Joel Campbell signs in at Alvalade to bolster Sporting's attacking options

Joel Campbell, 24, will represent Sporting for the rest of the current campaign.

Speaking with the Sporting Journal after agreeing a loan move to Alvalade from Arsenal, the Costa Rican forward proved happy with the deal: "I am here to win the league! I want to pay back the confidence people have shown in me. Of course I spoke with Bryan Rui, who told me a lot of good things about the club, but it was the support of the president and coach that made me take this decision. I will work as hard as I can and results will speak for themselves. I know what I can do and I hope everything goes well here."

Joel Campell arrives on loan from Arsenal

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Arsenal Football Club for the loan of the player Joel Campbell for the current sports season.

Sporting SAD wishes Joel Campell the best of professional and personal success.

Jorge Jesus happy with his side's showing against Paços de Ferreira

Missing from the win against Paços de Ferreira, João Mário was inevitably one of issues put to the Sporting coach at the final whistle on Saturday.

"João Mário isn't here because of how he is physically. It would have been a risk to use him today. João Mário is a Sporting player and we have to make sure he doesn't pick up an injury when he could be moving. I didn't want him getting injured. If he improve, then he will play against FC Porto", affirmed Jorge Jesus, adding a work on the match itself: "Defensively we are more solid and you can only win games if you are well organised at the back. Paços didn't have a single opportunity. Offensively we have to do better and find our form from last season. We played against a team that has traditionally been tricky for us and it is important that we hae started off with a couple of wins. I thought Coates and Semedo did really well."

William Carvalho pleased with Sporting's second Liga NOS win

"The lads deserve a pat on the back for how we played. Our objective was to win and it is never easy to do that here", said William Carvalho at the final whistle this Saturday, adding a word on transfer speculation and his future in Lisbon: "(I am) focused on Sporting."

Sporting tally second win in as many attempts with battling performance against Paços

Six points out of six. Sporting are off to the best possible start to the new Liga NOS campaign, thanks to a solo strike from Adrien against Paços de Ferreira this Saturday.

With a hosting of FC Porto next up, an 11th consecutive league win was just what Jesus' side needed, with the cleansheet also Sporting's 4th in a row.

It was actually the hosts who had the opening opportunity of the encounter, when Mateus Silva tried his luck from range with 10 minutes on the clock. However, the effort ended up high of Rui Patrício's goal.

Sporting didnt't take long to rally and two minutes later it was danger down the other end, when a cross from Bruno César was only half cleared. Slimani looked to have found an inch to get away a shot, but Filipe Ferreira was able to get a block in.

Both sides were making a game of it and the blistering pace kept up. On 26 minutes a guided free-free tested Patrício, before an evidently rehearsed free-kick move from 30 metres out saw Adrien and William Carvalho exchange possession, before the Sporting captain blasted an effort just inches off target.

Defendi had been let off in the Paços goal so far, but he was in for a nervy evening. After trying to dribble the ball out, Buno César picked up possession and put a chip just off target.

The string of chances put wind into the Alvalade sails and more opportunities follows. On 34 minutes Bryan Ruiz floated in a cross that eventually found its way out to Alan Ruiz, but his shot was denied by a fine stop by the Paços keeper. Four minutes later, Slimani again tested Defendi's reflexes.

The opener however was destined for Adrien, after some persistent attacking. Bryan Ruiz looked up and drifted a cross towards Slimani, but the Algerian failed to get his effort away. However, the big striker didn't give up and hampered the Paços defence, who could only clear out as far as Bruno César, In came another cross and this time Gelson connected with the header, setting up Adrien for a superb bicycle kick to give his side a much deserved lead.

The Alvalade skipper's goal proved crucial at the final whistle, with Sporting missing a clinical touch in the second-half that could well hae extended the final result.

Jorge Jesus looks ahead to visit to Paços de Ferreira

Jorge Jesus was in the Estádio José Alvalade press room this Friday, looking ahead at the weekend's trip to Paços de Ferreira.

"Paços de Ferreira are usually a very competitive side. It isn't easy to play in Estádio da Mata, particularly with how they play in defence. However, this is the kind of match that the season will throw at us and we have to be ready so we can come away with the three points", said the Sporting coach, before going on to fend off the inevitable questions about rumoured transfers: "I know what is being said and everything is normal. I will decide who plays and that is why Slimani will be included after coming back from suspension. This is nothing new for me to be honest and it is always the same thing, especially in August. Last year we had the same issues, because people are interested in our players. What matters most is that we defend ourselves properly. A lot of people would like to play here and normally when I mention a player they end up with Benfica or FC Porto. I think I am their best scout!"

Constant transfer speculation could of course influence performance out on the pitch, but Jesus played it cool and is ready to deal with the extra nerves: "If course I take that into consideration. This is nothing new for me or for the players. Those who have already been through this kind of period know how to deal with it. Transfer rumours reflect the quality of my technical staff, but it is up to the president to decide who goes where. My job is to get the best out of the players individually and collectively and success has its price after that."

Sporting fans snap up tickets for Liga NOS matchday 2 in just one day

Tickets on sale in Estádio José Alvalade for the matchday two visit to Paços de Ferreira have completely sold out.

Tickets will be on sale at Estádio Capital do Móvel from 9h to 12h and from 14h to 19h, priced at 25e for the Central Stand and 13€ for the South Stand. 

Sporting boss has squad out on the training pitch preparing weekend's encounter

Jorge Jesus had his squad out on the training pitch this Thursday morning, putting the final touches to Saturday's 18h15 visit to Paços de Ferreira, on Liga NOS matchday 2.

The Sporting boss had his whole squad available, with the exception of the injured Lukas Spalvis and Wallyson.

The players went through a series of warm up exercises during the 15 minutes open to the press, before moving on to a session on tactics. 

Adrien on Sporting's I Liga 2016/17 debut

Adrien Silva spoke briefly with the press this Saturday evening after his side's win against Marítimo.

"It was an intense match, but we did well. At this stage of the season I thought it was a good pace and we made sure Marítimo couldn't do anything on the counter-attack", said the Sporting skipper, before answering a question on transfer rumours regarding João Mãrio: "Goodbye? No. He played today and he played well. You could see he is happy by the way he played and I don't think this was his last match."

Jorge Jesus satisfied with opening day win

“It was a hard match. It was 36 degrees at kick-off, which is really hot for a team that plays pressing football like we do. Some of the lads felt that and it impacted on how we plated", opened Jesus in his post-match press conference this Saturday, going on to analysis the match itself in greater depth: "Marítimo are a really well managed team and they caused some issues down the wing. (after the break) we took charge and Marítimo fell off a bit. William helped the pace a bit and that was important, but we won and that is what matters."

“No team starts the season in their best form. That comes step by step and the lads will develop with time", finished the Alalade boss.