Benfica-Sporting tickets snapped up

Sporting Clube de Portugal informs that the tickets available at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices for the derby have now solid out.

Benfica-Sporting will kick off at 17h00 on Sunday the 25th of October, in Estádio da Luz.

Tickets for the first 2015/15 Lisbon derby

Tickets for the Lisbon derby on I Liga machday 8 will go on sale exclusively to Sporting Clube de Portugal Members as follows:

FROM THE 15TH  TO THE 17TH OF OCTOBER | Club Members with a Gamebox 2015/2016 and September 2015 fees paid
FROM THE 18TH OF OCTOBER | Club Members with September 2015 fees paid

The Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices will be open from 10h00 to 20h00, with tickets priced at €25 each.

Each card (Member or Gamebox) is valid for one ticket, with each person permitted to use a maximum of 4 cards.

Benfica vs Sporting will kick-off at 17h00 on Sunday the 25th of October at 17h00, in Estádio da Luz.

Fernando Peyroteo (image above) is the the all-time greatest scorer in official encounters between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Sport Lisboa e Benfica, with 48 goals from 1937 to 1949. The second best scorer in the Lisbon derby is Eusébio, with 27 goals from 1962 to 1973.

Rui Patrício

Rui Patrício - Sofreu uma contusão na face anterior da coxa esquerda, será reavaliado diariamente, e o tempo de paragem poderá ir até duas semanas.

Alvalade forward on target against Guinea-Conakry

Islam Slimani was again on target for Algeria this weekend, striking in a 2-1 loss against Guinea-Conakry.

The Alvalade forward scored after just two minutes with a finish from close range after a cross in from the left. Bangoura grabbed a brace to seal the win for Guinea-Conakry, before Slimani was substituted in the 61st minute for Brahimi.

‘Leões’ com melhor arranque de sempre dos últimos 20 anos

With seven games so far played this season, Sporting is flying high at the top of the I Liga table. Curiously, the team from Alvalade had also tallied 17 point at this stage of the season in the 2013/14 campaign (tem going on to lose against FC Porto 3-1). It is also not the first time that Sporting tops the table after seven games, having shared leadership with FC Porto and Benfica at this stage in 2006/07. However, it is the first time that Sporting sits in 1st with 17 points, courtesy of last weekend’s 5-1 win over Guimarães.

Speaking in an extensive interview, Sporting’s director of football, Octávio Machado, proved to be more than happy with his side’s start to the season.

“You could see right from the start of the season, with us bringing in Jorge Jesus and with the support we had in the Supercup, that we are putting different strategies in place. This season started with some rules that were approved by a majority of clubs, but which the Portuguese Football Association didn’t put into practice and that has contributed to some things which have happened to us.”

Octávio Machado went on to comment on a series incidents and matches which have gone against Sporting already this season. “When we played against Tondela and when we were comfortably ahead, Tondela scored after a foul which should have been given the other way around, an off-side position and a handball in the same play! I also recall the foul by Luisão against an Estoril player which should have been a sending off and a penalty. After that we had João Pereira sent off when he had his hands behind his back, which resulted in a penalty and a sending off. In that same match there was a clear penalty committed on Slimani, but it wasn’t given. Then on matchday three, we played Académica and a penalty was given against us and one wasn’t given for a foul on Slimani. Against Rio Ave we conceded when the player was off-side, on matchday six, Boavista-Sporting, another penalty. I think the best thing to do is for us to reflect.”

Sporting striker opens scoring against Peru

Teo Gutiérrez put in a superb performance in Colombia’s World Cup 2018 qualifier against Peru this week, netting in the 29th minute before being replaced by Radamel Falcao in the 76th minute.

Teo was also booked three minutes before half-time for a tackle on Andre Carrillo.

1-0 win over Denmark guarantees place in France

 ​

Portuguese Cup to be played in Estádio António Coimbra da Mota

The Portuguese Cup third round tie between Vilafranquense and Sporting will be played in Estoril's António Coimbra da Mota, kicking off at 17h30 on Saturday the 17th of October.

Bryan Ruiz

Bryan Ruiz – suffered an injury to the adductor muscle in his right thigh and is expected to be out of action for two weeks.

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on Sunday's win

Jorge Jesus was evidently happy with his side’s dominating performance against V. Guimarães this Sunday evening.

“It was a good game. João Mário played really well on the right and he has played there a few times with the under-21 team. We were really strong down the right in the first-half and we created chances that unbalanced Guimarães. Everything becomes that much easier when you score, but it was a shame that we conceded. We let our focus when we scored the fifth and we can’t do that. I also want to congratulate the fans. We need them, like any good team does. This win is for the fans and for the president”, opened the Alvalade coach, speaking with radio journalists at the final whistle, before speaking about the absence of Bruno de Carvalho from his habitual place on the bench.

“I wasn’t strange, because he was there mentally. We spoke before the game and he spent the morning with the team. The team is really together right now and it is really important that the fans believe in us”, said Jorge Jesus, before revealing some of his tactical thinking: “João Mário has other characteristics compared to Gelson and Mané and that can give more space to Esgaio.”

“A few players have to go on international duty now. It would be better for us to play against Benfica now, but that is how the fixtures are. What matters now is that Ewerton and  Bruno Paulista recover. We are really happy with our start to the season, we won the Supercup and we are at the top of the league.”