The team win 3-1 in preparation game for the 2020/2021 season

Sporting Clube de Portugal took another preseason victory in a Friday friendly against Real Valladolid CF, beating the Spanish team 2-1 at the Complexo Desportivo do FC Alverca. The goals for Rúben Amorim's side were scored by Zouhair Feddal and Jovane Cabral.

Seven minutes in, Sporting CP enjoyed their first chance, which ended with a tame shot by Cabral. Ten minutes later, Valladolid's Sekou Gassama headed into the hands of goalkeeper Antonio Adán.

An appeal for a penalty for handball, resulting from a cross in by Antunes, was waved off on the half hour. Shortly after, Pedro Porro -playing against his former club- had an opportunity saved by opposition keeper Roberto.

The best Sporting CP chance of the opening stanza came in the 41st minute, when Porro played through to Tiago Tomás with an excellent pass and the young Portuguese striker fired a shot on goal - again kept out by Roberto.

With the score at 0-0 going into half time, after the restart Sporting CP came out strong, and in the first minute Porro set up Cabral for a shot that he put wide off a deflection. Nuno Santos also kept Roberto busy during the initial passages of play, Cabral shot into the face of the opposition goalkeeper, and Tomás would hit the woodwork, all in the space of 10 minutes.

Whilst Sporting CP were the only side providing an attacking threat, a handball by Feddal and subsequent conversion by Gassama handed Valladolid the lead from the penalty spot.

Having previously introduced Luciano Vietto for his first minutes of preseason action, Amorím brought on João Palhinha to replace Matheus Nunes in the aftermath of the goal.

Feddal made amends for his conceded penalty with the equaliser, scored on 72 minutes as he headed in a Wendel cross.

Two chances had Nuno Santos hit the post and Palhinha shot wide, before - ten minutes from the final whistle - Cabral was brought down, Miguel Rubio was sent off, and Tiago Martins converted the penalty.

Sporting CP could have made it 3-1 had a Vietto goal not been ruled out for offside, but nevertheless had another positive preseason result to prepare for the upcoming season.

Lineup: Sporting CP: Antonio Adán (GR), Pedro Porro, Luís Neto (Gonzalo Plata, 80 '), Sebastián Coates (C), Zouhair Feddal (Cristián Borja, 80'), Vitorino Antunes (Luciano Vietto, 59 '), Matheus Nunes (João Palhinha, 66 '), Wendel, Tiago Tomás, Nuno Santos and Jovane Cabral

The pair spoke to Sporting TV after beating Real Valladolid

Following the 2-1 friendly win over Real Valladolid, Sporting CP players João Palhinha and Tiago Tomás expressed their pleasure with the result, the display and the evolution of the team.

"It's an honour to be here. The growth that the team have undergone, and the intensity we provided in the game, should be noted. I think that we had an excellent game," said Palhinha to Sporting TV after the final whistle.

"At this point, the most important thing is to pick up pace, so that when the competition returns we are ready to achieve our objectives."

"We always want to win, be it in preseason or not. That's the spirit of a big club. We are doing a good job. I've represented Sporting CP for many years, and playing here always feels special. I feel very happy about that," he added.

Tomás, who carried over his good form from the preseason camp in the Algarve, was pleased with the attitude shown by the team.

"We have a mentality of wanting to win, and it can't be any other way," he explained. "When we are at a disadvantage, we have to run ten times more to turn things around. Sporting CP are that way, and Sporting CP always have to win."

As for his position on the pitch, the versatile player insisted he is ready for anything.

"At youth level I played in all three positions up top, and it's up to the coach to decide in which I can help the team the most. I don't have any preference; whatever the coach tells me, I do."

Sporting CP play Gil Vicente on September 19th

The 2020/2021 Liga NOS season will get underway for Sporting Clube de Portugal on September 19th, as they play Gil Vicente FC at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Liga Portugal have also published kick-off times for Sporting CP’s first three fixtures of the campaign. Between league encounters, they will also play the Third Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League, against either Aberdeen or Viking FK.

Matchday 1.
Saturday, September 19th
Sporting CP vs. Gil Vicente FC – 6:30pm local time

Matchday 2.
Sunday, September 27th
FC Paços Ferreira vs. Sporting CP - 6:30pm local time

Matchday 3.
Sunday, October 4th
Portimonense SC vs. Sporting CP – 9:00pm local time

The UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round will take place on Sept. 24th

Sporting CP will kick off their 2020/21 UEFA Europa League campaign on September 24th, playing either Viking FC or Aberdeen FC in the Third Qualifying Round of the continental competition. In a change of format this year, the match will be held over a single leg at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Os Leões will find out which of the two teams they will face one week prior, when the Norwegian and Scottish sides play one another in the Second Qualifying Round on September 17th.

Sporting CP have already played against Viking FK in the European tournament, in its previous incarnation as the UEFA Cup: In 1999/2000, the team lost the first leg 3-0, before winning 1-0 at Alvalade through an Ayew goal.

Sporting CP triumph 3-1 in their second preseason friendly

Sporting Clube de Portugal ended their preseason stay in the Algarve with a 3-1 victory over Belenenses SAD on Sunday night.

Rúben Amorim initially fielded the 11 players who concluded the previous friendly against Portimonense SC on Friday: Adán, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Borja, Ristovski, Daniel Bragança, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Mendes, Jovane Cabral, Pedro Gonçalves and Tiago Tomás all featured in his starting lineup.

Sporting CP took the lead in the 11th minute with a goal from Pedro Gonçalves - his first unofficial strike for the club. He was set up by Tiago Tomás, who was returning the favour after the assist provided by Gonçalves two days prior.

The early advantage was doubled on 25 minutes, as Tomás scored off a pass by Jovane Cabral.

Sporting CP held their 2-0 lead into the break, where coach Amorim again decided to rotate goalkeepers. Adán was taken off, allowing Luís Maximiano 45 minutes of action.

Further substitutions were made on the 70 minute mark, mirroring the strategy from the previous friendly. All ten outfield players were taken off, replaced by Pedro Porro, Zou Feddal, Coates, Luís Neto, Antunes, Rodrigo Fernandes, Wendel, Nuno Santos, Gonzalo Plata and Andraž Šporar.

The team took the score to 3-0 in the 74th minute, after a long ball upfield from Maximiano. Šporar broke into the area and placed his shot well, taking the score to 3-0.

Although Belenenses would pull a goal back in the 86th minute, Sporting CP were never in difficulty, and made it two wins from two friendlies thus far in preseason. The next fixture for the team is scheduled for September 4th, when they take on Spanish side Real Valladolid in Alverca.

Gil Vicente FC to visit the Alvalade on September 20th

Sporting Clube de Portugal will kick off the 2020/21 Liga NOS season at home, playing Gil Vicente FC at the Estádio José Alvalade on September 20th.

The draw for the first half of the Portuguese league campaign was made on Friday. The season will run through to May 19th, 2021.

The first ‘Clássico’ against FC Porto is the club’s fourth fixture, taking place on October 18th, whilst the first derby against local rivals SL Benfica has been set for the end of January, on the penultimate matchday of the first half of the season.

Calendar first half of Liga NOS:

Matchday 1. | 20.09.2020: Sporting CP vs. Gil Vicente FC
Matchday 2. | 27.09.2020: FC Paços Ferreira vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 3. | 04.10.2020: Portimonense SC vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 4. | 18.10.2020: Sporting CP vs. FC Porto
Matchday 5. | 25.10.2020: CD Santa Clara vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 6. | 01.11.2020: Sporting CP vs. CD Tondela
Matchday 7. | 08.11.2020: Vitória SC vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 8. | 29.11.2020: Sporting CP vs. Moreirense FC
Matchday 9. | 06.12.2020: FC Famalicão vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 10. | 20.12.2020: Sporting CP vs. SC Farense
Matchday 11. | 27.12.2020: Belenenses SAD vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 12. | 12.01.2021: Sporting CP vs. SC Braga
Matchday 13. | 10.01.2021: CD Nacional vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 14. | 17.01.2021: Sporting CP vs. Rio Ave FC
Matchday 15. | 24.01.2021: Boavista FC vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 16. | 31.01.2021: Sporting CP vs. SL Benfica
Matchday 17. | 03.02.2021: CS Marítimo vs. Sporting CP

Goals from Šporar and Tomás hand the team victory in the Algarve

Sporting Clube de Portugal's first friendly of the 2020/21 preseason ended in a 2-1 victory over Portimonense SC, as part of the team's training camp in the Algarve.

Coach Rúben Amorim used the fixture to run the rule over 22 of the 29 players who have been training with the team this week, and fielded a starting line-up of Luís Maximiano, Pedro Porro, Sebastián Coates, Luís Neto, Zou Feddal, Antunes, Rodrigo Fernandes, Wendel, Gonzalo Plata, Nuno Santos and Andraž Šporar.

As is customary in preseason, the second half saw the game broken up by substitutions. Whilst Amorim decided to take a look at new goalkeeper Antonio Adán between the sticks, opposition coach Paulo Sérgio replaced every member of his first XI.

Portimonense SC took the lead when Zou Feddal brought down Luquinha in the area, Lucas Possignolo converting the resulting penalty past Adán.

Sporting CP had a penalty of their own when Andraž Šporar was on the receiving end of a foul, the Slovenian international dusting himself off to take the spot kick to make it 1-1.

On 71 minutes, Rúben Amorim made wholesale changes, with all outfield players replaced. Nuno Mendes, Matheus Nunes, Tiago Tomás, Ristovski, Borja, Pedro Gonçalves, Gonçalo Inácio, Daniel Bragança, Eduardo Quaresma and Jovane Cabral all got their first preseason minutes, and a goal would follow swiftly.

Gonçalo Inácio sent a ball over the Portimonense SC defence, which Pedro Gonçalves latched onto on the left. He broke into the box and played to Tiago Tomás at the back post- who scored to hand Sporting CP the lead.

The goal and the win got the team off to a promising start to their preseason. Next up is a Sunday friendly against Belenenses SAD, on the final day of their stay in the Algarve.

Nuno Santos talks to journalists and Federico Varandas attends the session

Sporting CP's first preseason friendly takes place on Friday against Portimonense SC, part of a training camp for the squad in the Algarve. The game kicks off at 8:30pm (local time) at the Estádio Municipal de Portimão, and will be the first chance to see some of the club's new signings in action.

One such player is Nuno Santos, who joined the club last week from Rio Ave. He was chosen to speak to the media on Thursday, after another intense session to get the squad ready for 2020/21.

"I think that we are going to give a good showing of ourselves," he told reporters. "We are training well; the sessions this week have been tough, and tomorrow will be a test for us to show our good football."

"We have a lot of quality and we are all here to work. We all want to earn our spot in the team, and to do that we need to show our qualities to the coach. The best players are the ones who will play," added the 25-year old.

Asked about what position he expects to occupy, in both friendlies and the Primeira Liga, Santos says that he can feature "both on the wing and in the middle". "I'm available wherever the coach wants me to play."

"This is an excellent group. I like being here a lot and I'm really happy to represent Sporting CP. We have a lot of quality, and in these friendly games the fans are going to see that."

Club president Frederico Varandas watched the session on Thursday, whilst Luciano Vietto joined up with the squad for the first time since their arrival in the Algarve. Tactical work was the main focus of the workout, helping to bring together established names and new arrivals.

Sporting CP's new goalkeeper speaks at preseason training camp in the Algarve

Antonio Adán was signed by Sporting Clube de Portugal last week, but had only the briefest of introductions to the Academia Sporting training ground before being whisked away to the Algarve for the club's preseason training camp. There, he has been acquainting himself with his new teammates and looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I'm happy and very excited. I was looking forward to coming here," said the goalkeeper, who has also had a turn on the microphone during the team's downtime in Lagos.

"My initiation task was to sing at dinner yesterday," he revealed, laughing. "It's part of being accepted into the group, and I was very happy to provide my teammates with that fun moment. That's what this group are like: It's a really good group of people, with a strong bond and a lot of desire to start the season."

With the more serious business of the Primeira Liga season just around the corner, the squad are in for a demanding few weeks of training.

"The work has been hard, but that's normal in preseason. Every component of the squad is working with a lot of intensity, with plenty of ball work and plenty of fitness work. We have to create a strong group for what is coming up: It will be a hard season, and I believe that the entire team are focused for it."

"The mentality for a club as big as Sporting CP to always be at the top. That's the mentality of the coach and the club, and the way we want to approach this season. We want to face it with ambition and enthusiasm."

Adán is also looking forward to a battle for his place in the starting XI at his new club, saying that "My teammates and I are ready for whatever the coach decides. We all want to play, and I think that it is good for the group to have this competitiveness in every position. I hope the coach picks me to contribute, but if he doesn't then I have to keep working to help the team."

The new signing says that he already feels part of the group

Antunes only arrived at Sporting Clube de Portugal just over a week ago, but the defender says he already feels fully integrated into the team coached by Rúben Amorim.

"It has been very positive so far," he told the media at the club's training camp in Lagos on Monday. "I had been told that this was a very good, hardworking group, and that it would be easy to adapt. I already knew some members of the team, and that has made it easier. These past few days have been very positive."

The veteran campaigner also praised the attitude of the younger players, whilst explaining what he believes he brings to the team.

"I offer hard work and I will try to instil that mentality in the younger squad members, although I have already realised that they all have a lot of ambition and work their hardest every day," he said, singling out fellow defender Nuno Mendes for particular compliments.

"Competition is good for both of us. He is a quality player, make no mistake about it, and he will give a lot to both Sporting CP and Portuguese football. I will help him in whatever way I can. What is best for him – and for me – will be what is best for the club, and I am here to help."

Antunes also talked about Amorim, with whom he is working for the first time.

"A new season is beginning, with new ambitions, and he will be prepared for that. The ambition here is at its highest. All of the players want to win and we will face each game trying to claim as many points as possible. We will do this game by game, to achieve the club's objectives, increase the group's confidence and increase people's trust and respect for this team," promised the summer signing.

With the Portuguese national team squad for the UEFA Nations League games next month announced, the fullback says he is still available for his country if selected in the future.

"The door isn't closed on that, and it never has been. I will never say no to the national team. If I am called up, then great. If not, then life goes on. I sense that today it is much more difficult, as there are many more left backs from which to choose -there is even one here at Sporting CP."