Coates on extending his stay in Alvalade

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."

The squad prepare for the game against Olympique Lyonnais

Sporting Clube de Portugal's preparations for the Troféu Cinco Violinos game saw the team train on Saturday at the Academia Sporting, working on fitness and tactics with coach Rúben Amorim.

The preseason fixture features Sporting CP against French side Olympique Lyonnais, and will take place at the Estádio José Alvalade at 9pm local time on Sunday.

Pedro Porro, who continues to receive treatment on an injury, was the only absentee in the training session.

Os Leões beat French opposition 2-0 in preseason friendly

Sporting Clube de Portugal recorded another positive preseason result with a 2-0 win over Angers SCO, continuing to ready themselves for the start of the league campaign.

At the Estádio Bela Vista in Parchal, where Os Leões drew 2-2 against Portimonense SC previously, Rúben Amorim fielded a starting lineup of Luís Maximiano, Luís Neto, Gonçalo Inácio, Zouhair Feddal, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha, Daniel Bragança, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Tabata, Paulinho and Pedro Gonçalves.

In the first half, the team had some difficulties imposing their play and reaching the opposite area, as their French opponents were always very compact and had plenty of possession.

A first opportunity to score came on 35 minutes, when Ricardo Esgaio crossed from the right and Paulinho headed straight at goalkeeper Petkovic. At the other end, Luís Maximiano had more work to do, especially from set pieces, but managed to keep the opposition at bay.

In the second half, Amorim made two changes, with Antonio Adán and Nuno Santos replacing Maximiano and Daniel Bragança -which led to Bruno Tabata moving into midfield.

The coach would soon put in Rúben Vinagre in place of Nuno Mendes, and Sporting CP had occasional forays into the Angers SCO area. On one such chance, the deadlock was broken: Paulinho forced Mandréa to put the ball out for a corner, and after some confusion in the area, Gonçalo Inácio shot into the net with a French defender still trying to clear off the line.

That was the signal for further substitutions, and Matheus Nunes and Jovane Cabral came in for João Palhinha and Pedro Gonçalves.

Angers SCO put Adán to the test from set pieces, but it was from open play that he needed to produce two good saves to deny Taibi and Bahoken. Sporting CP reacted to this with a goal from Paulinho, after Nuno Santos broke into the area and struck the woodwork -the striker putting in the rebound to make it 2-0 on 86 minutes.

Os Leões will play the Portimonense SC Under-23 side in a behind-closed-doors training game on Wednesday, to end their camp in the Algarve.

The defender talks about his second preseason at Sporting CP

Zouhair Feddal will soon begin his second season as a Sporting Clube de Portugal player, but his opportunities to interact with fans have been limited so far due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this in mind, less than a month out from the start of the season, the Moroccan answered questions on the club's official Twitter account from the Algarve, where the team are undertaking a preseason training camp.

He also took further time out to chat with Sporting CP's official media about the summer and the season ahead.

"I feel better than last year," he explained. “Preseason is for us to find the best possible way of playing, and we are working well with the idea of reaching the Supertaça against SC Braga in the best shape. We're all training well and playing practice games against teams that work really well. That's why everything is going good so far."

“We are very happy when we are together as a group. It's the strength of our team. We are like a family and we like spending time together, training and also playing around. Everybody already knows that Nuno Santos and Eduardo Quaresma are always joking around -although when it's time to work we are all serious- and the atmosphere is very good,” stated the Moroccan international.

In the preseason camp there are 19 first team players, with several newcomers to the fold from the youth ranks. As one of the more senior members of the squad, Feddal sees this as a good opportunity to bring in new faces.

“The kids do their best when they train with us. They are very willing to succeed and have to take advantage of the opportunities that the coach gives them. He has a lot of confidence in them, and it's up to us to help them out. I was also helped when I was younger, and I know how the situation is. I hope that this year more youngsters can reach the first team and that they have a good career."

Feddal also looked ahead to 2021/2022, which promises to be a demanding campaign.

"That's football. We work to play many games and participate in the best competitions, like the Champions League. However, just like last season, we will take things game by game. We won't think about anything else."

“We have a young squad, with only a few players over the age of 30, and we are very hungry. We want to achieve great things and that's why we're going to work with great humility,” he concluded.

Porro undergoes treatment

After a week of training and preseason friendly games in the Algarve, the Sporting CP squad had another session in Lagos on Saturday morning.

Amidst intense heat, coach Rúben Amorim ran a demanding session that involved both ball work and tactics.

Pedro Porro, who was injured during the training game held last Thursday, underwent treatment rather than participate with the rest of the group.

Sporting CP will remain in the Algarve until Wednesday, when they return to Lisbon to continue the preparations for their Portuguese league title defence.

The team triumph 2-1 against Belenenses SAD

Sporting Clube de Portugal were in action for the second time in as many days this Thursday, beating Belenenses SAD 2-1 in their second preseason friendly -part of the club's training camp in the Algarve.

The match, played in Loulé at the Estádio Algarve, saw Rúben Amorim field an entirely different starting XI from that which drew against Portimonense SC (2-2) the previous night. Chosen for the task were a young side consisting of: Luís Maximiano, Zouhair Feddal, Luís Neto, Rodrigo Fernandes, Pedro Porro, Dário Essugo, Bruno Tabata, Flávio Nazinho, Jovane Cabral, Tiago Tomás and Nuno Santos.

The team started well and took the lead after just five minutes, thanks to an own goal by Sandro off a shot by Pedro Porro. Unfortunately, that was followed by an injury to Porro three minutes later, and he was replaced by the returning summer loan signing, Rúben Vinagre.

Bruno Tabata then came close to making it 2-0, with a low shot that Luiz Felipe pushed out for a corner.

Despite Sporting CP's superiority, it was Belenenses SAD who scored next, levelling the game with a goal from Ndour.

Tiago Tomás was making life difficult for the opposing defence, and it was through his endeavour that Sporting CP would go back in front: Sandro hauled him back in the box, with Jovane Cabral stepping up to convert the resulting penalty.

Five minutes later, after an excellent pass from Cabral, Nuno Santos also sent the ball into the net, but his goal was ruled out for offside. Before the break, Belenenses SAD came close to equalising again, as Afonso Sousa forced Luís Maximiano to make a good stop.

Before the second half got underway, coach Rúben Amorim brought on Pedro Gonçalves and João Palhinha in place of Jovane Cabral and Dário Essugo. The Belenenses SAD coach took the opportunity to make three substitutions.

In the 57th minute, Amorim made further moves, resting Vinagre for Nuno Mendes to be introduced. The defender did not take long to set up Tiago Tomás for a shot that required goalkeeper Luiz Felipe to push the ball away.

A new incumbent between the sticks was also tested before the end, as Tiago Tomás fired a shot Álvaro's way on 76 minutes, but the score remained 2-1 at the final whistle.

The next warmup game for the team is scheduled for Sunday at the Estádio Algarve, against Belgian side Angers SCO.

The team are held to a 2-2 stalemate in a preseason friendly

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 2-2 in a Wednesday friendly with Portimonense SC, as part of the preseason training camp in the Algarve. Held at the Estádio Municipal da Bela Vista, in Parchal, the match saw goals from Gonçalo Inácio and Daniel Bragança.

For this fifth game of preseason, Rúben Amorim fielded a lineup of Antonio Adán, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Reis, Gonçalo Esteves, Matheus Nunes, Daniel Bragança, Ricardo Esgaio, Tiago Ferreira, Paulinho and Joelson Fernandes.

Gonçalo Esteves and Joelson Fernandes – who combined especially well with Matheus Reis – were the creative forces in the first half, with the winger sending in a free kick that Inácio converted on 28 minutes, putting Sporting CP ahead.

In the 40th minute, Joelson Fernandes also had a chance on goal, but Ricardo Ferreira saved the shot. Matheus Reis would then hit the woodwork..

Os Leões went into halftime with a slim lead, and Amorim decided to maintain the same eleven players for the restart -while Paulo Sérgio changed the entire Portimonense SC team.

The match remained evenly balanced, and Portimonense levelled on 60 minutes through Renato Jr. Adán had kept out a Ricardo Esgaio deflection from a free kick, but the striker turned in the rebound.

With 30 minutes to play, Sporting CP –who remained unchanged until the end – went searching for another goal. Matheus Nunes nearly provided it with a shot just over from the edge of the area, but it was up to captain Daniel Bragança to find the net on 85 minutes with a beautiful goal, having been set up by Paulinho.

Portimonense SC would get back on terms before the end, however. After a punch clear from Adán, the ball hit Matheus Reis, Gonçalo Inácio couldn't get it away, and Renato Jr. made it 2-2 just before the final whistle.

The goalkeeper speaks at the start of preseason training camp

Antonio Adán is back with the Sporting Clube de Portugal squad to prepare for his second season at the club, and his second preseason training camp in Lagos.

Speaking after the first session in the Algarve, the goalkeeper explained his feelings ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

"It is a joy for us to be here. We are at a great hotel, which brings back some good memories and is a place where we can prepare very well for the coming season," he began by saying.

"We have the same unity that we showed last season. If anything has changed, it is that we have shown that we are capable of becoming champions. That gives us the confidence and experience to face this season, but the foundations of last season, which are humility, unity and work, must continue every day."

"Sporting CP are the favourites to win every game. That's our mindset. That's how we approached the league last year and it will be like that this year too. Being champions was something beautiful for the club and for all of us players, and a club like Sporting CP must always be in that fight, but having become champions doesn't mean we are favourites for the title this year. We are favourites to win the next game. This is our mentality."

It is a sentiment that coach Rúben Amorim has maintained.

"The coach's message remains the same. That's his mentality, taking things game by game. We know that things change a lot from one year to the next, and that's why we have to be very focused and face each match with humility. If we think that because we were champions last year, we don't need to show the humility, work and dedication of last season, then we are mistaken," commented Adán.

"The responsibility is the same as last season. We represent a club with a huge history, with many fans worldwide. This is our greatest responsibility and our greatest pride, and that's why we want to do everything very well -for everyone."

Adán also spoke about the Supertaça against SC Braga, scheduled for July 31st.

"Winning it is the first objective for the season. We are all looking forward to having the fans back as well, after a year and a half without anybody in the stands. We are eager to feel the support of our fans, and even the pressure of the opposition fans."

The squad will have an extended stay in the Algarve

Sporting CP moved their preseason work to the Algarve on Monday, and will stay in Lagos through to July 21st. The training camp got underway this Monday, with a first session for the reigning Portuguese league champions.

Coach Rúben Amorim had 27 players available to him, and set out a demanding workout for them involving ball drills and tactics. Missing the first session were Pedro Marques and Vitorino Antunes, who undertook individual training in the gym.

Os Leões continue their preparations on Tuesday, behind closed doors.