Algerian with 27.96% of votes cast

Islam Slimani has been named as Liga NOS player of the month in voting by the league's coaches and users of Samsung's 'Partilhamos Futebol' website.

The Algerian forward tallied 27.96% of the vote for December, ahead of Adrien with 13.86%.

Tickets on sale starting Wednesday

Tickets for Liga NOS matchday 19, between FC Paços de Ferreira and Sporting Clube de Portugal will go on sale at Estádio José Alvalade as follows:

WEDNESDAY (10H TO 20H) | Club Members with a Gamebox 2015/2016 and December 2015 fees paid
THURSDAY (10H TO 14H) | Club Members without a Gamebox and December 2015 fees paid
THURSDAY (FROM 14H) | General public

Tickets are priced at 13€ each. Kick off is scheduled for 20h45 on Saturday the 23rd of January, in Estádio Capital do Móvel.

Jorge Jesus' pre-match press conference on League Cup visit to Portimonense

Speaking in an exclusive press conference with Sporting TV, Jorge Jesus set out his plans for tomorrow's League Cup Group C visit to Portimonense. For the Alvalade boss, Portimonense's matchday 1 upset of Arouca (4-1) is a sure sign of the dangers posed by Tuesday's hosts.

“The game is important for this competition. Portimonense won their first match and if we are the same on points then goals will matter. Portimonense will try and make this game decisive in qualification for the next round. Our objective is to win tomorrow and everything will be in our control if we do. It will be a hard game and we will have to show the maturity to deal with some of the harder moments in the game. We will be facing a team from II Liga, who are fighting for promotion", affirmed Jorge Jesus, continuing: “All clubs who are taking part in this competition what to get as far possible. League Cup finals are important financially and they are games played with a lot of quality and passion. It is a competition that is not only important in terms of competition in the squad, but also because it brings games to regions in Portugal that don't have that many. They love football in the Algarve and it will be a great match. Our Supporters' Clubs in the Algarve will have a chance to meet the team too."

Confronted with a question on his usual tactic of squad rotation in the League Cup, the Sporting coach highlighted the progress being made across the squad to due the extra playing time: “The match against Tondela has nothing to do with tomorrow. We will go to Portimão with the players who are best fitted to get the win. A lot of those who played against Tondela will go to, with the exception of Adrien and Gelson Martins, who picked up a few knocks. Marvin will make his debut. He has adapted well. You can see he is still getting to know the squad, which is normal, but we have to give him the chance to show what he can do. Almost the entire squad plays in the team now, okay some more than others, but we don't have a fixed pattern. We have a very flexible team and by choices are always related to the quality I have in the squad."

Marvin's favoured position and Teo's fitness were also touched upon by the Alvalade chief: "Marvin was picked as a left-back. We let Jonathan go, because we really believe in him. He is only 21 years old and he needed to play, so we looked for a solution in Portugal. Marvin is here for that same position and that is what we have been working on. Clinically Teo is looking positive. We have a really good medical department and the doctors will try and get the players ready for us. He will probably be in the squad tomorrow."

To finish, Jesus spoke about the current situation at the heart of the Alvalade defence: "With Tobias being out we only have three centre-backs. We are in a risky position and we can't pick up any injuries or suspensions. We are trying to get Rúben Semedo back, but I don't know if it will be possible in contractual terms. If not, we will have to use the January market or the B team."

Bruno de Carvalho on Friday's draw with Tondela

Speaking with the press at the final whistle on Friday, Bruno de Carvalho highlighted the influence of the penalty decision against Rui Patrício and the sending off of the Alvalade keeper.

“This is the referee who took charge of my first game as president, which was Sporting B-Benfica B. He made up red cards in that game as well. He is one of the worst referees I had seen and it happened against tonight. It isn't just about video technology. You could clearly see a player falling over and holding his leg, but then standing up and celebrating winning a penalty. These little games to put pressure on Sporting are still happening it took a player and two points off us tonight. We are upset about what is happening in Portuguese football. Football is played off the pitch here. It manipulates referees' and people's opinions and they end up not knowing what to do. You will never shut me up and this will only get worse."

João Pereira at the final whistle on Friday

João Pereira spoke briefly with the press at the final whistle on Friday night.

“It wasn't the result we wanted. Playing at home and being in first place, we wanted to secure our position. We didn't start well and we had a player sent off. After that we did better in the second-half and we thought we could turn the result around. It happens, but it is two points we have dropped", said the Portuguese international, adding: "We have shown that we can win the league and it isn't one bad result that will put us off. we are still in first and we believe in what we are doing."

Jorge Jesus on his side's draw with Tondela

While accepting that his side made a poor start to Friday's encounter with Tondela, the Sporting coach put on record the influence of the evening's refereeing on the final result.

“It was a tough game. We made it hard for ourselves and the referee made it harder. We didn't start well and we were lacking aggression and intensity in the first half an hour. Patrício was sent off and the referee gave what was for him a penalty, because Patrício saved with his foot instead of his hand. He gave the penalty because he isn't used to that kind of thing and it really penalised us", affirmed Jorge Jesus, adding: "In the second-half we showed character. When we finally took the lead, we ended up conceding again form a situation that we wouldn't normally. We pushed Tondela back after that, but with 10 players you get tired. Football can be like that, but of course we feel like we lost two points here tonight."

Sporting may have lost two points, but the team from Alvalade still top the Liga NOs table. For Jorge Jesus, next week's visit to Paços de Ferreira is the perfect chance to get back to winning ways: "At the start of the season we beat Tondela and drew with Paços de Ferreira, so now we can turn that around."

Sporting held to a draw after coming from behind with 10 men

Sporting were left to settle for a draw against the visiting Tondela this Friday night, in a match that saw Rui Patrício sent off in the first-half. Nathan Junior opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 29th minute, before Slimani and Gelson Martins put Sporting into the lead. Chamorro struck for Tondela with five minutes on the clock to split the points.

Despite expectations, Tondela actually made an offensive start to the encounter, pressing high and interrupting Sporting's usually fluid passing game. Jesus' side were largely starved of opportunities early on and the first chance fell to the visitors, when Nathan Junior made the most of an incomplete pass by Bryan Ruiz to fire a warning shot towards Patrício's goal.

Sporting responded from a move down the flank and João Mário managed to turn a header towards the target, but Matt Jones comfortably saved from what was the hosts' only real chance of the first twenty minutes. Sporting soon had Tondela falling back into their own half and Bruno César capitalised on the pressure with a headed effort, but the Brazilian was unable to find the mark after a cross from Ruiz.

Despite what was quickly becoming one-way traffic, it was Tondela who opened the scoring, when Rui Patrício was forced to scramble off his line in the 29th minute to intercept a break away from Nathan Junior. The Alvalade shotstopper got a foot on the ball, but Junior went crashing down in the penalty area all the same and referee Luís Ferreira was quick to his pocket to brandish red and point to the spot. Junior himself stepped up to convert, giving Marcelo Boeck an inglorious entrance into the evening's action in place of Bruno César.

Although a man down and already wounded by a dubious penalty decision, a string of free-kicks really took the string out of Sporting's attempts to rally. William Carvalho, set up by João Mário, pulled a stop out of Matt Jones and Slimani also had a chance just before the break, but the Algerian was off target.

You could sense another memorable comeback on the cards and the fans gave the players a roaring entrance after the break. Jesus responded with the introduction of Gelson Martins in place of  William Carvalho, in what was a clear signal of his side's attacking intentions. João Mário saw a penalty appeal waved away after being brought down in the area, before Wagner gave Marcelo Boeck an easy stop down the other end. Next it was Slimani to create a chance on goal with a darting run off the back of his marker, but he was wrongfully ruled off-side. Although frustrated, Sporting continued to crank up the pressure and Tondela finally broke in the 54th minute, when João Pereira and João Mário linked up and pulled a cross back for Slimani to control and slot the equaliser.

Buoyed by the goal, Sporting piled men forward and could well have taken the lead two minutes later, but Bryan Ruiz's effort was headed off the line by Hélder Tavares. To add to the drama, the referee actually pointed for a spot kick, before consulting with his linesman and rightfully overturning the decision. However, justice to the scoreboard for the first in the evening was soon done, when Gelson Martins latched onto a cross from Jefferon to comfortable beat Matt Jones with Sporting's 5,000th league goal.

The goal calmed the Alvalade nerves and Adrien bossed the midfield, while Gelson darted up and down the wings and Bryan Ruiz cast his magic to the frustration of the visitors. Completely against the run of play, substitute Chamorro somehow found a yard of space behind the sporting line and equalised for Tondela with five minutes left on the clock. João Mário had two scrappy chances at the death, but the damage was done and the points were split at the final whistle.

Jorge Jesus sits down with the press ahead of hosting of Tondela

Jorge Jesus was in the Alvalade press room this Thursday afternoon, giving his first press conference of the second half of this season's Liga NOS campaign.

“The match is worth three points. I know matches against the big names seem to mean more, but this match is worth the same three points that the one against Sp. Braga was. We want to carry on in first place and we will have to show we can do that against Tondela. It will be a normal match against a team that is well organised in defence and that sits back, so we won't have a lot of space and they will try and surprise us on the counter-attack", opened the Alvalade boss, following up: "A name of where a team is in the league doesn't matter to us. If you concentrate on that sort of thing, then you might get a nasty surprise. We have already lost to one of the last placed teams and that shows that we have to respect every opponent."

“The second half of the season begins tomorrow and we are better than we were at the beginning of the season, because we have four more points than our rivals. Things have been going better than we expected, because it isn't easy to earn your place with the two teams that normally fight for the title. We are on the right track now and the lads are feeling good. We are playing some really quality football, but that doesn't guarantee first place", reflected Jesus, going on to comment on Sporting officially attracting the best crowds so far this season: "That is good news, but we won't stop there and we want more and more fans with us. The fans have been really important and against Sp. Braga they made the difference."

Asked about news articles published today about Schelotto, as well as a variety of efforts to target Slimani, Jorge Jesus played it cool: "I have been in football for many years now and I know how important it is to try and destabilise. Don't mess around, particularly with me. This is another attempt to try and upset Slimani with things that don't exist. What I will say is that you should all pay attention to a team that has earned everything it has now and that people are trying to create a lot of problems inside the club. People are trying to pressure Slimani and Sporting has lost some power in the places where certain decisions are made. Slimani is a really loyal player, he is aggressive and he runs a lot, but he respects his opponents and he is a great person. He is exemplary as a player and as a player."

Jesus finished by his idea that Sporting will likely play better in the second half of the season, as well as with a comment on the return of Teo Gutiérrez: “He arrived today and he will train tomorrow. The medical team will observe him and see what has to be done."

Luís Ferreira for Liga NOS matchday 18

Luís Ferreira, 38, from the Braga Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting's Liga NOS matchday 18 hosting of Tondela.

Nuno Manso and Luís Cabral will act as linesmen.

Sporting-Tondela will get underway at 20h30 on Friday, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Squad gets a bit of help from Herbalife's H24 range

Sporting's football stars tried something a little different for breakfast this morning. Sporting's official nutrition partner, Herbalife, hosted an event with the squad, showcasing some of their products such as the Formula 1 Sport shake, from the H24 range. Hydrate, Prolong, Rebuild Endurance and Rebuild Strength drinks also feature in this range, designed for everyone who regularly exercises.

After finishing their breakfast, the players proved happy with the formula. “It is really useful for us. It helps us to recover and develop and it is a great source of energy. This is a great partnership for the club", said João Mário, before commenting on how he feels after drinking the shake: "I notice a difference and we try out different ones to see which makes us feel better. Herbalife products definitely help me and the rest of the squad."

Matheus Pereira also have his backing to the H24 range: "It is great. I spoke with the lads from Herbalife and they explained everything. The power is great with banana or red fruits, for example. I really feel like it helps me get stronger. This partnership with Herbalife has been great and has helped us find that extra bit of energy.”