League Cup Group A matchday 2 tickets on sale

Tickets for League Cup Group A matchday 2, which will see Sporting CP host Varzim in the last match in Estádio José Alvalade in 2016, will be on sale from the 26th to the 29th of December from 10h00 to 20h00.

Tickets will also be available on matchday (30th of December) from 10h00 until half-time.

Kick-off is scheduled for 21h15 on Friday the 30th of December and this match is not included in Gamebox packages.

Tickers start from 3€ for Club Members with a Gamebox, 6€ for Club Members and 9€ for fans.

Shotstopper tallies 50 votes, bettered only by Neuer and Buffon

The International Federation of Football History and Statistics named Rui Patricio as the 3rd best Goalkeeper of the Year for 2016, in a vote announced this week.

The Euro 2016 winner received 50 points, beaten only by the goalkeeping legends Gianluigi Buffon (91) and Manuel Neuer (156).

Session open to all club members and fans

Sporting Clube de Portugal's professional football squad will hold an open-door training session in Estádio José Alvalade at 17h00 on Tuesday the 27th of December.

The session is open to all club members and fans, with presents also being given to the younger generations by the Sporting Foundation.

Gates will open at 16h00.

Jorge Jesus highlights his side's mature display against a determined Belenenses side

Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Jorge Jesus praised his side's patience in finally breaking a spirited Belenenses side with an added-time winner from Bas Dost.

"It was a difficult game when you look at the result. We didn't really give Belenenses the chance to attack for the first 40 minutes and we were really good when it came to positioning, but a goal was hard to come by. I told the lads that if we carried on playing like we were then we would score eventually", opened the Sporting CP coach, adding a word on the points gap at the top of Liga NOS: "We let Belenenses go forward a bit in the second-half. You can see the lads are a bit tired, largely due to playing 10 games in a month, but wins bring confidence. Obviously the quality of the lads isn't being questioned at all and we still feel the same pressure, win or lose."

Bas Dost strikes late to secure three points in Estádio do Restelo

A tireless away support pushed Sporting CP over the finish line in Estádio do Restelo this Thursday night, with Bas Dost netting from range deep into injury time after a brilliant cross floated across to the far post by Joel Campbell. Who better than the Dutch hitman to collect on the Costa Rican's pass, with Dost already having proved his credentials in front of goal with nine Liga NOS goals in 12 outings.

The goal was enjoyed both on and off the pitch, with William Carvalho even jumping up off the bench and running to join his colleagues to celebrate in front of the fans. The win was exactly what was needed, with Sporting CP coming into the evening on the back of three less positive results. Credit to Belenenses however, who put up a spirited display to deny Sporting CP right up until the death.

Sporting CP certainly tried to break the deadlock on several occasions (12 shots compared to Belenenses' 9), claiming 13 corners and holding down 58% of possession, however some disciplined defending from the hosts help chances to a minimum. Going forward, Belenense largely relied on counter-attacks and their was a real sense of justice as Bas Dost secured the result three minutes into stoppage time.

Squad list to face Os Belenenses on Liga NOS matchday 15

Jorge Jesus has released his squad list for Thursday's 21h00 encounter with Os Belenenses, in Estádio do Restelo:

34 – Beto Pimparel
26 – Azbe Jug
4 – Jefferson Moreira
10 – Bryan Ruiz
11 – Bruno César
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
19 – Douglas Teixeira
20 – Luc Castaignos
21 – João Pereira
22 – Elias Trindade
23 – Adrien Silva
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
77 – Gelson Martins
99 – Alan Ruiz

Information from Sporting CP's medical department

Sporting Clube de Portugal's medical department has released the following clinical information:

Rui Patrício: muscle strain in the left thigh

Lukas Spalvis: recovering from knee surgery

Ezquiel Schelotto: muscle injury in the right calf

Rúben Semedo: muscle injury in the right thigh

Jorge Jesus warns of tough trip across Lisbon to face Os Belenenses

"It is always hard to play in Restelo. (Os Belenenses) are having a good season and they have taken points off one of our rivals already", alerted Jorge Jesus in his pre-match press conference this week, ahead of Thursday's trip across Lisbon to face Os Belenenses).

Looking at Os Belenense in further depth, Jesus added: "They are flying high on some good results right now, they play some competitive football and they will try and work to their strengths against us. However, we will of course be looking for the three points."

Sporting CP's recent results are a far cry from Alvalade's ambition's, however Jesus sees this as the perfect chance for his side to get back on track: "Since I came in here, we have almost always own. We started this season really well and this kind of crises only started this week. It comes from going to Luz just two points behind and coming away five behind. Of course the league is our objective, but we a fighting hard on all fronts."

Alvalde youngster scooped award in August and September

Gelson Martins was officially presented with the Young Player of the Month awards for August and September this Wednesday, in a ceremony held at the Sporting Academy after the day's training session.

"This is recognition of my individually work and the whole team. I am happy, it is a nice award for everyone. A player can't do anything on their own", said Gelson in an interview with Sporting TV.

Semi-final encounter with V. Guimarães or Sp. Covilhã awaits the winner

Sporting CP will travel to Desportivo Chaves in the Portuguese Cup semi-finals. The fixture will be played from the 17th to the 19th of January. The round's other matches are Benfica-Leixões, Sp. Covilhã-V. Guimarães and Estoril-Académica.

The draw also set up the semi-final fixtures, with the winner of Sporting CP's match to face the winner of Vitória Guimarães or Sporting Covilhã.

Sporting CP's director for football, Octávio Machado, was at the draw and was keen to alert to the dangers of a Cup visit to Chaves: "It is always a nice trip and it is the chance to take some good football to a part of the region that has been denied of that in recent years. Chaves are a team that demand our respect and they have already knocked out FC Porto. That won't take away from our determination and we want to reach the final of this competition."