Sporting CP lose 1-0 in Champions League action

Sporting Clube de Portugal were beaten 1-0 by Borussia Dortmund on the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage. The team battled for a satisfying result throughout, but left Signal Iduna Park without any points to their name.

The Liga Portugal champions made two changes from the game against CS Marítimo, with Matheus Reis and Tiago Tomás part of the starting XI in place of Rúben Vinagre and Nuno Santos (both on the bench, as well as young talents João Goulart, José Marsà and Gonçalo Esteves).

The match began without any great scoring opportunities in the first few minutes. Borussia Dortmund had more of the ball, but Sporting CP performed well, especially defensively, and scared the opposition through a swerving cross from Pedro Porro.

In the 19th minute, Sebastián Coates made a mistake and the ball fell to Hazard, who set up Reus for a shot that Adán easily saved. At the other end, Zouhair Feddal found Paulinho and he tried to tee up Tiago Tomás with an overly heavy touch. Soon after, Paulinho regained possession and tried to finish, but missed the target.

After half an hour of play, Sporting CP came very close to getting the goal when, off a corner kick, Sebastián Coates shot acrobatically over the top. In defence, organised movement led to several offside calls against Borussia Dortmund.

Despite this, in the 37th minute Donyell Malen sent the ball into the net, opening the scoring and meaning that Sporting CP went into halftime losing 1-0.

The second half had less action, but was equally competitive for most of the 45 minutes. Tiago Tomás crossed and Paulinho, with his head, forced Kobel to intervene. In response, a Reus shot was easily saved by Adán.

Rúben Amorim made a first change in the 58th minute, putting Nuno Santos on in place of Tiago Tomás, but the chances of a goal did not abound for either team. One of the few was an attempt cut out by Coates, in the 65th minute, preventing the Germans from making it 2-0.

Jovane Cabral came on in the 74th minute (replacing Pablo Sarabia) and, in the 83rd minute, it was the turn of Ricardo Esgaio, Bruno Tabata and Daniel Bragança to replace, respectively, Pedro Porro, Matheus Reis and João Palhinha.

Before the end, Coates kept up the intensity with a header just wide, but Borussia Dortmund would hold on to deny Sporting CP the points.

Sporting CP will be back in action on Saturday, away to FC Arouca's in the Liga Portugal.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates [C], Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro (Ricardo Esgaio, 83'), João Palhinha (Daniel Bragança, 83'), Matheus Nunes, Matheus Reis (Bruno Tabata, 83'), Pablo Sarabia (Jovane Cabral, 74'), Tiago Tomás (Nuno Santos, 58') and Paulinho.

The midfielder insists Sporting CP are prepared for Champions League Matchday 2

Matheus Nunes previewed the match against Borussia Dortmund in the group stage of the Champions League, explaining that he is certain that Sporting CP are prepared to win.

"We are ready. We have prepared as much as we prepared for the game with CS Marítimo. We know the quality that BVB Dortmund have, but we also know about our strengths, and that's why we'll face the game looking them eye-to-eye,” the midfielder began by saying, mentioning that the heavy defeat against AFC Ajax is already behind them.

“That game is over. We cannot doubt in our work. We are going to do things in the same way. We believe in our work and there is no reason to doubt what we have been doing,” he stressed.

Praising his teammates and midfielders and talking about the qualities of Daniel Bragança, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Tabata, he said that “the important thing is the team," whoever plays.

“If we are here, it is because we have the quality. The important thing here is not the individuals. Any one of them can do a good job; the important thing is the team."

At a time when much has been said about the interest of the Portuguese and Brazilian national teams in calling him up, Nunes answered that "I've already made a decision. I spoke with both coaches and after thinking a lot I came to the conclusion that it was better to play for Portugal. I think I'll be happier here and my family said the same. I've made this decision and I'm very happy."

The coach previews the game against Borussia Dortmund

Looking ahead to the second match of the Champions League group stage against Borussia Dortmund, Rúben Amorim spoke in a pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon.

“Youth also brings irreverence. Our debut in the competition has already passed. Dortmund have been very strong, especially at home, but our focus is on our team and what we can do and improve upon. We don't look at the difference in experience too much”, the coach began by saying, also insisting that he is not worried about who will play for the German team.

“Am I losing sleep over Haaland? I always sleep well. Football stuff doesn't give me sleepless nights, except for some bad performances and when the players don't give everything. The AFC Ajax result was such a blow that we just have to look at ourselves. I won't look at whether Haaland plays or not. We won't change based on BVB Dortmund's lineup, but of course if Haaland doesn't play then they will lose a player with a lot of influence in terms of goals."

Showing confidence in his team, Amorim addressed the contrasts between AFC Ajax and BVB Dortmund, saying that “the big difference” in these games “will be the adaptation of the Sporting CP team and the coach."

 “The big difference may lie in Sporting CP and not in the opposition: In the way we defend, how we prepare our movement and our pressure," he said, revealing what he spoke to the players about after the meeting with the Dutch champions.

"We pointed out the flaws, but we must remember the moment when it was 3-2, and for a little while that changed the course of the game; conceding first also changed the course of the game and our strategy. There are days when everything goes your way, and sometimes it's the other way around. It's important to start the game well, then stick to our strategy. We need to be focused, even when the ball is back with the goalkeeper."

“The will to win is the same. We really wanted to beat AFC Ajax and were really looking forward to the game. It was a very bad result, but there is no fear of anything. The players have to compete, play and search for a better feeling in the Champions League. Now we are more aware of the quality of the Champions League and we will strive to deserve a different result."

Sebastián Coates will be available, and Amorim emphasised that he “is very important for the team and for the coach,” but Pedro Gonçalves will once again miss out.
 “It's an old injury. We're taking our time over things and if it has to take longer, then so be it,” he explained.

Sporting CP B team centre backs João Goulart and José Marsà were present in the last training session before the match, and the coach says that they are there for experience in Europe.

“They are two other options, but it's more so that they gain experience. It's a signal to the B team. They have to go through this: Travel, preparation and training. It doesn't mean they'll come in tomorrow.”

The coach's review of the win over CS Marítimo

Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim was satisfied with the result for his side against CS Marítimo (1-0) on Friday, considering it to have been a deserved win.

“There was clearly help from supporters. Like the team, the fans understood that the team were giving their all, that it was necessary to be patient and wait for the best moment to attack. We dominated the game from start to finish. At the beginning we could have been more incisive, when we won space, but we dominated and didn't give CS Marítimo a chance. The game had many stops and starts, but the players tried to implement what we had trained."

“Despite the stress of the game, the players went into the spaces where they should have gone, they didn't get carried away by emotion, and it ended up being a fair result”.
The coach admitted that it is necessary to finish off chances better, saying that “We have to score more goals, but we are also conceding less, apart from the game against AFC Ajax. We have to improve our finishing, but I want to emphasise the control that we had.

Sporting CP no longer share possession so much; we control more and are more on top of the opposition. Last year, around this time, we had a harder time setting up. We would have opportunities once or twice,” he continued, insisting that he was not worried about the winning goal only having come from the penalty spot.

“It depends how you look at it. I look at spirit a lot. This victory gave the fans a lot. We can look at it as two 1-0 victories from penalty kicks, but I look at it as complete dominance. There were no shots from the opposition and we had complete control of the game."

Amorim insisted that the victory, achieved in the final minutes of the match, was not down to luck.

“I think it's more a case of luck when we don't dominate the game, don't do much to deserve it, and end up scoring. Today we completely dominated the game. For example, in last season's game against CD Santa Clara, in which we scored more or less at the same time, it was more good fortune than today. What happened today was justice. One team wanted to play, the other didn't. Today, football was fair."

Pedro Porro scores a late penalty in a 1-0 home win

For the second weekend in a row, Sporting Clube de Portugal claimed victory in Liga Portugal action thanks to a Pedro Porro penalty, as the right back converted a late spot kick against CS Marítimo.

For the home encounter, coach Rúben Amorim opted for a starting XI consisting of Antonio Adán, Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates, Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Vinagre, Pablo Sarabia, Paulinho and Nuno Santos.

The visiting team tried to stifle Sporting CP from the start, preventing them from building up play, but after ten minutes alternatives had already been found, leading to a series of chances involving Nuno Santos.

In the first, it was Sáenz who cut Santos off, then it was Paulo Victor who made a great save to put the ball out for a corner. CS Marítimo also tried to surprise Adán, through Xadas, but shortly after the goalkeeper sent the shot away, Santos hit the woodwork at the other end.

In front of a supportive 18,741 fans at the Estádio José Alvalade, Santos again enjoyed a chance in the 35th minute, when Pablo Sarabia played the ball in. The winger took Paulo Victor out of the equation, but didn't have the best angle to finish off, and China was able to keep his attempt out.

It was 0-0 at halftime, with everything open for a second half which started almost exactly like the first: Sporting CP camped out in the CS Marítimo area and Nuno Santos looked for a goal, with Paulo Victor denying him again.

João Palhinha forced a stop from the goalkeeper, and with no breakthrough on the hour Amorim made his first substitution in the team, sending on Tiago Tomás and Rúben Vinagre and moving Nuno Santos further back.

Sporting CP continued to press and chase a goal from open play, whilst CS Marítimo could only muster one moment of danger from a set piece.

In the 70th minute, Daniel Bragança and Jovane Cabral replaced Matheus Nunes and Pablo Sarabia, providing fresh blood in attack for the final minutes of the match.
Pedro Porro, set up by Jovane Cabral, struck the post again in the 76th minute, and it didn't appear as if Sporting CP's persistence was going to pay off. Five minutes later, Ricardo Esgaio and Bruno Tabata stepped in for Luís Neto and João Palhinha in a brave gamble by the coach.

Considerable timewasting by the visitors meant that some eight minutes of stoppage time were added on, and it was in the dying moments of the game that Sporting CP finally found the net: Paulo Victor fouled Jovane Cabral inside the area,  the referee had no doubt about awarding a penalty and sending off the goalkeeper. Edgar Costa stood between Pedro Porro and a winning goal, and it was the Sporting CP player who kept his cool to slot in his spot kick.

With three points picked up, the team will now shift their focus to the Champions League, and a game against Borussia Dortmund next Tuesday.

The coach is expecting a tough challenge against the islanders on Matchday 7

This Friday, Sporting Clube de Portugal face CS Marítimo at home in a 7pm local time kickoff. Their coach, Rúben Amorim, spoke in a pre-match press conference to look ahead to the game, and warned that the side who occupy 11th place in table, will be very different from the one that closed 2020/2021 losing 5-1 to Sporting CP.

"It will be a completely different game. CS Marítimo are very difficult to beat. They drew at Famalicão and drew with FC Porto, they have a coach with good ideas and no responsibility whatsoever. We hope to play better than in that game and win. It doesn't matter if it's 5-1, as winning by one goal is enough, but we want to score as many goals as possible and not concede any," he began by telling reporters.

Despite reminding the press that "for the club, the most important thing is the Liga Portugal title," he denied any players would be rested for the CS Marítimo game with the visit to Borussia Dortmund in mind."

"By guaranteeing a good finish in the league, we guarantee Champions League participation, as well as experience. We won't save players, as the most important game is always the next one. I'm not worried about recovering for Dortmund because our motivation is always high. Those who are the best suited to the game will play," he promised.

Asked about Paulinho, Amorim commented that the striker "has to do what he has been doing."

 "He has been playing very well. Goals give a striker strength, but we are looking for much more than that. He's doing very well and the team have improved a lot. He improves Tiago Tomás every day in training because he helps him. I want him to keep up his performance and be very strong under pressure."

"At a big club, the feeling that sticks with you is that of the last game. What we took away was a victory against GD Estoril Praia, who had not lost before. We were clearly superior and we controlled the game from beginning to end. What we have to do is win the next game, and then we will focus on the next one."

Regarding Manuel Ugarte, the midfielder signed from FC Famalicão in the last transfer window, Amorim stressed that, "he may have to come in at any moment, and he has to prepare for that," whilst "[Daniel] Bragança is very useful and important, he will be a great player and has unique characteristics."

The coach also confirmed the absences of Pedro Gonçalves and Gonçalo Inácio due to injury and addressed the situation with Bruno Tabata: "Tabata plays as a central midfielder, but for a specific position for some games. He grew and played on the wing, but I think he has the talent to play more in the middle."

The coach reviews the win over GD Estoril Praia

In the aftermath of Sunday's triumph over GD Estoril Praia (0-1) in Liga Portugal, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim explained that he was satisfied with how the team responded to a week in which they lost their opening Champions League fixture.

“I expected a good attitude from the team, but I didn't know how the players' reaction was going to be," he began his post-match press conference by saying.

“The reaction was excellent. We were focused, everyone knew what they had to do and they did it without much stress, in a very difficult game and after a very difficult defeat. We learned a lot from the game against FC Famalicão, and we didn't rush. In the first half we controlled things, and in the second as well,”, began the coach.

“We remembered the team that we are and if we have to defend lower, that's what we'll do. We were fair winners. It was a very difficult game, but it turned out that we suffered less than expected."

“GD Estoril Praia had fewer chances than expected, because we went after the result, knowing that when a big club are not in front, it's like they are losing. We were clearly the team that had the most chances and that looked for the goal the most,” he pointed out.

Amorim also admitted that the last week was "the most difficult" since his arrival, but also emphasised that his players gave “an excellent response” at the António Coimbra da Mota.
“These are difficult times, but players have to realise that everything changes from one moment to the next. This team has not yet been through moments of adversity. They felt the stress, but it's not the same thing, and it's part of the team's growth ”, he said, rejecting the idea that the result was in jeopardy.

As for Pablo Sarabia's first-team debut, the coach said the Spanish international "will be very important this season" and praised his qualities.

“He is a player with a lot of talent, but he works a lot for the team. You can see some confusion at times about when to press and get the ball. He is looking for his place, but he is an above average player. Like all players, he needs time ”, he said, before explaining why it was Pedro Porro who took the penalty that gave the team victory.

“Everyone wants to score and I trust everyone. It's a bit of a competition between the players, because Nuno Santos missed one last season and was changed, Jovane Cabral also missed and was changed, as well as Pote, who got injured and was changed. Whoever misses is switched out, and now it's Porro's turn,” he clarified.

Finally, the coach sent out a warning about the victory.

"Winning helps you to overcome everything, but in football everything changes from one moment to the next."

“We were coming off a series of victories, we had won the Supertaça and were improving our football, and in one week everything seems to have changed. The players have to be alert, as this win does not put any ghosts to bed. We have to be prepared for everything," he concluded.

A Pedro Porro penalty earns a 0-1 triumph for Os Leões

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat GD Estoril Praia 0-1, at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota on Sunday night, on Matchday 6 of the Liga Portugal season. Pedro Porro's second half penalty returned the team to winning ways following a defeat in the Champions League in midweek and a draw with FC Porto.

Still without the injured Gonçalo Inácio and Pedro Gonçalves, coach Rúben Amorim placed Matheus Reis in the central triangle, alongside Luís Neto and the returning Sebastián Coates. Summer signing Pablo Sarabia got his first start for the club up front.

Newly promoted to the top flight, the home team have been the sensations of the new season and had yet to lose in Liga Portugal this term, and the match was as hotly contested as expected.

The first danger was provided by Estoril, who forced Adán to make two excellent saves in the same move, but from the 25th minute onwards Sporting CP had more of the ball and their opponents waited for opportunities to counter.

After almost half an hour, Porro received the ball on the right and sent in a cross for Paulinho, who struck on the turn and forced a great save from Dani Figueira. Soon after, another chance was cut out by Joãozinho.

The match went into halftime 0-0, and after the restart there was a close call from Paulinho as the threat from Sporting CP increased.

The pressure paid off, as on 65 minutes Figueira brought down Paulinho inside the box and the referee did not hesitate in pointing to the penalty spot. Stepping up to take was Porro, and he finally broke the deadlock with a well placed strike.

Whilst Estoril had not created chances in the second half, they were forced to advance in search of an equaliser and moved closer to Adán's goal, with the keeper making his first save of the half in the 80th minute.

A long distance shot by Palhinha was saved by the opposition goalkeeper in response, but there was no change on the scoresheet. Os Leões took a deserved 0-1 triumph on the road.

Sporting CP will play again next Friday against CS Marítimo.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis, Pedro Porro, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Vinagre (Jovane Cabral, 62'), Pablo Sarabia (Tiago Tomás, 82'), Nuno Santos (Ricardo Esgaio, 88') and Paulinho.

The coach talks on the eve of the game against GD Estoril Praia

Sporting Clube de Portugal take on GD Estoril Praia on Sunday (8:30pm) on Matchday 5 of the Liga Portugal season, and Rúben Amorim gave a press conference ahead of the away fixture for his side.

"We foresee many difficulties against a team who have nothing to lose," he told the media.

"They are having an excellent season, will play without responsibility and have assimilated their ideas well since last year, with a good coach. That gets the best out of the players. We are up against a very dangerous team. We played GD Estoril Praia in preseason and we know the team well. We will respond to everything that happens. It will be necessary to pay attention to the wind on dead balls, and every detail will count. I expect a very difficult game, but I know we will be prepared."

After admitting that the loss at home to AFC Ajax in the Champions League "was a very heavy blow," Amorim explained that the work done in recent days has been focused on improving performance.

"This week we looked at GD Estoril Praia, but we also looked at our own team. More than GD Estoril Praia, our preparation was about what we had to do, because that is what gives security to the players. We must show that we are an excellent team."

Asked about the project established for Sporting CP, the coach assured that nothing will change because of the team's involvement in European competition.

"Playing in the UEFA Champions League can't change anything about the project. It would be very dangerous to do that. We have to follow through with what we had thought planned, however much it hurts. I know the club and I know their ideas, and that's the path we will follow," he promised.

"There is nothing better than another game to turn a situation around. I want the team to show the same identity that we have had. I want them to feel confident about the process. I think the team are prepared. They know what they did wrong against AFC Ajax. We used the game in Famalicão to prepare this one, because GD Estoril Praia also sometimes defend with five at the back and a midfielder dropping in."

Sporting CP lose 1-5 on the opening matchday in Europe

Sporting Clube de Portugal suffered a tough defeat to AFC Ajax in the opening game of the UEFA Champions League group stage, losing 1-5 at home to the Dutch side.

Fans flocked to the Estadio José Alvalade and filled the maximum capacity permitted by healthcare authorities for the game, which marked the team's return to the top European club competition. Sporting CP debuted their new third kit, and coach Rúben Amorim made just the one change to the lineup that began the game against FC Porto, with Gonçalo Inácio covering for the injured Sebastián Coates.

The start was a difficult one for the home side, who went behind after just two minutes: Antony took an initial shot, the ball swerved over Luís Neto, it hit Antonio Adán's post and fell for Haller, who only had to head it into the net. Shortly afterwards, Antony set up Haller in the heart of the area to make it 0-2.

From here, Sporting CP was forced to chase the result against a team who would resort to playing the ball around their own half, even with a high press employed by Os Leões.
The first Sporting CP chance was provided by Paulinho, who on 13 minutes went on a counterattack and then shot wide from the resulting corner.

Just 20 minutes in, another hard blow was suffered with Gonçalo Inácio going off injured, to be replaced by Ricardo Esgaio. This was followed by a shot by Gravenberch that Antonio Adán kept out, and a header by João Palhinha that went off target.

Finally, on 33 minutes, Sporting CP pulled a goal back, and it was Paulinho who scored it on his Champions League debut. Matheus Nunes found him with a great pass, and the striker did the rest.

Happiness for Sportinguistas was short-lived, however. A little more than five minutes before halftime, Ajax made it 1-3 through Berghuis. The score remained the same at the break, despite a header nodded just outside the post by Zouhair Feddal in stoppage time.

Amorim made moves for the second half, bringing on Matheus Reis and Pablo Sarabia to replace Rúben Vinagre and Jovane Cabral. Despite this, on 48 minutes more misfortune followed for Sporting CP: Paulinho headed into the back of the net for what would have been a magnificent goal, but it was disallowed for offside after a VAR check. Shortly after, Antony sent in another ball for Haller to take Ajax 1-4 ahead.

Pedro Porro then had two good chances, but on the first he hit the post and on the second it was goalkeeper Pasveer who kept the ball out.

The night concluded with another goal from Haller in the 63rd minute -his fourth of the game, as Sporting CP suffered a difficult start to their European campaign.

Os Leões return to the action this Sunday with a visit to GD Estoril Praia in the Liga Portugal.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Gonçalo Inácio (Ricardo Esgaio, 20'), Luís Neto [C], Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Vinagre (Matheus Reis, 45'), Jovane Cabral ( Pablo Sarabia, 45'), Nuno Santos (Tiago Tomás, 60') and Paulinho (Daniel Bragança, 77').