Jorge Jesus happy with three points in Estádio do Bessa

Jorge Jesus was evidently pleased with his side's win in Estádio do Bessa this Saturday, although the final result was short of reflecting Sporting CP's dominance.

"We had a really good first-half, with three excellent opportunities and a goal. We showed really good quality going forward and in defence we were great throughout. We didn't play as well in the second-half, but we secured the win", opened the Sporting CP coach, going on to speak about the difficulties of alternating between Champions League and domestic action: "We beat Arouca 3-0 after the match against Borussia Dortmund. We played really well in the first-half today, but we didn't dominate as much in the second. That is normal though, with the lads still being a bit tired."

finishing with a comment on the sending off of Rúben Semedo, Jesus was understandably displeased : "He (Semedo) was only shown a second-half because of pressure from the Boavista players. Honestly I didn't like the refereeing, although there were no major incidents. That referee has a great career ahead of him, but today I didn't like how he managed the game."

Jesus announces squad for trip north to face Boavista

Jorge Jesus has announced his squad to travel to Estádio do Bessa, on Liga NOS matchday 11:

1 - Rui Patrício
2 - Ezequiel Schelotto
3 - Lazar Markovic
7 - Joel Campbell
10 - Bryan Ruiz
11 - Bruno César
13 - Sebastian Coates
14 - William Carvalho
15 - Paulo Oliveira
16 - André Felipe
20 - Luc Castaignos
21 - João Pereira
22 - Elias Trindade
23 - Adrien Silva
28 - Bas Dost
31 - Marvin Zeegelaar
34 - Beto Pimparel
35 - Rúben Semedo
77 - Gelson Martins
99 - Alan Ruiz

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on the weekend's trip north

Jorge Jesus was in the press room at the Sporting Academy this Friday afternoon, looking ahead to what is always a tricky visit to Bessa to face Boavista.

"It will be a hard match, not only because of Boavista's quality but also their history. It is a really charismatic stadium. Boavista are doing the best with the characteristics that their squad has and they will want to take points off us. However we know what we are capable of and some of the lads are showing signs of good form now. We are feeling confident. Last year we drew there, but this year we want the three points", opened the Alvalade coach, going on to look at the weekend's opponent in further depth: "With their current coach they haven't lost a game, with the exception of in extra-time in the Cup. They will want points and they are aggressive in defence, especially at home. Naturally the game will be different to the one with Real Madrid, especially in how we get ourselves prepared."

Jorge Jesus also added an analysis of how his squad has developed so far during the current campaign: "The best is yet to come. You can only get the best out of a squad by working hard on the training ground and we have had more sessions with the lads nows. I am talking particularly about the lads who arrived this season, who are really well integrated into the squad now. The teams I manage are normally better in the second half of the season and we are developing really well."

Sales information for coming two home fixtures

Sporting Clube de Portugal will begin ticket sales this Monday for two coming home fixtures (ticket offices open from 10h00 to 20h00) as follows:

CTT CUP - AROUCA | WEDNESDAY 30TH OF NOVEMBER AT 18H15

This match is not included in Gamebox packages. Tickets start at 3€ for Gamebox holders, 6€ for Club Members and 9€ for fans. Members need to have paid October fees to take advantage of discount prices. Only Stand A will be open for the match.

LIGA NOS - SETÚBAL | SATURDAY 3RD OF DECEMBER AT 18H15

Sporting CP vs Vitória FC, on Liga NOS matchday 12, is this season's Supporters' Club match. Tickets will only be available for the central stand, priced from 16€ for Club Members and from 22€ for fans. Members need to have paid November fees to take advantage of discount prices.

Jorge Jesus's side on the road in the Portuguese Cup last-16

Sporting CP will travel to Vitória Futebol Clube (Vitória de Setúbal) in the Portuguese Cup last-16, in what is the only encounter between two Liga NOS teams.

The fixture will be played between the 13th and 15th od December in Estádio do Bonfim.

Sporting CP's director for football, Octávio Machado, was at the draw and noted: “It is a respectable opponent and I have a lot of personal admiration for them. It will be a hard match, but we want to get into the final of the Portuguese Cup. We will do everything we can to win this."

Draw in full:

Leixões - Tondela

Real Massamá - Benfica

Estoril Praia - Sanjoanense

Torrense - Chaves

SC Braga - SC Covilhã

Académica - Penafiel

V. Setúbal - SPORTING

V. Guimarães - Vilafranquense

Sales to begin for the trip to Bessa

Tickets for Liga NOS matchday 11, between Boavista Futebol Clube and Sporting Clube de Portugal, will go on sale at Estádio José Alvalade as follows:

THURSDAY (10H TO 20H) | Club Members only

FRIDAY (10H TO 15H) | General public

The first day of sales is exclusively for Club Members and a Member Card of Gamebox must be shown. Each card is valid for one ticket and must have October 2016 fees paid. Each person may present a maximum of 4 cards.

Kick-off is scheduled for 18h15 on Saturday the 26th of November, in Estádio do Bessa. Tickets are for the North Goal End and are priced at 12€ each.

Jorge Jesus praises his side's performance against the European champions

Despite missing out 2-1 and seeing his side's hopes of Champions League knock-out stage qualification dashed, coach Jorge Jesus had some much deserved words of praise, after watching his side once again put Real Madrid to the test.

"We have missed out on two big opportunities to beat Real Madrid. Only a team with the quality of Sporting could play the way we did against who for me are the best team in the world. Honestly you couldn't see the difference in individual quality between the two sides tonight", said Jesus, going on to comment on the sending off of João Pereira: "We knew the second-half would be better for us, because physically we were better and Real Madrid had a hard game against Atlético Madrid at the weekend. They wouldn't have been able to keep up, but when João got sent off Real pushed harder. Even so, we still scored. João didn't do anything wrong and Kovacic played it smart. I am fed up of saying it, but this whole fair-play thing is a bit fake. It doesn't exist in football. It it did, then Kovacic wouldn't have done what he did to trick the referee."

Adrien Silva on Sporting CP's hosting of Real Madrid

Author of both of Sporting CP's goals against Real Madrid this season, Adrien was the understandable choice to speak with press after Tuesday's Champions League encounter.

"It feels like we are repeating ourselves, but honestly we did out best. We showed our quality and we created chances, but if you don't put the goals away you pay for it in the end. The result isn't what we deserved, but football can be like that", opened the Sporting CP captain, going on to speak about the sending off of João Pereira: "With 11 it was hard, but it was even worse with 10. It forces you to double up on everything, but the lads made the sacrifice and did the club proud."

William Carvalho and Gelson Martins on Tuesday's Champions League encounter

"Obviously playing with less numbers is hard, but honestly I didn't see what happened", said William Carvalho at the final whistle on Tuesday, before reflecting on Sporting CP's European campaign so far this season: "We have done well, despite not getting into the next round. The fans have really been behind us and we have to thank them for that."

Gelson Martins again attracted the limelight with another classy performance and the young winger was also sought after by the press at the final whistle. "We started well and we equalised. We didn't get the result but I thought we reacted well to the occasion. I didn't see what happened (in relation to the sending off of João Pereira), but it made things harder for us", said Martins, adding a word on the praise aimed at him by Zidane: "I won't get carried away by it, but of course I am happy. Real Madrid looking at me doesn't bother me. I have five years left on my contract with Sporting CP and I intend to see them out."

Alvalade sets new crowd record with the hosting of the Galácticos

Sporting CP missed out to Real Madrid on Champions League matchday 5 this Tuesday, dashing any lingering hope of securing a place in the knock-out stages of the competition.

After just two minutes Adrien Silva found a yard of space in front of goal and was about to pull the trigger before Sergio Ramos scrambled back and cleared away. In response Cristiano Ronaldo tested Patrício with a dazzling turn and low shot, before a spell of well disputed football saw neither team create any clear opportunities to pull ahead.

The first goal of the evening was made to wait until a minute before the half-hour mark, when a Modric cross was scuffed by Cristiano Ronaldo deep inside the area. Varana was quickest to react and their was little Patrício could do from such close range. It was a harsh reflection of the action so far in front of a massive total of 50,046 fans and Jorge Jesus's side were not about to throw in the towel. Three minutes later Bruno César came agonizingly close to leveling for Sporting CP, before the Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos again put in a last ditch tackle.

Sporting CP's hopes of a comeback were dealt a heavy blow when João Pereira was given his matching ordered in the 64th minute after a tangle with Kovacic, but the reduction to 10 men actually blew new wind into the Alvalade sails. Fávio Coentrão, who had come on for the struggling Marcelo in the 71st minute, cut out classy touch from Joel Campbell with an obvious handball and Adrien Silva stepped up to finish from the penalty spot with his usual class.

Zidane rang the chances with the introduction of Benzema for Isco and it was the Frenchman who finally put Sporting CP's battling effort to bed, netting an 87th minute header after a cross from Sergio Ramos.