André Filipe looks ahead to Tuesday's hosting of Legia Warsaw

André Felipe could make his Champions League debut this Tuesday, after scoring his first Sporting goal in Friday's 4-2 win against Estoril.

"It is an honour to be in this competition for Sporting and I am focused on helping the team. Every Brazilian player dreams of being in the Champions League and of course I would love for my first match to be a win", said André Felipe in a pre-match press conference on Monday, adding a word on his strike against Estoril: "It is the start of something that I really want to grow. Scoring gave me confidence and I want to carry on and make sure I am an option for the coach."

Sporting reminds fans of fines from UEFA for using pyrotechnic devices

Despite Sporting's excellent win against Estoril on Friday in front of more than 40,000 spectators, two young fans took it upon themselves to 'spoil the fun'.

Sporting CP stresses the damage that using pyrotechnic devices in the stadium can cause and the club will take the appropriate steps against anybody involved in such activity.

The use of such devices results in fines for Sporting from UEFA and puts the club at risk of having one of its stands or even the whole stadium closed.

Fines are also applied in national competitions and have a negative impact on the club's finances.

The two fans involved in the incident against Estoril have been identified.

Morning session open to the press for 30 minutes

As is normally the case before UEFA competition matches, this morning's training session was open to the press for 30 minutes.

Just after 9h30 Jorge Jesus led his squad onto the pitch, with 28 players taking part: Rui Patrício, Beto Pimparel and Azbe Jug; Jefferson, Paulo Oliveira, Ricardo Esgaio, Schelotto, Coates, Douglas, João Pereira, Marvin and Rúben Semedo; William, Adrien, Petrovic, Bruno César, Elias, Meli and Bruno Paulista; Alan Ruiz, Matheus Pereira, Gelson Martins, Markovic, Campbell, André, Castaignos, Bas Dost and Bryan Ruiz.

Gelson Martins on Sporting's return to winning form

Gelson Martins was once again the fire in Sporting's belly this Friday, this time with a superb performance out wide against an Estoril side that struggled to deal with the speedy youngster.

"It was a good win after two losses. We started well and we looked good for the most part. The fans really help us and they have stuck with us", said Gelson at the final whistle, adding a word on the coming Champions League hosting of Legia Warsaw: "We want the win, just like we always do."

Jorge Jesus praises his side's performance in Alvalade on Friday night

Jorge Jesus was understandably pleased with his side's 4-2 thrashing of Estoril on Friday night, although two last-minute Estoril goals could have been avoided.

"It was objective achieved for us and it was important to get the win. Losing always leaves you a bit shaken, but we made a really solid start in the first half an hour and it got easier in the second-half. It was looking really easy when we were 3-0 up, but we eased up a bit in defence", said Jesus in his post-match meeting with the press, adding: "Normally teams who work with me don't let in a lot of goals. We conceded two through a lack of intensity and discipline in defence."

Alvalade's new faces were also the focus of the Alvalade coach's analysis at the final whistle: "The lads who have arrived don't have the awareness or form of the others yet. You notice it a bit when we put the new lads in defence, but it has to be done. This is the same as the pre-season for three or four of the players."

Sporting CP put four past Estoril courtesy of Bas Dost (2), Coates and André

Sporting brushed off two consecutive defeats (Real Madrid and Rio Ave) in the best possible fashion this Saturday, with a convincing performance against Estoril that saw Jesus' side bag four goals.

The game got off to a more or less balanced start, but it wasn't long before Sporting took cntrol of the action with some high pressure and a defensive back line virtually playing in the Estoril half. It took just 13 minutes to break and concede after a move triggered by one of Gelson's blistering bursts down the wing and a pin-point cross that Bas Dost headed home.

Sporting would have been forgiven for easing off after the early strike, but Jesus' side had other ideas and kept turning the screw with some fantastic tackling and calm passing in midfield. Chances, however, were largely few and far between and Sporting took in just a narrow lead at the break. Jesus responded with one of his typically genius substitutions, bringing on André in place of Alan Ruiz with a move that started an avalanche of attacking football.

A deserved second goal came one minute before the hour mark, when Coates won the areal duel with the Estoril keeper to head in. It took just three minutes for Sporting to strike again, this time with William Carvalho picking out Bas Dost's serging run through the middle for the Dutchman to slot a cool finish from just inside the area. Sporting could have completely ran away with the result after Dost's second, but André came up painfully short of a pass from Markovic in the 73rd minute and William blazed his effort over the bar after sprinting the length of the pitch with the ball at his feet.

The last few minutes of the game brought with them their fair share of drama, starting with an 84th minute goal from Estoril through Bruno Gomes after a move down the right. Seconds later Bruno Gomes fired in his second after a lapse in defence, before André secured the three points just before the whistle after a pass from Bryan Ruiz.

The win moves Sporting into the Liga NOS top spot on 15 points.

Jorge Jesus more than aware of the difficulties posed by Friday's hosting of Estoril

After last week's slip up against Rio Ave (3-1), Jorge Jesus is confident that his side will be back in winning form this Friday against the visiting Estoril, on Liga NOS matchday 6.

"We are feeling confident going into the match, particularly with us being strong at home. Estoril are a hard team to play against for teams in Lisbon, but we will try to show the form we have been, especially at home, and if we do then we will be one step closer to getting the win. The objective is to get the three points", opened the Sporting boss, adding: "Every team is a reflection of its coach, both negatively and positively. Teams are the image of the person who leads them and we can't get away from that. Is there any coach that doesn't think that their team is the best? Of course I believe in my players.

Asked about any likely squad rotation, with a Champions League fixture awaiting next week, Jesus affirmed: "I have never been of the opinion that you shouldn't change a team just because it has won a match. I have never let that idea guide me. For me the most important thing is that we put the work in during the week and how the lads deal with that. A squad can always change based on what I think. Bruno César has been praised for various performances at left back, which wasn't where he played in Madrid. I said several times that if he doesn't play at left back then he he will play in another position. If there is any one of my players I am happy with then it is with him.

Despite Sporting having suffered two consecutive defeats, albeit one against Real Madrid, Jesus brushed off any suggestion of damage to his side's morale: "Of course it hurts whenever you lose. There is not such thing as a moral loss and losing against Rio Ave is the same as losing against Real Madrid. Of course it hurt us to lose in Vila do Conde and sometimes it can leave a mark, but sometimes it doesnt."

João Pereira looks ahead to Friday's hosting of Estoril

Looking to recover from two consecutive loses against Real Madrid and Rio Ave, Sporting will be looking to get back to winning form this Friday against Estoril.

“We have to be prepared for anything. We have had some hard moments in the five games we have played so far, but we are ready. The three points are important this Friday and we want to win for our fans. We are ready to go for it", said João Pereira in an interview with the Sporting Journal this week.

Costa Rica, Uruguay, Netherlands and Serbia all call on Sporting stars

Sporting's Costa Rican double Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell have both been called up for their country's friendly against Russia.

Meanwhile, Sebastián Coates features in the Uruguay squad for a 7th of October and 11 of October World Cup Qualifiers with Venezuela and Colombia respectively.

Serbia have called up Markovic for the matches against Moldova and Austria.

Finally, Bas Dost is in the Dutch preliminary squad list against Belarus on the 7th of October and against France on the 10th of October.
 

Champions League matchday 2 tickets on sale on Wednesday

Tickets for Champions League matchday 2, between Sporting CP and Legia Warsaw (27th of September) will go on sale on Wedneday the 21st of September as follows:

SPORTING CP vs LEGIA WARSAW

27TH OF SEPTEMBER (TUESDAY) AT 19H45

SALES POINTS

ESTÁDIO JOSÉ ALVALADE TICKET OFFICES
- 21st and 22nd of September: from 10h to 20h
- 23rd of September (matchday against Estoril): from 10h to 21h45
- 24th, 25th and 26th of September: from 10h to 20h
- 27th of September (matchday against Legia): from 10h until half-time

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.sporting.pt/bilhetes
- payment methods available: Multibanco, VISA and Mastercard
- Multibanco option available up to 24 hours before kick-off
- PDF ticket: must be printed in A4 format (can be black and white)
- Online sale exclusive for club members (for up to 4 fan tickets)

IMPORTANT

- Entry prohibited to children under the age of 3
- Children over the age of 3 (inclusive) require a ticket
- Non-renewed special seats have preference up to 72h before kick-off
- Reduced mobility tickets on sale at the stadium ticket offices and valid for 2 people
- Fan tickets purchased on matchday are subject to a €3 tax
- Match included in Gamebox 2016/2017
- Member fee applicable: August 2016