The countdown to the game against SL Benfica is underway

The Sporting Clube de Portugal squad returned after a day off for morning training on Friday, in preparation for one of the biggest fixtures of the season. The team take on title rivals SL Benfica on Liga NOS Matchday 16 in one of Portugal's most prestigious derbies, which kicks off at 9:30pm on Monday at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Rúben Amorim oversaw the session, which featured a high intensity.

Os Leões will have another training session on Saturday at 10am, at the Academia Sporting in Alcochete.

A 0-2 victory keeps the team 4 points clear at the top

In a dominant display, Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Boavista FC 0-2 on Tuesday night on Matchday 15 of the Liga NOS season. Goals from Nuno Santos and Pedro Porro helped the team to three more points at the top of the table.

Luís Neto, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Santos and Andraž Šporar were brought into the first XI, in changes from the Taça da Liga final against SC Braga this past weekend. Sporting CP controlled things from the opening whistle, as Boavista FC held back and appeared more concerned with not conceding than with scoring.

Chances on goal were slow to appear, but the first provided a goal for Os Leões. Midway through the first half, Nuno Mendes crossed perfectly for Nuno Santos in the heart of the area, and he struck low into the net. At first ruled out for an alleged offside, the referee Fábio Veríssimo eventually gave the goal after consulting VAR. It was Nuno Santos' sixth goal in 2020/2021 - his fifth in Liga NOS.

From there, the chances continued. Almost immediately, Nuno Mendes came close to making it 0-2, but the first-time shot went just wide. Then, Zouhair Feddal headed off-target from a corner. On 33 minutes, Šporar also missed a chance, and before the break Jovane Cabral had his effort cleared away by Jackson Porozo.

Just before the halftime whistle, João Mário was unable to finish after rounding the goalkeeper, and the game remained 0-1.

There was no change in the frequency of the chances in the second half. On 53 minutes, a tremendous move initiated by Matheus Nunes was continued by João Mário, who served up a pass to Nuno Santos. A spectacular feint and delivery Šporar was only denied a goal by a deflection of the striker's shot.

After another opportunity - this time with João Mário shooting over - Rúben Amorim took off Jovane Cabral and brought in Daniel Bragança. He would later swap Šporar and Nuno Santos for Tiago Tomás and João Palhinha.

Sporting CP finally extended their advantage through one of the goals of the matchday, as Pedro Porro slammed in a shot from distance. The Spaniard continued a run of form that also saw him on-target in the Taça da Liga final.

The second goal brought more security to the visitors, who left Bessa with only one negative point: A yellow card for João Palhinha in the 79th minute that leaves the midfielder unavailable for the next game, against SL Benfica.

Before the end, Adán made a stop from a header by Rami, Palhinha shot over and late substitute Bruno Tabata tested Léo Jardim.

With this result, Sporting CP remain leaders of Liga NOS with a 4-point lead over nearest rivals FC Porto.

The coach wants his side to turn their attention to Boavista FC

With Sporting CP back in action on Tuesday against Boavista FC, Rúben Amorim looked ahead to the game in his pre-match press conference.

This meeting is the team's first game since winning the Taça da Liga, but the coach says that the weekend achievement is "already in the past".

“It was a very good trophy win, which had a very important feeling about it that day, but which now doesn't have any bearing on us. This achievement is part of the past and tomorrow we will have a very difficult game against a team that, despite their position in the table, are led by a great coach and are full of good players”, he warned.

"We have to forget about the Taça da Liga and focus on this game. We have to be prepared and I know that we are".

Boavista FC have a series of absentees in defence for this match, but Amorim is sure that they will prove to be challenging opponents.

“The players missing in defence is not the reason Boavista FC might lose the game. There are other alternatives, like Javi Garcia and Rami, who are World Cup winners."

“We are going to look at Boavista FC as a whole. They will certainly play against Sporting CP without the responsibility they had in other games and will put all their quality on the pitch. They have nothing to lose, so we have to be prepared for that”, he said.

Still top of the Liga NOS table, Sporting have experienced some minor stumbles as of late, but Amorim emphasized that their position is not down to luck.

“We have flaws in certain points in our play, but we have managed to win. I can't remember a game in which the opponents were clearly superior to us. It is a mix of everything: Competence, good fortune at times, the quality of the entire team and the spirit that has been helping in the most difficult moments”.

Amorim is waiting to see what his sanction will be for his sending off - along with SC Braga coach Carlos Carvalhal - in the Taça da Liga final, but believes the appeal will be successful.

“Our expulsion was a mistake. I don't expect any punishment, let alone a heavy suspension".

The defender expressed the feeling in the squad following the Taça da Liga triumph

After Sporting CP's Taça da Liga win against SC Braga, Luís Neto gave the post-match press conference and talked about earning his first trophy for the Club.

“This trophy is worth a lot because of how much we believe, both in the club and in the project. It's important to feel that this team, although young, are capable of winning trophies. We fought hard in a Final Four in which the four best teams in the league were present, and we won both games”, he began by saying.

“Despite our inexperience and not having many players who are used to big decisions, we showed that we are capable and that we have a group that will work through to May to honor the club", he said, before revealing a conversation he had with Gonçalo Inácio before the beginning of the final.

“I told him that if we won, it would be a trophy that was 'Made in Sporting CP. At the end of the game I spoke with Matheus Nunes, who told me that he was used to winning things in regional football and was suddenly winning a Taça da Liga. We are enabling these players to have a future in which they will earn the pleasure of winning silverware for Sporting CP. When the coach came along, this became a little bit more real - or the message was transmitted differently”, added Neto.

“The coach completely deserves this, for everything he has done for the squad. For example, last year there were many people questioning if Sporting CP were going to be able to fight for trophies due to the large number of young players at the club. When they talk about Matheus Nunes, Daniel Bragança, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Luís Maximiano or Jovane Cabral next, they will be talking about players with a trophy to their name. That gives them another responsibility”.

Finally, Neto stressed that although this objective has been achieved, it is necessary to keep grounded, because there is much to achieve before the end of the season.

“We know what we have been able to do. The coach often tells us that Sporting CP are capable of beating any team in the league. That is what we have demonstrated and what we want to do in all of the remaining matches, starting with our game against Boavista FC. We have two days to recover. Now it's time to celebrate and enjoy ourselves, but knowing that tomorrow we will prepare for a difficult game, as usual. It's very important to keep following this path, and that is what we will try to do”, he concluded.

Sporting CP best SC Braga 1-0 to lift the league cup

Sporting Clube de Portugal are Taça da Liga winners for 2020/21. The team won their third such cup this Saturday, besting SC Braga 1-0 in Leira under soaking wet conditions and against spirited opposition.

Rúben Amorim made two changes to his starting lineup for the final, bringing in Nuno Mendes and Jovane Cabral after they were not part of the first XI against FC Porto in the semifinal.

'Os Leõe' opted for a more direct strategy in the opening half, due to the difficulties in playing the ball along the ground and the extensive puddles  on the pitch. However, they were not able to register clear chances in the initial half hour.

They found themselves without their coach in the dugout, as Amorim was sent to the stands for dissent, leaving Emanuel Ferro to oversee the tactical decisions.

Whilst the sending off was a setback, what happened next was the key moment of the game: On 41 minutes, Pedro Porro took advantage of a lapse in attention from the SC Braga defense to go through down the right channel. He fired a venomous shot into the net, racing off to celebrate one of the biggest goals of his career.

Soon after Porro had made it 1-0, Pedro Gonçalves came close to scoring the second goal, but this time the SC Braga goalkeeper was able to bat the ball away and deny Sporting a more ample advantage going into half time.

Leading the way at the break, Sporting CP made a switch to bring on Nuno Santos for Jovane Cabral. Whilst this was an attacking switch, it was SC Braga who threatened most in the opening moments in search of an equaliser.

That did not mean that 'Os Leões' sat back, however, and they provided the first real danger just past the hour mark. Pedro Gonçalves again struck a strong drive that Matheus was required to tip out for a corner.

Rúben Amorim previews Sporting CP's Taça da Liga final against SC Braga

Sporting Clube de Portugal face SC Braga in the Taça da Liga final this Saturday in Leiria, and coach Rúben Amorim gave his thoughts in a pre-match press conference to preview the game.

"We are two teams that know each other well, because we have already faced each other in the league", he told journalists.

"Maybe there is a difference in the centre backs SC Braga have, but the ideas that our teams possess have not changed depending on the players. The coaches have changed and the teams remain strong. It will be a very competitive game, just like the game at Alvalade".

"An early goal could transform the game completely. We can take information from the most recent game, but no more than that. It might be a completely different story", added Amorim, who talked up the late goals his team have scored recently -such as against FC Porto in the semifinal.

"The merit has to go to the players. They believe in themselves until the last moment, because the game is played until the referee blows the final whistle. We always aim to win. The credit goes to the players and to the coaching staff, who help the team to believe until the end".

Curiously enough, Amorim was the winner of the 2019/2020 Taça da Liga when coaching SC Braga. However, he says that the situation has many differentiating caveats.

"Now I'm at Sporting CP and the pressure is completely different. I have a very young group who are inexperienced in these circumstances. Experience, in this final, is not on the side of the bigger club - and this is not very normal".

"Our team is very young and has a lot of ambition to win this game. I am more concerned with my players than with me. I want them to win more than I do. They need it because they give everything until the last minute. Last year I was worried about me, with it being the beginning of my career, but now I am more concerned with my players".

Finally, the coach answered a question about Jovane Cabral and possible 'second-half players', who can come on and make an impact.

 "I don't think there are second half players. I think we should always have players on the bench who can change the game. One day it could be Jovane, another day it could be somebody else", he stated. "All players want to be starters. When they have 10 or 20 minutes, they show a lot of ambition and give their all. It is a great strength of our team".

Tiago Tomás is excited about the Taça da Liga final

Tiago Tomás joined coach Ruben Amorim at the Artur Agostinho Auditorium for the pre-match press conference for the Taça da Liga final, and guaranteed that Sporting CP will show plenty of desire in the clash with SC Braga.

"We are motivated, as we always are for any game. With this being a final, then we are even more up for it. We are confident, we know the quality we have and we know the work we will do tomorrow", he stated, adding that the game "has the extra importance of us representing Sporting CP and playing in a final".

Asked if a penalty shoot-out, something narrowly avoided against FC Porto in the semifinal, was an aspect that the team had practiced, Tomás admitted that there had been a rehearsal of spot kicks. However, he also said that the objective is not to reach that point.

"We practiced them because it could happen, and we will have to be prepared for everything the game asks of us. But we want to win inside the 90 minutes", he explained.

For Tomás, the opportunity to play in a first final is something he is relishing -and which he can scarcely believe.

"When I joined Sporting CP seven years ago, this was all a dream. Now it is a reality and there is no time for me to be dazzled by the bright lights. I have to continue working as I have done, keep focused and give my best, as always".

"We are all doing our best to show that we can be options for the game tomorrow. Jovane [Cabral] came in [against FC Porto], scored two goals and we are very happy for him. It is a positive competitiveness that we have amongst the strikers. I hope that I can score a goal tomorrow, so that I can say I have scored in all competitions", said the forward, who has found the net in Liga NOS, the Taça de Portugal and the Europa League.

Os Leões beat FC Porto 2-1 with two late Cabral goals

Sporting Clube de Portugal football team claimed a 2-1 win against FC Porto to secure a place in the Taça da Liga final, coming back from behind thanks to two Jovane Cabral goals in the closing minutes.

Coach Rúben Amorim made several changes to his starting XI for ‘O Clássico’, bringing in Zouhair Feddal, Gonçalo Inácio and Vitorino Antunes in place of Cristián Borja, Eduardo Quaresma and Gonzalo Plata. The strategy remained focused on a hard press and trying to establish their game in the offensive areas of the midfield, but initially FC Porto had the better of possession.

Pedro Gonçalves tried his luck from a direct free kick, saved by Diogo Costa, but the opening warning shot was provided by Marko Grujic, who struck just wide of Antonio Adán’s goal.

In the 16th minute it was Zaidu's turn to shoot off target, but soon after Tiago Tomás came close to setting up Nuno Santos in a dangerous position, without success.

Following a shot over the top by Corona on 20 minutes, Sporting CP got more into the game. Close to the end of the first half, Gonçalves and Santos were near to breaking the deadlock, but were not able to finish their chances. FC Porto hit the post through Marega, but the first period concluded goalless.

When the teams came back out onto the pitch, Gonçalves hit an effort from distance and Antunes had a shot deflect out off a defender, as Sporting CP stated their intentions early. Counterattacks allowed Gonçalves to play to Santos, who in turn forced a save from Diogo Costa.

Amorim made his first substitutions, bringing on Matheus Nunes in place of João Mário.

Os Leões were very close to an opener, when Nuno Santos was faster than Costa and sent the ball towards the net, only denied by Felipe Anderson on the line.

The introduction of Jovane Cabral - replacing Tiago Tomás - would eventually prove to be a masterstroke, but before his goal heroics Sporting CP found themselves behind. FC Porto made it 0-1 through a curling strike from Marega that swerved awkwardly away from Adán.

Sporting CP immediately introduced Gonzalo Plata and Daniel Bragança, withdrawing Antunes and João Palhinha.

With the final whistle approaching, the team were in need of a goal, and it came in the 86th minute. After a direct free kick, the ball fell to Jovane Cabral, who levelled from outside the area with a superb hit.

The game appeared to be headed to a penalty shootout, but Sporting CP continued to believe that it was possible to complete the turnaround in regular time. That conviction proved to be correct, to the delight of Os Leões: On 94 minutes, Sebastián Coates sent the ball to Pedro Gonçalves, and he found Jovane Cabral with space on the left. The winger, one-on-one with Diogo Costa, kept his cool and slotted home the winning goal, as the players and bench celebrated wildly.

After their momentous win, Sporting CP will face the winner of SC Braga vs. SL Benfica in the final on Saturday.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Pedro Porro, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Zouhair Feddal, Vitorino Antunes (Gonzalo Plata, 85 '), João Palhinha (Daniel Bragança, 85'), João Mário (Matheus Nunes, 69 '), Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos and Tiago Tomás (Jovane Cabral, 77').

Sporting CP coach previews Taça da Liga 'Clássico'

A 'Clássico' between Sporting CP and FC Porto takes place this Tuesday in the semifinals of the Taça da Liga, kicking off at 7:45pm local time at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria. Coach Rúben Amorim addressed the media before the Final Four of the competition got underway, stating that his team are ready for the challenge ahead.

"The last two games saw two results that we were not used to. The team are very committed and focused in training. I haven’t seen the same joy from them, which is a good sign, but the team continue to believe in the process and are confident. They are ready for the next game, which is important because it is the semi-final of the Taça da Liga," he told journalists at the Auditório Artur Agostinho.

"In terms of experience and maturity, at this moment in time we are clearly behind FC Porto, but youth can compensate in other aspects," he stated. "We have a confident team despite the last two results, and we are in first place in the league, so the players are ready for this game."

Asked about positive COVID-19 cases in the FC Porto team, Amorim insisted that the opposition will be as strong as ever.

"We had cases just last week. The clubs are prepared for this. FC Porto will always field a great team, with a lot of experience and international players. Only those who don’t know the coach, the players and the club would think that it will be easier because one player or the other isn't available", he said.

"They will be a great side. The players already know each other. Sérgio Oliveira has a lot of influence in the game, but reducing FC Porto to Sérgio Olvieira would be a mistake. I expect a strong and aggressive team, strong in space and between the lines, with Corona creating problems in that regard. Uribe will be pushing to get into the area and the wingers will be attacking. Pepe must have played more Champions League finals than Inácio has games as a starter in the Primeira Liga. We will have to suffer, play hard and try to win the game. It is very important to face a game with FC Porto with the maximum aggressiveness."

Amorim continued by saying that "We want to bring the Taça da Liga back to Alvalade. The group needs these games to understand that the DNA of Sporting CP is about winning trophies. I want to win a trophy as a coach of Sporting CP, as do the players."

Before the press conference, João Pedro Araújo, director of the Sporting CP medical department, explained to journalists that Andraž Šporar and Nuno Mendes’ positive Covid-19 tests had in fact been false positives.

"Both tested positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday, January 13th, through a PCR test. Sporting CP have always complied -and will always strictly comply- with the protocol plans, having implemented measures such as daily internal screening," he said.

"Two more PCR tests were performed in two other different laboratories: One on Friday 15th, and the other on Saturday 16th. Both results were negative, so it can be concluded that the results that preceded the match against Rio Ave FC were false positives."

"The Sporting CP medical department wish to make it very clear that we recognise the immense value of these tests in combating the pandemic. The probability that the test is positive and the person is not infected is less than 1%. It is quite rare."

"It is with regret that we registered this error because, as everyone knows, it was a mistake that meant the coaching staff missed two members of the squad for the match against Rio Ave FC. Finally, I thank the health authorities and the laboratories for their collaboration and quick response, and hope that the players will be available for tomorrow's game," stated the doctor.

Pair named as Liga NOS' Best Goalkeeper and Best Defender for December

Chosen as December's Best Goalkeeper and Best Defender, respectively, in Liga NOS, Sporting CP's Antonio Adán and Pedro Porro were presented with their awards after training this Saturday.
 
Speaking to the club's official media channel, Adán expressed his gratitude for the recognition, but also emphasised that the team's defensive success is down to teamwork. "I'm very pleased with the votes that I got from the other coaches in the league, choosing me as December's Best Goalkeeper," he said.
 
"This means that the collective work by the whole team has been good. That's why the individual awards come, and it motivates us to continue in this way", added the Spaniard.
 
Compatriot Porro echoed the shot-stopper's statements, commenting that "it is a source of pride to win this award for the second consecutive month". "You can use it to infer that we are doing our job well, both collectively and individually. The team have been one of the best in the league, and we will continue this way so that the results are positive."