A Harder brace earns a 1-2 win over Portimonense SC

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Portimonense SC 1-2 in a Friday night fixture, advancing to the Fourth Round of the Taça de Portugal. Two goals from Conrad Harder decided the game in the away team's favour.

A series of changes were made to the starting XI, with the packed fixture list in mind. Bruno Ramos was a standout in the defensive line, as the 19-year-old defender debuted in the first team.

Sporting CP's full lineup was Vladan Kovačević, Bruno Ramos, Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio, Morten Hjulmand, Daniel Bragança, Nuno Santos, Geovany Quenda, Conrad Harder and Francisco Trincão.

This was only the second time the two sides had squared off in the competition, the first a 6-1 Sporting CP win way back in 1947/48.

Sporting CP also debuted their Stromp kit for the season, and started the match focused on goals. Harder took just three minutes to force Vinícius to make his first save of the night.

However, they found it difficult to reach Portimonense SC's box in more dangerous fashion, as the home team played with a very low block. A few opportunities came their way through free kicks, and just before the half hour a cross from Quenda, which drew Vinícius to his near post, was not quite met by Harder.

Soon after, Hjulmand was also close to scoring, heading towards goal at the near stick off a corner, but the Portimonense SC goalkeeper was alert to the threat. He also saved from Harder in another chance, and Bragança shot over from the rebound.

The pressure finally paid off when Harder opened the scoring. After receiving the ball from Nuno Santos, the Dane escaped from a defender, entered the area and shot across to make it 0-1.

Trincão's shot wide could have doubled the lead before the break, but Sporting CP went into the interval with a slim advantage.

It was Trincão who began the onslaught in the second half, with two chances that went wide and were saved, respectively.

Coach Rúben Amorim made a double substitution, with Viktor Gyökeres and Geny Catamo replacing Geovany Quenda and Ricardo Esgaio. He would then modify things again in the 82nd minute, after his side had experienced little joy off crosses into the box, taking off debutant Bruno Ramos and bringing in Iván Fresneda.

Portimonense SC ended up surprising Sporting CP, following a set piece, and made it 1-1 with three minutes remaining.

Sporting CP needed to react effectively, and Trincão had a free kick kept out immediately after the home side's goal.

In the end, it would be Harder who decided the contest. Bragança passed to Gyökeres and he served up the assist, as the striker got his second goal of the night.

After this 1-2 win, Sporting CP will next play on Tuesday at the Wörthersee Stadion, in Klagenfurt, Austria, against SK Sturm Graz in the third game of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

The coach wants a positive start to the Taça de Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal kick off their Taça de Portugal campaign this Friday. They travel to Portimonense SC, who currently play in the Segunda Liga, as they join the competition in the third round.

Before the game, coach Rúben Amorim said that his side are aware of the difficulties faced, and stressed that they have their sights on the trophy.

“Portimonense SC are not in their best form, but they have built a team with the idea of promotion. They can play in different ways, but we have worked on everything, prepared and we are not going to take it easy because we have not yet won the Taça de Portugal since we took over. We really want to win it and return to Jamor, the scene of a very important moment for us. That is why we have to win this game."

For this match, Amorim will still be without Pedro Gonçalves, Matheus Reis, Ousmane Diomande and Eduardo Quaresma, and will also have to take into account the players' fatigue due to national team duty. He did, however, say that there will be returns.

“Marcus Edwards is fit, Jeremiah St Juste could play a few minutes and Gonçalo Inácio could too, as we have some limitations."

He also revealed that Vladan Kovačević will be in goal for Sporting CP and that he will call up two players from the academy: Lucas Taibo and Bruno Ramos.

“They will both be called up, they trained with us in the last two weeks, I was very happy with their performance and they will be able to play."

The coach was inevitably asked about Hugo Viana's scheduled departure at the end of 2024/2025 announced this past Saturday.

“Nothing has changed at Sporting CP, everything is the same until the end of the season. There is no one who wants to win more than Hugo. We are at a stage at the club where anyone can leave and everything will continue naturally."

Amorim spoke about being the top Portuguese on a recently published list of the 50 best coaches, but downplayed the achievement.

"We always like to hear it. I'm happy, but I don't get distracted by it in the slightest. In two weeks' time everything could be different; that's just how football is."

The squad prepare for Taça de Portugal action

Sporting Clube de Portugal held a training session on Tuesday morning at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo in Alcochete.

Their return to action will take place this Friday (8:15 pm), in the Taça de Portugal, with an away game against Portimonense SC.

Rúben Amorim once again called up several youngsters from the academy to fill the absence of players currently on international duty: Leonardo Barroso, Guilherme Silva, Marlon Júnior, Alexandre Brito, Malam Malu, Diogo Abreu, Nilton Cardoso, Lucas Anjos, Luís Gomes, Bruno Ramos, Lucas Taibo and Mauro Couto.

Jeremiah St. Juste trained as part of the group.

Another training session is scheduled for Wednesday morning, behind closed doors.

The squad keep sharp with a 3-1 win

Sporting Clube de Portugal played a training match at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo Academy on Friday, beating CF "Os Belenenses" 3-1.

Rúben Amorim opted for a starting XI consisting of Vladan Kovačević, Marcus Edwards, Nuno Santos, Iván Fresneda, Ricardo Esgaio, Bruno Ramos, Lucas Anjos, Diogo Abreu, Mauro Couto, Luís Gomes and Lucas Taibo.

Diego Calai, Rodrigo Marquês, Alexandre Brito and Marlon Júnior also played in the game.

Sporting CP enjoyed a halftime lead of 3-0, with Bruno Ramos, Marcus Edwards and Nuno Santos scoring the goals.

The squad will now enjoy two days off, returning to work on Monday morning behind closed doors.

The coach looks back on Sporting CP's eighth consecutive win in Liga Portugal

After the final whistle in Sporting CP's victory over Casa Pia AC, coach Rúben Amorim analysed the match in a press conference. He began by commenting on the fact that his team had reached the milestone of 50 consecutive games in Liga Portugal scoring at least once.

“We have improved over the seasons in terms of the number of goals we've scored. We won the first title by defending better, conceding few goals but not scoring many. Then, we improved, which is down to the process, the quality and the characteristics of the players”, he told journalists, before analysing the difficulties caused by Casa Pia AC's strategy.

“We have to be prepared for everything and their strategy made it very difficult for us. With every cross we had no advantage, even with two men in the box. We let Daniel Bragança play in more of a free role, and that helped. Trincão was the freshest player on the team, Geny tried to push, but with so many defenders ahead of you it's difficult. On the other hand, their plan helped us, in the sense that our central defenders, Quaresma and Inácio, who are struggling for fitness, didn't have much work to do”.

“Nobody is happy watching games like this, especially the fans, but these are strategies that exist and I also understand the difference. Playing against lines of six are difficult, but it was Trincão's inspiration that unlocked the game”.

Explaining the strengths of some of the absentees in the game, especially in these types of more cagey matches, Amorim said that: “Viktor [Gyökeres] didn’t have many opportunities, but when we have the whole group available against low blocks, [Matheus] Reis can get involved a lot, Marcus Edwards is the best player for this, ‘Pote’ is another one, and we still have Morita and Dani. We can put in a second forward, bring in new wingers… It’s going to be a lot about wearing down the opponents, using new characteristics and being good at defensive transitions”.

“We performed up to standard in a very difficult game. I won't say that the result was better than the performance, because we had more chances to score. It wasn't as pretty, because a defensive line of six against four makes it very difficult, and I also felt a lack of energy”, added Amorim.

“Football has evolved a lot. Everything used to be very static and today it's harder to find the references. The characteristics of the players in these games make the difference”.

When asked about Conrad Harder's starting position and his substitution at halftime, Amorim stated that it was the result of the need to have “fresh players”, as well as allowing “Dani Bragança to be free and have two strong forwards to make the breakthroughs".

“Harder is very hungry, he wants to score, but that wasn’t the reason for his substitution, it was just a question of characteristics”.

On Franco Israel’s good form, he praised the Uruguayan goalkeeper’s maturity. “The number 1 goalkeeper is whoever is playing. You can see a lot of maturity in Franco, he’s prepared, just like Vladan [Kovačević], and Callai has also grown a lot. On performance, Franco is playing and he deserves it”, he added.

Bragança, who has scored in three consecutive games, also received praise from the coach. “Beyond the numbers, he is already a player with a different dimension. He has more physical ability, is able to reach the opposing goal and is stronger in physical contact. He is a different player and it would be very difficult for me to take Dani out now”.

Finally, Amorim commented that “We have a way of playing that is enjoyable for people. We have started the season well, we played well and we have to take a step forward in the more difficult games. We are doing an excellent job and we have always managed to maintain our consistency. We need the group in shape to win every game in every competition”.

Sporting CP win against Casa Pia AC before the international break

In Liga Portugal action, Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Casa Pia AC 2-0 at home for their eighth win in as many games -a new record in the division in the 21st century. Daniel Bragança and Viktor Gyökeres got the goals that delighted the 42,887 spectators present.

To face an in-form Casa Pia AC that came into the weekend in ninth place, coach Rúben Amorim made four changes from his midweek lineup against PSV Eindhoven: Eduardo Quaresma, Maxi Araújo, Daniel Bragança and Conrad Harder got starts instead of Geovany Quenda, Nuno Santos, Hidemasa Morita and Ousmane Diomande, the latter of whom was forced to miss the match and joined Jeremiah St. Juste, Matheus Reis, Pedro Gonçalves and Marcus Edwards on the sidelines through injury.

Sporting CP marked Pink October with the players wearing the club's and latest pink kit, incorporating a message of awareness for the prevention and diagnosis of Breast Cancer.

It could have been a start to forget for the team, who were caught off guard by Casa Pia AC under two minutes in. Only goalkeeper Franco Israel prevented an early setback with a save from Svensson's dangerous shot from inside the penalty area.

Having overcome the scare, Sporting CP took possession of the ball and pushed the opposition lines back into their defensive third. With patience and careful movement, the spaces in attack began to open up slightly, and new signing Maxi Araújo made the first attempts for Os Leões: On the first, he headed the ball outside the far post, then he took a free kick that went just over the bar.

A set piece brought Casa Pia AC closer to the area in around the 20th minute, but Gonçalo Inácio nipped the problem in the bud and Sporting CP quickly returned to settling into the opposition midfield, trying to impose their dynamic through combinations. The visitors were no longer able to attack and limited themselves to closing down Sporting CP, sometimes with a line of six.

Just after the half-hour mark, Harder's cross-shot, when he received the ball and turned at the edge of the area, went just wide of the post. Then, a run by Geny Catamo and an effort inside the box rekindled the excitement amongst the stands.

The goal finally came from Daniel Bragança, who appeared in the right place and at the right time in the area after a brilliant individual move by Francisco Trincão. He converted the assist to make it four goals for him this season -three of them coming in the last three games.

To close the first half, captain Morten Hjulmand headed the ball into the hands of Patrick Sequeira, and the team went into the interval 1-0 up.

After the break, Amorim made the first substitution and Hidemasa Morita came on for Harder.

The first move in the second period nearly resulted in a goal, as only a last ditch tackle prevented the ball from reaching Viktor Gyökeres for a tap-in. Morita also had a chance, but Sequeira got the better of him and kicked the ball out for a corner.

Israel made a spectacular save from an effort that would have been ruled out for offside, and suddenly, the game became momentarily more open. A thunderous shot from Trincão that grazed the bar was followed by an opportunity for the away team, but Israel kept out Pablo Roberto's attack.

Amorim then continued to freshen up the team and brought on Geovany Quenda and Iván Fresneda for Geny and Inácio. Later, at the start of the final quarter of an hour, Ricardo Esgaio also came on for Eduardo Quaresma, just after Trincão threatened to score with a header.

The goal that would bring peace of mind in Alvalade was found by Gyökeres, as he was brought down in the box. Stepping up to take the penalty kick himself, he converted to go top of the scoring charts with his 11th strike of the season in Liga Portugal.

Sporting CP sealed the win, went six consecutive matchdays without conceding a goal, and upped their scoring tally to 27.

The next matchday of the 2024/25 league season will be a visit to FC Famalicão (26 October, at 8:30 pm), after the international break. Before that, Sporting CP will return to action with two away matches in two other competitions: Against Portimonense SC in the third round of the Taça de Portugal (18 October, 8:15pm), followed by a trip to Austria to face SK Sturm Graz in the third round of the UEFA Champions League (22 October, 8pm).

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Geny Catamo (Geovany Quenda, 68’), Eduardo Quaresma (Ricardo Esgaio, 77’), Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio (Iván Fresneda, 68’), Maxi Araújo (Nuno Santos, 64’), Morten Hjulmand [C], Daniel Bragança, Francisco Trincão, Conrad Harder (Hidemasa Morita, 46’), Viktor Gyökeres.

The coach talks before Matchday 8

Sporting Clube de Portugal return to Liga Portugal action this Saturday at Estádio José Alvalade, hosting Casa Pia AC on Matchday 8.

After the 1-1 draw away to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League, coach Rúben Amorim assured journalists that his side are ready for the domestic fixture.

“This change of mindset is starting to become more natural, given the years we have been playing in both Europe and in the league. The players already know that to maintain our position in the table, we have to win. The players have done well in the transition from one competition to another before. We had an away trip, with an intense game, and our focus was on getting the players recovered and doing the tactical work,” said Amorim, before analysing eighth-placed Casa Pia AC.

“We will play the same formation as them, and we have many hours of experience in that. We have doubts about some Casa Pia AC players in their starting XI, and that can change their characteristics, but we are already used to the overall way Casa Pia AC play, because we use the same formation. They are a team with a low block and we have to be imaginative to create problems for them. They may have set pieces in which they use their three central defenders. Cassiano up front could be dangerous and Nuno Moreira was once a Sporting CP player and is very talented. We have looked a lot at individual characteristics because we didn't have much time to work on things, but the good thing about it is that we are already used to the references. We are prepared."

Zeno Debast is the only fully fit central defender available for Sporting CP, and Amorim revealed that Gonçalo Inácio and Eduardo Quaresma will be involved in the squad, despite being doubtful right until kickoff. Matheus Reis, Jeremiah St. Juste, Marcus Edwards, Pedro Gonçalves and Ousmane Diomande are all ruled out due to injury.

“Ousmane will be out for a few weeks. He will not be playing for the national team because he is not fit. Quaresma is not fully healed yet, Inácio also still has a little niggle. We will see tomorrow, but we do not have many solutions for the defence and they will have to make the sacrifice if they can. Ousmane is definitely out and St. Juste and Matheus Reis are too, so there are few players left. We have Fresneda, Esgaio -who can adapt to any position-, and players from the B team. But we will be ready for the game and the team are confident."

The coach was also asked about who will occupy the left side of the attack, and did not rule out Maxi Araújo or Conrad Harder playing there.

“We’ll see tomorrow, I’m not going to say because that changes the approach to the game. Although they play in the same position, they play completely differently. Maxi is increasingly better prepared and they can both play on the wing. He switched positions and that can sometimes be difficult since he doesn’t have a very strong base yet, but he can clearly play there and do it alongside Harder."

Finally, he was asked about the “rebirth” of rivals FC Porto and SL Benfica in European competitions, addressing the importance of maintaining the 100% winning streak in the league before the international break.

“We always have to win. Before the game against PSV, everyone said that Sporting CP would not lose the title under any circumstances. Now thay are saying that SL Benfica and FC Porto are better sides. We know that they are great teams and have excellent coaches, so we have to do our job. We will continue fighting, and if we win we will go to the break in first place, so that is our only objective."

The coach talks about the 1-1 draw in the Netherlands

After the 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadion, coach Rúben Amorim gave a press conference to reflect on the Champions League Matchday 2 result.

“We didn’t manage to deal very well with the pressing from the opposition at the start. We don’t usually get pressured like this, but we lost the duels. We often didn’t make good decisions with the ball up front, Geny had difficulties between the lines and we couldn’t provide support to the forward line. We kept giving confidence to our opponents until we conceded the goal,” he said of the opening minutes.

“In the second half, the game became more evenly matched. We left it as man-to-man at the back, PSV's Luuk de Jong had the ability to connect and we, who often isolated Viktor, couldn’t follow up on that. Daniel Bragança was another extra man and by swapping his position with Trincão we were able to dominate the game more, with a more open pitch,” Amorim explained.

“PSV had opportunities in transitions and so did we. Considering the way the game went, it’s a good point, but we have a lot to improve in this competition. If we look at the result, it doesn’t feel like a victory, but we have to accept the point, considering the performance we put in on a difficult pitch, against a team that haven’t lost here in 42 games. We have to be aware of that."

Regarding Bragança's impact during the game, coming on late, the coach acknowledged that he had been in the equation for a starting position, along with Hidemasa Morita and Morten Hjulmand.

“It was just a choice, but we had already thought about having three midfielders. I thought that at the start of the game we might lose some speed with him, because with the high press I would push the team even more -which I was wrong about, as he proved. After the game it is easier to choose who should play."

When asked about his players slipping on the surface much more than the opposition, he said that "I prefer to do tactical training in Lisbon when no one is watching to prepare the strategy, rather than train to adapt to the pitch. The players have the warmup for that and we have to be better at this approach. It is something that the players have to know, as they are professionals."

Finally, Amorim addressed Ousmane Diomande's replacement due to injury and confirmed that he will be out of the next Liga Portugal game.

“He is struggling and will be out of the next match. We will try to get him back soon, because we are short on central defenders."

Sporting CP stay unbeaten in the Champions League with a 1-1 draw

In the UEFA Champions League, Sporting Clube de Portugal took a 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven thanks to an 84th minute equaliser from Daniel Bragança. They now have 4 points from their two games in the competition.

Both sides had a perfect record of seven wins and 30 goals scored in their respective domestic leagues, although Sporting CP had also bested Lille OSC 2-0 in their Champions League opener.

To face a team unbeaten at home since 12 November 2022, Rúben Amorim made two changes to the starting lineup used in the victory at home against GD Estoril Praia. Geovany Quenda came in on the right wing and Geny Catamo moved to the attacking trio, whilst Gonçalo Inácio returned to the XI. Maxi Araújo was rotated out and Matheus Reis was absent due to injury, as were Pedro Gonçalves and Marcus Edwards and Jeremiah St. Juste.

Around 1,750 Sporting CP fans made their voices heard from the start.

PSV took more initiative with the ball in the early going and Sporting CP looked to send passes upfield to Viktor Gyökeres as quickly as possible, but they were always closely monitored by PSV's Ryan Flamingo.

Soon after, the home team's plans came to fruition. A ball stolen near the Sporting CP area resulted in the first shot, saved by Franco Israel, but shortly after the threat continued: Once again, the Dutch side pressed high, and Jerdy Schouten fired a powerful and well-placed shot in to make it 1-0. Sporting CP conceded for the first time since their 1-6 win against CD Nacional on August 17th.

PSV were galvanised by the goal, and they also increased their aggression and the number of fouls (12-3 at half-time). Sporting CP suffered another setback when Ousmane Diomande was injured, and he had to be replaced by Eduardo Quaresma.

As they gradually recovered, a run by Francisco Trincão ended up at the feet of Gyökeres, but his first-time shot was immediately blocked by a defender. A header wide by Inácio at the end of the first half, was the closest they would come to an equaliser before half time.

At the start of the second half, it was once again the Dutch champions who began strongest. Ismael Saibari and Guus Til both provided warnings with shots off target, leading to Rúben Amorim looking to reshuffle the team. Daniel Bragança came on for Geny Catamo, providing fluidity and tempo to Sporting CP's play.

After PSV's Luuk de Jong missed from a one-on-one with Israel, Sporting CP managed to get their first chance to attack through Quenda, but neither Bragança nor Trincão managed to get a shot off well. That was followed by a chance in which Quaresma slipped just as he was about to square up to goalkeeper Walter Benítez.

Quenda tried his luck with a curling shot that went just wide, and to continue the momentum Conrad Harder and Maxi Araújo were brought on for the final ten minutes -replacing Nuno Santos and Francisco Trincão.

Both Johan Bakayoko, for PSV, and Harder, for Sporting CP, had clear-cut chances to score, but were unsuccessful with their finishing.

Just when it seemed that an equaliser would not arrive, Bragança salvaged a point in the 84th minute. The cross came from another substitute, the recently introduced Maxi Araújo, and the midfielder burst into the area to score his first ever goal in the UEFA Champions League.

Late on, it was Sporting CP who had the last chance, but Benítez stretched out and blocked a powerful shot from Harder to keep the stalemate at the final whistle.

Now with four points, Sporting CP will visit Austrian side SK Sturm Graz on October 22nd. Before that, they will return to Alvalade to face Casa Pia AC in Liga Portugal this weekend.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Geovany Queda, Zeno Debast, Ousmane Diomande (Eduardo Quaresma, 31’), Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Santos (Maxi Araújo, 80’), Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita, Francisco Trincão (Conrad Harder, 80’), Geny Catamo (Daniel Bragança, 52’) and Viktor Gyökeres.

The midfielder talks ahead of the game in the Champions League

Daniel Bragança commented on the Tuesday night meeting with PV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League, and said that he expects a competitive game.

“Our team are confident and I believe PSV are too. They have won seven league games, just like us, and the only difference is their start in the Champions League: We got the three points on Matchday 1 and they didn’t. They may be more alert because of that, but we are two very confident teams who want to win," he began by saying in the press room.

“This one will be decided by details, but our preparation was done in the best way possible to get the three points. It is always a mistake to come into a game more comfortable after having taken the three points, so we have to be alert," he added.

As for his possible starting position, Bragança did not reveal the plan, but stressed that all of the players are ready to contribute.

“As for starting positions, you will see tomorrow. We are all prepared and we have already shown more than once that, whoever plays, the team win and play well."

On his numbers of two goals and three assists so far this season, Bragança analysed that “It is easier to have good stats when the team play well and reaches the opposition area more often. The important thing is for the team to win, to continue with our offensive flow, because if the team are doing well, the individual players will stand out."

“The Champions League is a dream for any player and for me it is no different. It is up to us to enjoy these games and the atmosphere to take advantage of this competition. The Champions League is a higher level, but every game makes a difference."

When asked about his role as one of the team captains, the 25-year-old admitted that it is “an added source of pride and responsibility."

"I was already a captain at youth level, but here it has a different meaning. It’s special, but it’s a feeling I’ve had before."

Finally, he talked about the adjustments made over the summer by Sporting CP.

“We lost important players who I miss spending time with, but that’s part of football. We made good signings, they have adapted very well and the group are doing well. It's also easier to manage everything when we win, and we’ve done that," he concluded.