Violinos Trophy, and the preseason schedule will conclude with another game at the Estádio Algarve, against Nottingham Forest FC on July 31st.
The Danish midfielder continues the recruitment plan for 2026/27
Sporting Clube de Portugal have completed the signing of midfielder Silas Andersen.
The 21-year-old Dane, who previously played for Swedish side BK Häcken, joins on a deal through to 2031, with a release clause of €80 million.
Having played for FC København in his homeland and Italian side FC Internazionale Milano at youth level, Andersen made his professional debut for FC Utrecht in the Netherlands. In 2025 and 2026, he played for BK Häcken in Sweden.
The new signing is also an international for Denmark at all levels from Under-16 to Under-21.
Andersen spoke after the deal was made official, saying that "the city is very beautiful and I've already been to the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo which also looks very good. I’m sure that this is the right step for my career. Sporting CP play in European competitions every year, are back in the UEFA Champions League once again, and playing here is an excellent step for younger players to grow".
"Playing in the UEFA Champions League is something we all dream of since we were children. It's something players aspire to, and it's fantastic to have the opportunity to play against the best teams on the planet", he added.
Andersen has no doubt that his journey thus far has allowed him to "grow as a person and as a footballer".
"Some experiences are better than others, but I’ve learned many things and they have made me the person I am today", he said.
At Sporting CP, Andersen continues the legacy of his compatriots Peter Schmeichel, Morten Hjulmand, and Conrad Harder - who all won the league at the club.
"They are great names and I want to live up to them. I'll have to give my best", he remarked.
Regarding his characteristics, the new arrival explained what can be expected from him on the pitch.
"I like to run well with the ball, score from corner kicks, be dangerous in the area, and help the team go forward".
"The fans are fantastic. I've seen many Sporting CP games, especially those in the UEFA Champions League, and they never disappoint - year after year. They create a great atmosphere, which is very good", he stated.
The midfielder joins to bolster the midfield at Alvalade
Issa Doumbia has become the latest signing for Sporting CP’s 2026/27 project, joining through to 2031 with an 80 million euros buyout clause.
The 22-year-old midfielder travelled to Lisbon this Tuesday to finalise the deal, which he defines as "the most important step" of his career.
The Italian, whose presentation video showed him arriving on a traditional Vespa from his home country, said that "It's a unique feeling and I'm very happy. Joining Sporting CP is the best path for my career. This is the best club to help me evolve.”
Born in Treviglio, in the Lombardy region, and the son of immigrant parents from the Ivory Coast, Doumbia was part of the US Ciserano youth system before, at UC AlbinoLeffe, he debuted at only 18 years old in the Italian Serie C.
Following his move to Venezia FC, he made his Serie A debut, playing 25 times in his first season. In his second, he established himself as one of the most promising midfielders in the division, and played a key role in the club's immediate return to the top tier of Italian football: he made 38 appearances, scored ten goals and provided two assists in the campaign that culminated in Venezia FC winning the Serie B title.
An international at youth level and a regular in the Under-21s team, whom he represented at the European Championships in 2025, the midfielder stands out for his versatility in the midfield -and now intends to put these qualities at the service of Sporting CP.
"I would describe my playing style as physical, technical, intense, fast and agile," he summarised. "I think I have similar characteristics to Paul Pogba, who is one of my heroes. I will try to evolve and become even better," he assured.
"I handle pressure well and I'm very calm about this challenge that lies ahead. I want to help the team, make it difficult for the coach when it comes to picking his starting XI, and do what he asks of me. My goals are the team's goals; to go as far as possible," he explained.
The possibility of competing at the highest level in European competitions also weighed heavily in his decision to move to the club.
"It's a dream to play in the UEFA Champions League and I hope to be able to achieve it as soon as possible," he said.
"I know the fans are very passionate and that they support the players fully. I'm very happy about that. I can't wait to play at Alvalade! "I'm ready!", he stated.
The coach talks after the 1-2 defeat in the Taça de Portugal final
Following the loss in the Taça de Portugal final against SCU Torreense, Rui Borges, gave his analysis of the match in his press conference.
Analysis of the game
“We needed to be more proactive than reactive. We were always just trying to react to every moment and we didn't have the intensity we wanted in the final third. Despite everything, we controlled the game, except for the first set piece where SCU Torreense -to their credit- converted. They deserved to score and were fortunate enough to score the first goal. We were always chasing the game against a team that defend very well, with lines of five, six or seven players. This made our task difficult and we never managed to be the true Sporting CP.
We have to lift our heads up and understand what we have to do better -not only in this game but throughout the season. It's tough, because with everything we've shown throughout the season we deserved it, but it's not enough. We should have done more and been better, but we weren't able to.”
Conceding an early goal
“If we didn’t win, it’s because we didn’t deserve to; the opponents deserved it, because they were effective, whether they played well or poorly. I think conceding the goal early created some distrust and even some mental fatigue. We were playing against a lower-division team, but that didn’t mean anything. I had said that before. We weren’t able to be an above-par Sporting CP.”
The impact of a defeat in the last game of the season
“It leaves a mark on the group, because we wanted to win and we weren’t able to. At Sporting CP, we have to feel and understand what we need to improve so we don’t reach the end of the season without any trophies. Nobody wants that, we don’t like it, and the fans don’t either, which is natural.”
Review of a trophyless season
“It wasn't a positive campaign, because what we were able to do throughout the season had to culminate in trophies for that. We reached finals, but we didn't manage it. We can't be happy with how the season went, of course. We have to understand what we need to improve so that in the future we can be a stronger Sporting CP.
At key moments we weren't as strong as we should have been, and we have to understand why. The club live for trophies, we didn't achieve them and it hurts, of course. It hurts for everyone.”
The fans expressing their displeasure at the final whistle
“Discontent is natural. It's part of the game -as long as there's respect. They're certainly not sadder than we are. We really wanted to win. The fans were relentless in their support and we have to live with this discontent.”
Ousmane Diomande starting on the bench
“It was a decision, only and solely. In the last game the team played very well, and he didn't play. It was my decision and we didn't lose the Taça de Portugal because Diomande didn't play from the start.”
More pressure for next season
“I arrived at Sporting CP already ‘under fire’. The criticism we receive is natural, and it would be a bad thing if it weren’t that way. The fans aren’t happy, just as we aren’t. It’s normal at any club in the world, so I understand. I hold my head high, do my job, and continue on my path.”
