Jorge Jesus on Sporting's 3-1 win against Marítimo

Jorge Jesus was understandably pleased with another clinical display in front of goal on Saturday night, this time with his team easing past Marítimo.

“It was a good win. It was as hard as we thought it would be, based on how Marítimo have been playing. They are a well structured side and they showed that tonight. We were very pragmatic I thought, although we didn't have as many chances as we usually do. We know we can't make mistakes at this stage of the season and that obviously brings a bit of anxiety with it. We have five games to go and we are in the fight", opened Jorge Jesus in his pre-match press conference.

Again questioned about the influence of pressure on his side, Jesus played it cool: "The players don't know how the other matches are going and I never want to know either. Any team playing for the title has to be ready all the time and that it what makes the difference. This team has been a good surprise for me and we have built the mentality of a champion in just eight months, which normally takes years."

Teo Gutiérrez's reaction after win against Marítimo

Teo Gutiérrez continued with his rich streak of scoring form this weekend, this time with Sporting's opener against Marítimo after having already netted twice against both Arouca and Belenenses.

“Thankfully we got another win, which was important to keep us in the fight. We have our objectives and we have five more finals to play. We know that we aren't in first, but we will keep putting the work in. We are a team that goes for the win, no matter where we play", said the Colombian striker, going on to comment on his current form: "Thanks to my teammates and the coaching staff things are going well. Sporting is always under a lot of pressure, but the work we have been doing gives us confidence and you can see that on the pitch. I will carry on doing my best to help the team and the fans getting behind us has been really important. We know what we have to do until the end of the season."

Sporting put three past Marítimo to keep up the pressure on Liga NOS top spot

Sporting CP beat Marítimo 3-1 this Saturday night, with an effective performance in front of goal that keeps up the pressure on the league leaders with five matches still to play.

Jorge Jesus' side tried to replicate their early strikes against Arouca and Belenenses and chances certainly were not lacking in the opening exchanges, with Salin called into action on several occasion. The first real opportunity come from a header from Bryan Ruiz, but the Costa Rican was unable to find the mark after a a cross from Teo Gutiérrez. In reply Marítimo had to shots of their own, however both efforts floated harmlessly over Rui Patrício's crossbar.

Marítimo's strategy essentially boiled down to an attempt to stretch play, but Sporting's calculated defensive positioning and high pressure marking smothered out the visitors' good intentions. In fact, it was only for a bit of hestitation that Maritimo didn't concede a goal earlier, with Slimani taking just a second to long to get his shots away. More practical was Bruno César's foray forward, as the Brazilian floated in from what is for him an unusual left-back position to blast a shot just wide in the 29th minute. Despite the one way traffic towards the Marítimo goal, the team from Madeira responded with a couple of efforts down the other end, however Patrício made a pair of smart saves to match.

In reply, Sporting finally found the back of the net, courtesy in part to a wicked deflection off João Diogo from a Teo Gutiérrez shot. Although the initial effort did seem to be heading goalwards, the ball looped over Salin to finally do justice to the scoreboard, three minutes before the break.

The second-half got underway with three corners for Sporting, but it was from open play that Jorge Jesus' side doubled their lead. William, given the responsibility of filling in more forward position along side Aquilani in the absence of the suspended Adrien, broke forward and put a left footed shot across the face of Salin and in at the far post.

The 50 minute mark saw Marítimo start to waver under the hail of Sporting's attacking football and dominance in possession, inviting the hosts to come forward in search of a third. It was Slimani who typically obliged, left with an envious tap in after João Mário's initial shot has been blocked by the Marítimo defence.

With the game simmering towards the inevitable conclusion, concentration began to slip and Ghazaryan made the most of a loose ball at the edge of the area to pull a goal back with nine minutes to play. However, the late consolation made little difference and their was still time for Matheus to leave a golden opportunity wanting in front of Salin.

Jorge Jesus includes 19 for Liga NOS matchday 29

Jorge Jesus has included a total of 19 players in his squad to face Marítimo, on Liga NOS matchday 29.

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Azbe Jug

Defenders: Schelotto, Ricardo Esgaio, Coates, Ruben Semedo, Tobias Figueiredo and Zeegelaar

Midfielders: William, Aquilani, João Mário and Bruno César

Forwards: Carlos Mané, Gelson Martins, Matheus Pereira, Bryan Ruiz, Teo Gutiérrez, Hernán Barcos and Slimani

Jorge Jesus' pre-match press conference ahead of hosting of Marítimo

Jorge Jesus was with the press this Friday evening, to speak about Saturday's 20h45 hosting of Marítimo, in Estádio José Alvalade. Affirming that the weekend's encounter is sure to bring with it a fair share of difficulties, the Sporting coach also spoke about the end of the disciplinary process against Slimani and Teo Gutierrez's impressive form. 

"Marítimo are traditionally a hard team to face for anyone. They are a good team with a good coach and good players. We will be playing against a well motivated Marítimo team who will want to take points away from Alvalade. We will have to find a way to reach of objectives tomorrow", opened Jesus.

Asked about the feeling in the Sporting camp, the Alvalade coach proved happy with the support shown for his squad: "The fans have been extraordinary and they believe in the team and our quality to fight for the title. When I said we would be fighting for the title, but maybe most people didn't believe it. Now they do. Sporting is a huge club with a lot of fans and have everything needed to be a big club in every way."

Another of the themes touched on by Jesus was the conclusion of the disciplinary process against Islam Slimani and Teo Gutierrez's brilliant goal scoring form. "Two or three months ago I said that I didn't believe that Slimani would be punished. For me, this decision is just a bit off because it has come so late", said Jesus about the Algerian, before commenting on Teo: "Teo isn't a surprise for anyone. When he signed for us from what was a good side in Argentina, he was also playing a lot for Colombia, which is one of the best side's in the world in terms of strikers. They have Falcão, Jackson and Bacca, but Teo always played."

Decision in process against Islam Slimani

Slimani was absolved by the Portuguese Football Federation's (PFF) Disciplinary Council (DC) this Friday, for an alleged act of aggression towards Samaris in the Portuguese Cup.

The ruling reads: "It was not proven that the accused ran in the direction of Benfica's number 7 (Samaris), consciously hitting him with his right arm in the back of the head and knowing that he would be violating the regulations of the PFF and DC). A comparison with television images and statements from the referees does not allow for a conclusion beyond doubt that the incident was not witnessed by any of the refereeing team."

The DC ruled in favour of Sporting's augment that "the accused player was not running in the direction of Samaris, but in the direction of the ball, as the images show. The player knocks into Samaris because he, in understanding that the accused was approaching, moved to the side and opened his arms with the aim of stopping the accused and making an impact inevitable."

Further agreeing with the arguments put forwards by Sporting, the ruling quotes: "The accused ran with the intention of intercepting the ball, which was in the possession of the Benfica number 27, several metres away. Faced with the obstruction of Andreas Samaris, who opens his arms and moved sideways, the accused instinctively lifted up him arms and tries to turn his body, thereby knocking into the player."

Slimani's defence further adds: "The player never took his eyes off the ball and did not intend to hit the player Samaris. The impact between the two players was due to the speed that the accused was moving and the fact that Samaris put his body in his path at the last minute, making it impossible to avoid an impact."

Relative to the argument that referee Jorge Sousa did not see the incident, the Club defended: "it is not true that the incident occurred out of the view of the referee, who was following the ball, and the television images show that. The ball was virtually stopped at the feet of the Benfica number 21, Pizzi, at the time of the incident and the incident occurred no more than two metres to the left of the ball. The referee, who was 10 to 15 metres away and looking in that direction, could not have missed the incident."

João Mário rallies support for the weekend's hosting of Marítimo

The Liga NOS Young Player of the Month, João Mário is expecting Alvalade to one again be at full capacity this weekend, as his side host Marítimo on Liga NOS matchday 29.

“The team is in great form right now. We are coming in on the back of some good results and we want a lot of fans with us to beat Marítimo", said the Portuguese midfielder, adding: "We are felling really well supported and that makes a huge difference. Saturday will be the same again, with the stadium packed out."

Octávio Machado on refereeing and the Liga NOS run in

Alvalade's director of football, Octávio Machado, sat down this week to comment on a statement released by Benfica.

"Are we living in the past, twenty years ago? I have always been on the front line of the fight to change football, but there are a lot of people who want to go backwards", opened Machado, before going on to reflect on alleged comments made towards referees: "Was it me that said João Capela is a bad person or bad referee? Some people are really disturbed, probably the same people who said Jorge Sousa, the best Portuguese referee, sent off the substitute goalkeeper because the first choice was injured. A lot of people have very creative imaginations to be honest. I don't criticize refereeing, but I do have something to say about the naming of referees for matches. João Capela wasn't picked for any Benfica matches and he didn't referee a single Sporting of FC Porto matchday for three years. He is a referee that should not be picked and everyone knows that."

With the season heading for a tight finish, Machado appealed for a fair contest: "The last six games deserve that extra bit of attention from everyone involved in sport, starting with Vítor Pereira. Look at what is happening in refereeing, it is being destroyed."

João Mário receives award for February

João Mário collected his prize for the Professional Football Syndicate's Youth Player of the Month for February this week, after having already scooped the award in January.

Receiving the award at the Sporting Academy, João Mário was keen to give credit to the entire squad: "I am really happy for having won this award again. It is recognition of the work I have been putting in, but also of what the team has been doing. Things are going well for us and I am really happy. You can't win individual awards without the team. I try to do my best and this is recognition of that."

The Sporting midfielder received a total of 16.94% of votes cast, ahead of Guimarães' Miguel Silva (13.72%).

Nuno Almeida named for Liga NOS matchday 29

Nuno Almeida, 40, from the Algarve Football Association, has been named for Liga NOS matchday 29, between Sporting CP and Marítimo.

Paulo Ramos and Pais António have been named as linesmen.

This will be Almeida's second Sporting match of the season, after the matchday 13 hosting of Moreirense.

Sporting CP-Marítimo will get underway at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio José Alvalade.