Sporting put three past Marítimo to keep up the pressure on Liga NOS top spot

Sporting CP beat Marítimo 3-1 this Saturday night, with an effective performance in front of goal that keeps up the pressure on the league leaders with five matches still to play.

Jorge Jesus' side tried to replicate their early strikes against Arouca and Belenenses and chances certainly were not lacking in the opening exchanges, with Salin called into action on several occasion. The first real opportunity come from a header from Bryan Ruiz, but the Costa Rican was unable to find the mark after a a cross from Teo Gutiérrez. In reply Marítimo had to shots of their own, however both efforts floated harmlessly over Rui Patrício's crossbar.

Marítimo's strategy essentially boiled down to an attempt to stretch play, but Sporting's calculated defensive positioning and high pressure marking smothered out the visitors' good intentions. In fact, it was only for a bit of hestitation that Maritimo didn't concede a goal earlier, with Slimani taking just a second to long to get his shots away. More practical was Bruno César's foray forward, as the Brazilian floated in from what is for him an unusual left-back position to blast a shot just wide in the 29th minute. Despite the one way traffic towards the Marítimo goal, the team from Madeira responded with a couple of efforts down the other end, however Patrício made a pair of smart saves to match.

In reply, Sporting finally found the back of the net, courtesy in part to a wicked deflection off João Diogo from a Teo Gutiérrez shot. Although the initial effort did seem to be heading goalwards, the ball looped over Salin to finally do justice to the scoreboard, three minutes before the break.

The second-half got underway with three corners for Sporting, but it was from open play that Jorge Jesus' side doubled their lead. William, given the responsibility of filling in more forward position along side Aquilani in the absence of the suspended Adrien, broke forward and put a left footed shot across the face of Salin and in at the far post.

The 50 minute mark saw Marítimo start to waver under the hail of Sporting's attacking football and dominance in possession, inviting the hosts to come forward in search of a third. It was Slimani who typically obliged, left with an envious tap in after João Mário's initial shot has been blocked by the Marítimo defence.

With the game simmering towards the inevitable conclusion, concentration began to slip and Ghazaryan made the most of a loose ball at the edge of the area to pull a goal back with nine minutes to play. However, the late consolation made little difference and their was still time for Matheus to leave a golden opportunity wanting in front of Salin.

Jorge Jesus includes 19 for Liga NOS matchday 29

Jorge Jesus has included a total of 19 players in his squad to face Marítimo, on Liga NOS matchday 29.

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Azbe Jug

Defenders: Schelotto, Ricardo Esgaio, Coates, Ruben Semedo, Tobias Figueiredo and Zeegelaar

Midfielders: William, Aquilani, João Mário and Bruno César

Forwards: Carlos Mané, Gelson Martins, Matheus Pereira, Bryan Ruiz, Teo Gutiérrez, Hernán Barcos and Slimani

Jorge Jesus' pre-match press conference ahead of hosting of Marítimo

Jorge Jesus was with the press this Friday evening, to speak about Saturday's 20h45 hosting of Marítimo, in Estádio José Alvalade. Affirming that the weekend's encounter is sure to bring with it a fair share of difficulties, the Sporting coach also spoke about the end of the disciplinary process against Slimani and Teo Gutierrez's impressive form. 

"Marítimo are traditionally a hard team to face for anyone. They are a good team with a good coach and good players. We will be playing against a well motivated Marítimo team who will want to take points away from Alvalade. We will have to find a way to reach of objectives tomorrow", opened Jesus.

Asked about the feeling in the Sporting camp, the Alvalade coach proved happy with the support shown for his squad: "The fans have been extraordinary and they believe in the team and our quality to fight for the title. When I said we would be fighting for the title, but maybe most people didn't believe it. Now they do. Sporting is a huge club with a lot of fans and have everything needed to be a big club in every way."

Another of the themes touched on by Jesus was the conclusion of the disciplinary process against Islam Slimani and Teo Gutierrez's brilliant goal scoring form. "Two or three months ago I said that I didn't believe that Slimani would be punished. For me, this decision is just a bit off because it has come so late", said Jesus about the Algerian, before commenting on Teo: "Teo isn't a surprise for anyone. When he signed for us from what was a good side in Argentina, he was also playing a lot for Colombia, which is one of the best side's in the world in terms of strikers. They have Falcão, Jackson and Bacca, but Teo always played."

Decision in process against Islam Slimani

Slimani was absolved by the Portuguese Football Federation's (PFF) Disciplinary Council (DC) this Friday, for an alleged act of aggression towards Samaris in the Portuguese Cup.

The ruling reads: "It was not proven that the accused ran in the direction of Benfica's number 7 (Samaris), consciously hitting him with his right arm in the back of the head and knowing that he would be violating the regulations of the PFF and DC). A comparison with television images and statements from the referees does not allow for a conclusion beyond doubt that the incident was not witnessed by any of the refereeing team."

The DC ruled in favour of Sporting's augment that "the accused player was not running in the direction of Samaris, but in the direction of the ball, as the images show. The player knocks into Samaris because he, in understanding that the accused was approaching, moved to the side and opened his arms with the aim of stopping the accused and making an impact inevitable."

Further agreeing with the arguments put forwards by Sporting, the ruling quotes: "The accused ran with the intention of intercepting the ball, which was in the possession of the Benfica number 27, several metres away. Faced with the obstruction of Andreas Samaris, who opens his arms and moved sideways, the accused instinctively lifted up him arms and tries to turn his body, thereby knocking into the player."

Slimani's defence further adds: "The player never took his eyes off the ball and did not intend to hit the player Samaris. The impact between the two players was due to the speed that the accused was moving and the fact that Samaris put his body in his path at the last minute, making it impossible to avoid an impact."

Relative to the argument that referee Jorge Sousa did not see the incident, the Club defended: "it is not true that the incident occurred out of the view of the referee, who was following the ball, and the television images show that. The ball was virtually stopped at the feet of the Benfica number 21, Pizzi, at the time of the incident and the incident occurred no more than two metres to the left of the ball. The referee, who was 10 to 15 metres away and looking in that direction, could not have missed the incident."

João Mário rallies support for the weekend's hosting of Marítimo

The Liga NOS Young Player of the Month, João Mário is expecting Alvalade to one again be at full capacity this weekend, as his side host Marítimo on Liga NOS matchday 29.

“The team is in great form right now. We are coming in on the back of some good results and we want a lot of fans with us to beat Marítimo", said the Portuguese midfielder, adding: "We are felling really well supported and that makes a huge difference. Saturday will be the same again, with the stadium packed out."

Octávio Machado on refereeing and the Liga NOS run in

Alvalade's director of football, Octávio Machado, sat down this week to comment on a statement released by Benfica.

"Are we living in the past, twenty years ago? I have always been on the front line of the fight to change football, but there are a lot of people who want to go backwards", opened Machado, before going on to reflect on alleged comments made towards referees: "Was it me that said João Capela is a bad person or bad referee? Some people are really disturbed, probably the same people who said Jorge Sousa, the best Portuguese referee, sent off the substitute goalkeeper because the first choice was injured. A lot of people have very creative imaginations to be honest. I don't criticize refereeing, but I do have something to say about the naming of referees for matches. João Capela wasn't picked for any Benfica matches and he didn't referee a single Sporting of FC Porto matchday for three years. He is a referee that should not be picked and everyone knows that."

With the season heading for a tight finish, Machado appealed for a fair contest: "The last six games deserve that extra bit of attention from everyone involved in sport, starting with Vítor Pereira. Look at what is happening in refereeing, it is being destroyed."

João Mário receives award for February

João Mário collected his prize for the Professional Football Syndicate's Youth Player of the Month for February this week, after having already scooped the award in January.

Receiving the award at the Sporting Academy, João Mário was keen to give credit to the entire squad: "I am really happy for having won this award again. It is recognition of the work I have been putting in, but also of what the team has been doing. Things are going well for us and I am really happy. You can't win individual awards without the team. I try to do my best and this is recognition of that."

The Sporting midfielder received a total of 16.94% of votes cast, ahead of Guimarães' Miguel Silva (13.72%).

Nuno Almeida named for Liga NOS matchday 29

Nuno Almeida, 40, from the Algarve Football Association, has been named for Liga NOS matchday 29, between Sporting CP and Marítimo.

Paulo Ramos and Pais António have been named as linesmen.

This will be Almeida's second Sporting match of the season, after the matchday 13 hosting of Moreirense.

Sporting CP-Marítimo will get underway at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Two first-half goals enough to sink Chaves at the Sporting Academy

Sporting B beat one of Ledman LigaPro's strongest sides at the Sporting Academy this Wednesday, with two goals in the first twenty minutes.

The first opportunity of the afternoon came through Daniel Podence - who would be a constant pest for the opposition defence - as he controlled well with his back to goal after an excellent pass from Ryan Gauld. However, the Sporting B striker hesitated and eventually hit the woodwork. The warning shot had been fired and a goal came from Sporting B's second chance, this time with Podence turned creator down the left flack, before crossing a ball in that Francisco Geraldes guided home at the far post.

Chaves struggled to stop Sporting's well constructed football and Podence again had another chance to get his name on the scoresheet after Ponde forced a mistake out of goalkeeper Paulo Ribeiro. However Podence was once again unable to capitalise.

Chaves responded and pushed back up the other end, but Mama Baldé positioned himself well to turn away for a corner. The hosts' rally didn't last long and Podence compensated for his earlier misses with Sporting B's second goal. Pedro Martins won back possession in the midfield, before releasing Daniel Podence for a superb finish when through against Paulo Ribeiro.

The second goal saw João de Deus side drop back and chances consequently began to thin out for the rest of the half, with the exception of one offside ruling after Sporting B had again found the back of the net.

The second-half was much of the same and although Chaves held down more possession, Sporting B looked largely untroubled in defence and played out the rest of the fixture to claim the three points. 

With just over 72 hours still to go before Liga NOS matchday 29 between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Club Sport Marítimo, a total of 37,000 tickets have already been sold.

Sporting currently has a fantastic average of 39,108 fans from the 14 Liga NOS matches played this season, making for the best average since the opening of the new Estádio José Alvalade in 2003.

The Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices are open from 10h to 20h, with non-renewed Special Seats going on sale on Thursday.

Prices for Members start at 5€ or 16€ for other fans. Children aged 3 and above require a ticket for the match.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20h45 on Saturday, with the stadium gates opening at 19h15.