Goals from Bruno César and Slimani secure top spot

Sporting claimed an important three points against a traditionally difficult Paços de Ferreira this weekend, in what was a solid reply to recent slip ups in the Liga NOS and the League Cup. Bruno César scored in the first-half, while Slimani grabbed two after the break.

Jorge Jesus' side traveled to Mata Real knowing that only a win was certain to maintain the hold on the Liga NOS top spot and it wasn't long before the evening's hosts were on the defensive, with Bruno César, João Mário and Bryan Ruiz leading the early charges in support of Slimani. The Algerian himself came close from the opening exchanges after a pass from Bruno César, but he came up just short of connecting. The first shot of the evening belonged to Adrien, but the Alvalade captain's 10th minute effort was deflected harmlessly away. Next it was Bryan Ruiz to try his luck after Naldo rose highest to a corner, but the Costa Rican nodded wide from point blank range.

Sporting were looking truly terrifying in attack and on 19 minutes it was João Mário's turn to wreak havoc in the Paços 18-yard box with a cross that found Paulo Oliveira, but the defender was unable to find the target. Bryan Ruiz was of course in his usual tantalising form playing off the back of the towering Slimani and in the 26th minute the CONCACAF runner up for Player of the Year blew past three defenders and cut a shot across goal, but Marafona made the save at a stretch to keep the scores blank.

Ten minutes later another chance for Adrien, after the Alvalade skipper wiggled an inch of room in the area, but Marafona was able to make the stop. It was only a matter of time before wave after wave of Sporting attacks broke the hosts and next to it was Slimani who tested the Paços keeper after a pass from William, but again Marafona pulled off a save. However, it was only delaying the inevitable and from the next attack Slimani was this time provider, intelligently picking up a throw in and delaying a cross for Bruno César, leaving the Brazilian with the enviable task of a close-range tap in. Sporting did rest their and a few minutes later João Mário nearly made it two with a fantastic solo run that ended with a shot curled onto the cross bar and away.

Sporting looked full of confidence coming out after the break, moving the ball around midfield and probing forward almost at will. Bruno César whipped a poisonous cross into the box that had the Paço defence scrambling, but Marafona turned away for a corner. Naldo rose highest to the set piece, but he was unable to keep his shot on target. With Adrien and João Mário impervious in the middle, Paços de Ferreira's attempts were pretty much stomped out while still in the build up, while Bryan Ruiz and Slimani kept the chances ticking over in front of goal. Another goal was always looking likely and it was Slimani who obliged with a thoroughly deserved strike after another tireless performance, linking up with a pass into space from João Mário to calmly slot past the keeper.

Paços de Ferreira finally managed their first effort on goal in the second-half after 71 minutes, but Rui Patrício comfortably intervened after being little more than a spectator for most of the evening. The hosts did get their reward for their spirited attempt, when an unusually long throw in was flicked on to the back post and looped over Rui Patrício by Bruno Moreira from the most unlikely of angles.

The goal did absolutely nothing to shake Jesus' side and Slimani was right back down the other end just seconds later to restore the two-goal cushion with a comfortable conversion from a pass by João Mário across the face of goal.

Jorge Jesus includes 19 for Liga NOS matchday 19

Jorge Jesus has included a total fo 19 players in his squad for the trip to Paços de Ferreira, on Liga NOS matchday 19.

Squad list in full:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Marcelo Boeck

Defenders: João Pereira, Ricardo Esgaio, Schelotto, Paulo Oliveira, Ewerton, Naldo and Jefferson

Midfielders: William Carvalho, Adrien, Aquilani, João Mário and Bruno César

Forwards: Gelson Martins, Bryan Ruiz, Fredy Montero, Teo Gutiérrez and Slimani

P. Ferreira-Sporting CP will kick off at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio Capital do Móvel, Paços de Ferreira.

Costa Rican forward bettered only by Chicharito Hernandez

Bryan Ruiz has finished runner-up in the election for CONCACAF Player of the Year, missing out only to the Mexican Javier Chicharito Hernandez, who curiously will face the Costa Rican in Sporting's coming Europa League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen.

PSV's Andrés Guardado finished in third in voting that also included Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Oribe Peralta (America), Rodolph Austin (Brondby), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca), Jesús Corona (FC Porto) and Cyle Larin (Orlando City).

Bryan Ruiz was also named for the CONCACAF Best XI, in a group which also includes Tim Howard, Chicharito, Joel Campbell, Hector Moreno and Andrés Guardado.

Artur Soares Dias for Liga NOS matchday 19

Artur Soares Dias, 36, from the Porto Football Association, has been named for Sporting's trip to Paços de Ferreira, on Liga NOS matchday 19.

Rui Licínio and Bruno Rodrigues will act as linesmen.

This will be Dias' third match in charge of Sporting this season, following the trip to Boavista (matchday 6, 0-0) and the hosting of Belenenses (matchday 11, 1-0).

P. Ferreira-Sporting will kick off on Saturday at 20h45, in Estádio Capital do Móvel, Paços de Ferreira.

Jorge Jesus on his side's current form head of visit to Paços de Ferreira

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press this Friday afternoon to share his thoughts in the build up to Liga NOS matchday 19, which will see Sporting travel to Paços de Ferreira.

“Playing in Mata Real is never easy, it is always complicated here. We will be facing a good team who are set up well and who are having a good season. We are in first and we want to defend that. We are starting the second half of the season now and we want to win. We are capable of doing that, but we have to be humble about it and recognise that Paços are a good team", opened the Sporting coach, before revealing that while Gelson Martins and Adrien did not train during the week, they could still feature.

“We are in first and our two main rivals are behind us, one by five points and the other by two. We don't know how the second half of the season will go, but we know that we only few two and lost one in the first half. We won 86% of the points that we could have", added Jesus, before answering to a question about his team having conceded the least number of goals in the league: "It is a safety net for us and I hope that carries on. We have confidence in our defence and the numbers show that we are on the right track. The whole team is responsible for defending and we have been organising ourselves well."

The Alvalade boss went on to speak about William's current form, as well as the January transfer market: "William was out for three months. He is looking to find his way and we are happy with what he has been doing. Maybe he hasn't shown what he is capable of yet, but he helps out in defence as well. This is a tough time for a lot of teams, Sporting included, because players are moving around. However we are used to being connected with a lot of players. Some names are being brought up that everybody knows we don't have the capacity to bring in. We know who we want and we already have them."

P. Ferreira-Sporting will get underway at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio Capital do Móvel, Paços de Ferreira.

Statement on the introduction of goal-line technology

Sporting Clube de Portugal would like to share its congratulations in light of the official announcement today by Gianni Infantino, UEFA General Secretary, regarding the decision to use goal-line technology in the 2016 European Championships, as well as in the Champions League as of the 2016/17 season.

This is an historic decision in world football and will assist referees, clubs and the millions of people who love football. At the same time, it shows that it is worth fighting for the ideals of true sportsmanship.

Coming on the back of the decision by the International Board on the experimental use of video technology, world football continues to take strides into a more modern and credible future.

Tickets for the Europa League second-leg

Tickets for the Europa League second-leg between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Sporting Clube de Portugal, on the 25th of February, will go on sale at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices as follows:

WEDNESDAY, 27TH OF JANUARY (10H TO 20H) | Club Members with a Gamebox 2015/2016 and December 2015 fees paid

THURSDAY, 28TH OF JANUARY (10H TO 14H) | Club Members without a Gamebox and December 2015 fees paid

THURSDAY, 28TH OF JANUARY (FROM 14H) | General public

In line with indications from UEFA and the opposition club, the first tickets sold will cost 15€. After these have sold out, 22€ tickets will go on sale.

Jorge Jesus on his side's loss in Portimão

Jorge Jesus took a moment to speak with the press at the end of this Tuesday's League Cup loss to Portimonense.

“It was a game that didn't go well for us. Portimonense are a good team with a lot of technical and individual quality, but they also were a bit lucky. there scored from their only shot in the first-half and then from a penalty. We wasted a lot of chances in the second-half, including a penalty as well. Football can be like this and you are leaving yourself open to this sort of thing if you don't score", said the Alvalade boss, adding: "We would have liked to win for all of our fans who live down in the Algarve."

Bruno César on Sporting's 2-0 loss to Portimonense

"We knew it would be a hard game and we made some mistakes, but we still have a game against Arouca and nothing is over yet", said Bruno César at the final whistle on Tuesday.

Reflecting on his side's loss to the II Liga outfit, César added: "We had been warned about Portimonense's quality and it is no coincidence that they are playing well in II Liga, but now we have to puck ourselves up. We should have played better, but we have to look at what went wrong and try to improve."

Sporting with uphill task to qualify for League Cup semis

Sporting slipped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Portimonense this Tuesday night, in League Cup Group C. Ewerton was the hero on the night for the hosts, scoring both sides of half-time in a game that also saw Marvin make his debut.

Portimonense made an aggressive start to the encounter and were soon threatening goal, with Lumor's 2nd minute shot deflected just wide of the post. Sporting responded second later, with Montero picking out Aquilani, but the Italian's chipped effort floated just over Carlos Henriques' goal.

With the Colombian double team of Montero and Teo particularly active up front, chances started to flow and on 19 minutes Carlos Mané found Teo in the area, but the Portimonense keeper managed to pull off a stop and deny Sporting the opener. Next it was Carlos Mané himself who broke through on goal, but the youngster hesitated a second too long and gave the hosts' defence the chance to scramble away. The team from Alvalade looked in control, but some loose passing in the midfield saw Portimonense snatch possession against the run of play and open the scoring courtesy of Ewerton in the 36th minute. There was still time for Sporting to try for an equaliser before the break, but Bruno César's powerful effort finished up the wrong side of the bar.

The second-half saw Jorge Jesus introduce Matheus Pereira in place of Carlos Mané and the Brazilian immediately caused chaos in the final third, picking out Teo who almost managed to make the most of confusion between Carlos Henriques and Possignolo. Aquiliani came close on two occasions as the clock ticked over and Montero actually had the ball in the back of the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside after what was apparently a deflection from Aquilani.

Despite Sporting's dominance in the final third, Portimonense picked up possession and broke forward, but Marcelo Boeck was able to make a stop from Fabrício. In response, Schelotto made another run down the left and whipped a cross into the box, but Matheus Pereira's finish was off target. On 80 minutes another cross from Schelotto was cut out by Lumor with a handball in the area, but William Carvalho was unable to convert on the spot kick. Portimonense however had better luck from 12 yards, scoring their second after Marcelo Boeck brought down Fabrício in the area.