The Scottish team will be the opposition in the Third Qualifying Round

Aberdeen FC will be Sporting Clube de Portugal's opponents in their first UEFA Europa League appearance of the season, with a place in the Playoff of the competition at stake.

The Scottish side beat Viking FK 0-2 away from home in Norway on Thursday night, with goals in either half from Ross McCrorie and Ryan Hedges.

The Third Qualifying Round  of the UEFA Europa League sees Sporting CP play a single fixture against Aberdeen, at the Estadio José Alvalade on September 24th.

Should they make it through to the Playoff, their opponents for that stage have already been decided in a draw which took place on Friday: awaiting them will be LASK from Austria or FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda from Slovakia on October 1st.

The winners will earn a place in the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League.

The club captain talks about the upcoming game against Gil Vicente FC

Just two days out from Sporting CP's opening game of the Primeira Liga season, club captain Sebastián Coates spoke about the meeting with Gil Vicente FC and the latest events in Alvalade.

The positive tests for COVID-19 by several players saw the cancellation of the Cinco Violinos Trophy game against SSC Napoli last week, and has led to a change of plans for the past few days. The group have returned to the Algarve for the second time this summer as a result.

"It has been an atypical week, but we have great players in the squad. We know that we have to win this game, and we are going to go out there with that ambition of wanting to start the season in the best way possible," said Coates.

"Having a training camp here in the Algarve has meant that we are isolated from what has happened to some of our teammates. Whether the game [against Gil Vicente FC] takes place or not isn't down to us. We have to prepare as best we can to try to win the match, which is the most important thing."

The Uruguayan added: "It isn't easy, because of everything that has been happening with some of our teammates and how we are worried for our family. However, we have to be focused."

A good start is the objective for Sporting CP in the league, with a busy schedule ahead. "It's important for everybody to start well. Then we have the Europa League coming up, and a tie that is going to be tough."

"We have a strong group. The players who have come in have been well received, and they are going to contribute a lot to us improving," continued Coates. "Those who have been here for a longer time have to explain to them what Sporting CP are all about, and try to make the group strong and united to face every game. It is going to be a long year."

For the time being, the upcoming fixtures will take place behind closed doors -and the team miss the supporters cheering them on.

"We are used to being there with the fans, hearing their chants and feeling their support. You miss them and I hope they can come back as soon as possible, obeying the measures the government feel are best for everybody."

The players extend their deals with the Sporting CP first team

The Sporting CP squad for 2020/21 continues to take shape in the run-up to the opening Liga NOS matchday. This Thursday the Club confirmed the renewal of two of their promising young talents. Joelson Fernandes and Daniel Bragança both extended their deals to stay in Lisbon, with buyout clauses reflecting their great potential.

Fernandes, still just 17 years old, has been at Alvalade since 2014. He expressed his pleasure with the agreement, which sees his release clause rise to 60 million euros.

“I’m very happy to renew my contract. I want to thank Sporting CP for this moment, and for what they’ve done for me. I want to continue wearing this shirt for many more years,” said the teenager, who remembers his debut for the first team fondly.”

“On the day that I was called up for the squad, I could barely sleep. I was just thinking about how I was going to go out onto the pitch at the Estádio José Alvalade for the first time,” he explained, adding that he hopes to serve as an example for others coming through.

“I can only tell players to continue working, and that this is the best place for us to be. Everybody can get to where I am, and Sporting CP are here to help us.”

Bragança, 21-years-old and with a new buyout clause of 45 million euros, has been at the Club since the age of seven, and considers it to be his home.

“I am very proud of my journey to get this far,” he told the Club’s media channel.

“All the effort that I made to get here was worth it. I’m very happy and very proud to renew my contract. This is a very important chapter in my life, and I am going to aim to grow even more and establish myself. I want to show my worth."

“I am going to continue to give everything for the Club, so that we grow as a team and win trophies,” he concluded.

Tuesday's session at the Academia Sporting features some new faces

The Sporting Clube de Portugal first team were joined by a select group of the club's B team players for their Tuesday training session, as they ready themselves for the 2020/2021 season.

A double session is scheduled for Wednesday, which includes an afternoon workout alongside fellow top flight side CS Marítimo.

Rúben Amorim runs his players through a Monday session to prepare for the season

It was back to work for the Sporting Clube de Portugal first team on Monday morning, as Rúben Amorim's men began another week of preseason training at the Academia Sporting facilities.

The workout featured the typical energy and intensity present this summer, ahead of a big season for Os Leões.

Luiz Phellype undertook rehabilitation work under the watchful eye of the club medical staff.

The next session for the squad will take place behind closed doors on Tuesday morning, at 10am local time.

The team win 3-1 in preparation game for the 2020/2021 season

Sporting Clube de Portugal took another preseason victory in a Friday friendly against Real Valladolid CF, beating the Spanish team 2-1 at the Complexo Desportivo do FC Alverca. The goals for Rúben Amorim's side were scored by Zouhair Feddal and Jovane Cabral.

Seven minutes in, Sporting CP enjoyed their first chance, which ended with a tame shot by Cabral. Ten minutes later, Valladolid's Sekou Gassama headed into the hands of goalkeeper Antonio Adán.

An appeal for a penalty for handball, resulting from a cross in by Antunes, was waved off on the half hour. Shortly after, Pedro Porro -playing against his former club- had an opportunity saved by opposition keeper Roberto.

The best Sporting CP chance of the opening stanza came in the 41st minute, when Porro played through to Tiago Tomás with an excellent pass and the young Portuguese striker fired a shot on goal - again kept out by Roberto.

With the score at 0-0 going into half time, after the restart Sporting CP came out strong, and in the first minute Porro set up Cabral for a shot that he put wide off a deflection. Nuno Santos also kept Roberto busy during the initial passages of play, Cabral shot into the face of the opposition goalkeeper, and Tomás would hit the woodwork, all in the space of 10 minutes.

Whilst Sporting CP were the only side providing an attacking threat, a handball by Feddal and subsequent conversion by Gassama handed Valladolid the lead from the penalty spot.

Having previously introduced Luciano Vietto for his first minutes of preseason action, Amorím brought on João Palhinha to replace Matheus Nunes in the aftermath of the goal.

Feddal made amends for his conceded penalty with the equaliser, scored on 72 minutes as he headed in a Wendel cross.

Two chances had Nuno Santos hit the post and Palhinha shot wide, before - ten minutes from the final whistle - Cabral was brought down, Miguel Rubio was sent off, and Tiago Martins converted the penalty.

Sporting CP could have made it 3-1 had a Vietto goal not been ruled out for offside, but nevertheless had another positive preseason result to prepare for the upcoming season.

Lineup: Sporting CP: Antonio Adán (GR), Pedro Porro, Luís Neto (Gonzalo Plata, 80 '), Sebastián Coates (C), Zouhair Feddal (Cristián Borja, 80'), Vitorino Antunes (Luciano Vietto, 59 '), Matheus Nunes (João Palhinha, 66 '), Wendel, Tiago Tomás, Nuno Santos and Jovane Cabral

The pair spoke to Sporting TV after beating Real Valladolid

Following the 2-1 friendly win over Real Valladolid, Sporting CP players João Palhinha and Tiago Tomás expressed their pleasure with the result, the display and the evolution of the team.

"It's an honour to be here. The growth that the team have undergone, and the intensity we provided in the game, should be noted. I think that we had an excellent game," said Palhinha to Sporting TV after the final whistle.

"At this point, the most important thing is to pick up pace, so that when the competition returns we are ready to achieve our objectives."

"We always want to win, be it in preseason or not. That's the spirit of a big club. We are doing a good job. I've represented Sporting CP for many years, and playing here always feels special. I feel very happy about that," he added.

Tomás, who carried over his good form from the preseason camp in the Algarve, was pleased with the attitude shown by the team.

"We have a mentality of wanting to win, and it can't be any other way," he explained. "When we are at a disadvantage, we have to run ten times more to turn things around. Sporting CP are that way, and Sporting CP always have to win."

As for his position on the pitch, the versatile player insisted he is ready for anything.

"At youth level I played in all three positions up top, and it's up to the coach to decide in which I can help the team the most. I don't have any preference; whatever the coach tells me, I do."

Sporting CP play Gil Vicente on September 19th

The 2020/2021 Liga NOS season will get underway for Sporting Clube de Portugal on September 19th, as they play Gil Vicente FC at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Liga Portugal have also published kick-off times for Sporting CP’s first three fixtures of the campaign. Between league encounters, they will also play the Third Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League, against either Aberdeen or Viking FK.

Matchday 1.
Saturday, September 19th
Sporting CP vs. Gil Vicente FC – 6:30pm local time

Matchday 2.
Sunday, September 27th
FC Paços Ferreira vs. Sporting CP - 6:30pm local time

Matchday 3.
Sunday, October 4th
Portimonense SC vs. Sporting CP – 9:00pm local time

The UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round will take place on Sept. 24th

Sporting CP will kick off their 2020/21 UEFA Europa League campaign on September 24th, playing either Viking FC or Aberdeen FC in the Third Qualifying Round of the continental competition. In a change of format this year, the match will be held over a single leg at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Os Leões will find out which of the two teams they will face one week prior, when the Norwegian and Scottish sides play one another in the Second Qualifying Round on September 17th.

Sporting CP have already played against Viking FK in the European tournament, in its previous incarnation as the UEFA Cup: In 1999/2000, the team lost the first leg 3-0, before winning 1-0 at Alvalade through an Ayew goal.

Sporting CP triumph 3-1 in their second preseason friendly

Sporting Clube de Portugal ended their preseason stay in the Algarve with a 3-1 victory over Belenenses SAD on Sunday night.

Rúben Amorim initially fielded the 11 players who concluded the previous friendly against Portimonense SC on Friday: Adán, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Borja, Ristovski, Daniel Bragança, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Mendes, Jovane Cabral, Pedro Gonçalves and Tiago Tomás all featured in his starting lineup.

Sporting CP took the lead in the 11th minute with a goal from Pedro Gonçalves - his first unofficial strike for the club. He was set up by Tiago Tomás, who was returning the favour after the assist provided by Gonçalves two days prior.

The early advantage was doubled on 25 minutes, as Tomás scored off a pass by Jovane Cabral.

Sporting CP held their 2-0 lead into the break, where coach Amorim again decided to rotate goalkeepers. Adán was taken off, allowing Luís Maximiano 45 minutes of action.

Further substitutions were made on the 70 minute mark, mirroring the strategy from the previous friendly. All ten outfield players were taken off, replaced by Pedro Porro, Zou Feddal, Coates, Luís Neto, Antunes, Rodrigo Fernandes, Wendel, Nuno Santos, Gonzalo Plata and Andraž Šporar.

The team took the score to 3-0 in the 74th minute, after a long ball upfield from Maximiano. Šporar broke into the area and placed his shot well, taking the score to 3-0.

Although Belenenses would pull a goal back in the 86th minute, Sporting CP were never in difficulty, and made it two wins from two friendlies thus far in preseason. The next fixture for the team is scheduled for September 4th, when they take on Spanish side Real Valladolid in Alverca.