Alan Ruiz affirms Sporting's credentials on every front

Alan Ruiz sat down for an interview with the sports newspaper Record this week.

For the Argentinean, there is little doubt on how high the bar should be set for Sporting this season: "I would bet on Sporting to win the league right now. Sporting tries in every competition and always plays for the win. Not just in the league, but in every competition. Every team we play against wants to win, because we are one of Europe's top clubs."

Update on sales of Champions League group stage tickets

Sporting Clube de Portugal has issued the following update in relation to ticket sales for the coming Champions League fixtures in Estádio José Alvalade.

MATCHDAY 3 | SPORTING CP vs BORUSSIA DORTMUND

A total of 41,000 (82% of capacity) have already been sold and a sell-out is expected for the first time in European competitions.

Tickets are still available from €35 (Member) and €55 (fan) for the Central - B Stand.

This match is included in all Gamebox 2016/2017 packages.

MATCHDAY 5 | SPORTING CP vs REAL MADRID

The first phase of sales has finished. Only non-renewed special seats can purchase tickets up until the 25th of October.

The second phase of sales will begin on the 26th of October, will all non-renewed special seats going on sale.

An additional third phase of sales will begin on the 15th of November, depending on the return of tickets from Real Madrid and Champions League sponsors.

Adrien thanks the fans for support and promises to come back in form

The Sporting captain Adrien Silva published a video dedicated to his fans on his official Facebook page this week thanking everyone for their support as he recovers from injury.

"Hi everyone. I want to thank you all for your messages and support. It has been really important for my recovery. Everything is going well and I will come back stronger. Thanks everyone", said the Alvalade midfielder.

Adrien picked up a muscle injury against Guimarães and took advantage of his time off the pitch to remedy a knee inury.

Jorge Jesus pushing the pace in the build up to Famalicão

Without his eight internationals - Rui Patrício, William Carvalho and Gelson Martins (Portugal), Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell (Costa Rica), Coates (Uruguay), Markovic (Serbia) and Bas Dost (Netherlands), and Adrien and Spalvis through injury, unavailable, Jorge Jesus headed another training session this Thursday morning.

Sporting CP will next be in action a week today, taking on Famalicão in the Portuguese Cup 3rd round.

Jesus puts squad through their paces in build up to Portuguese Cup

The inclusion of B team goalkeeper Pedro Silva in the senior team's training session was the main highlight of Wednesday's training session in Alcochete.

With Rui Patrício, William Carvalho and Gelson Martins (Portugal), Coates (Uruguay), Markovic (Serbia) and Bas Dost (Netherlands) all away on international duty and Adrien and Spalvis out through injury, Jorge Jesus had a much reduced squad to work with. Taking advantage of the good weather, the Sporting coach guided the players through a session with the ball, before finishing with a lecture on tactics.

Alvalade skipper picked up muscle problem against Vitória de Guimarães

Sporting Clube de Portugal informs that the player Adrien Silva picked up a muscle injury to the left thigh on Saturday and is expected to be out of action for four to six weeks. In taking advantage of the Sporting captain's forced absence, Adrien Silva has also undergone a procedure to correct an already existing meniscus injury to his left knee.

News on tickets for B. Dortmund and Real Madrid

Sporting Clube de Portugal will begin ticket sales tomorrow for Champions League Group Stage matchday 3 and 5.

MATCHDAY 3

SPORTING CP vs BORUSSIA DORTMUND

18th of October (Tuesday) at 19h45

MATCHDAY 5

SPORTING CP vs REAL MADRID CF

22nd of November (Tuesday) at 19h45

Just 15,000 tickets are still available. Both matches are included in GAMEBOX 2016/2017 and all tickets for the visiting clubs and respective institutions have already been issued. Tickets are expected to sell out.

Children under the age of 3 are not permitted to attend the match and all fans must have a valid ticket (Gamebox 2016/2017 or ticket). The membership fee applicable for the matches in September 2016 (for Borussia Dortmund) and October 2016 (for Real Madrid CF).

Midfielder picks up thigh muscle injury against V. Guimarães

Adrien Silva suffered a muscle injury to the left thigh against V. Guimarães and was substituted after 36 minutes.

"We have no idea how we let in three goals"

While congratulating Guimarães for coming back from three-nil down, Jorge Jesus considered the draw as a harsh reflection of his side's performance.

"We were a quality side for 75 minutes, with some really dynamic, quick and creative football. We scored three and everyone was probably expecting us to score four. Up until the penalty we controlled the match. It was us who played for the win, although Vit. Guimarães deserve merit for what they did in the final stages", said Jorge Jesus in his post-match conference, adding: "With tiredness hurting us we lost a bit of aggressiveness and we couldn't win the second balls. It was all Sporting for 75 minutes and we have no idea how we let in three goals. It is a shame, because we deserved to win. I congratulate Vit. Guimarães, because they believed they could get back into it."

Sporting CP dominates for 74 minutes before conceding three

It was an extremely harsh final result after how Sporting dominated in D. Afonso Henriques. In fact, Jorge Jesus' side led 3-0 at one point, before two goals from Marega in the space of just a minute gave Vit. Guimarães the momentum to snatch a draw.

The encounter got off to a well balanced start, with neither team really willing to throw anything forward. Guimarães did have a half chance early on when a well placed pass picked out Marega, but the winger took a poor first touch and was able to capitalise. After 20 minutes Jorge Jesus' side took control, holding down long spells of possession and probing forward almost at will. The first big chance came from a snap shot by Adrien, denied by a fine save from Douglas.

The opportunity was a warning for the coming goal and who else but Gelson to rip open the Guimarães defence with a dazzling run and shot that Douglas parried into the path of Markovic for the opener. The goal triggered an avanlance of attacking football from the team from Alvalade and Rúben Semedo came close to doubling the lead, but his looping header ended up with wrong side of the post after a corner from Bryan Ruiz. However it didn't take long for Sporting to find the back of the net for a second time, when Coates made the most of Douglas' miscalculated run off his line. There was however bad news for Jesus at the end of the first-half, when Adrien was forced off through injury (replaced by Elias).

Sporting looked even more dominant after the break and chances naturally followed. First it was Markovic to break through on goal, but the Serbian was unable to beat the isolated Guimarães keeper. It was Elias who fired in Sporting's third, with a well placed effort from outside of the area.

The result looked secure, however a penalty against William Carvalho saw Marega pull one back from the spot in the 74th minute to give the hosts a lift. Just one minute later, the winger on loan from FC Porto converted on a cross to put his side back into contention. Soares scored the equaliser with one minute to play after latching on to a free-kick.