Gil Vicente FC to visit the Alvalade on September 20th

Sporting Clube de Portugal will kick off the 2020/21 Liga NOS season at home, playing Gil Vicente FC at the Estádio José Alvalade on September 20th.

The draw for the first half of the Portuguese league campaign was made on Friday. The season will run through to May 19th, 2021.

The first ‘Clássico’ against FC Porto is the club’s fourth fixture, taking place on October 18th, whilst the first derby against local rivals SL Benfica has been set for the end of January, on the penultimate matchday of the first half of the season.

Calendar first half of Liga NOS:

Matchday 1. | 20.09.2020: Sporting CP vs. Gil Vicente FC
Matchday 2. | 27.09.2020: FC Paços Ferreira vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 3. | 04.10.2020: Portimonense SC vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 4. | 18.10.2020: Sporting CP vs. FC Porto
Matchday 5. | 25.10.2020: CD Santa Clara vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 6. | 01.11.2020: Sporting CP vs. CD Tondela
Matchday 7. | 08.11.2020: Vitória SC vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 8. | 29.11.2020: Sporting CP vs. Moreirense FC
Matchday 9. | 06.12.2020: FC Famalicão vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 10. | 20.12.2020: Sporting CP vs. SC Farense
Matchday 11. | 27.12.2020: Belenenses SAD vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 12. | 12.01.2021: Sporting CP vs. SC Braga
Matchday 13. | 10.01.2021: CD Nacional vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 14. | 17.01.2021: Sporting CP vs. Rio Ave FC
Matchday 15. | 24.01.2021: Boavista FC vs. Sporting CP
Matchday 16. | 31.01.2021: Sporting CP vs. SL Benfica
Matchday 17. | 03.02.2021: CS Marítimo vs. Sporting CP

Goals from Šporar and Tomás hand the team victory in the Algarve

Sporting Clube de Portugal's first friendly of the 2020/21 preseason ended in a 2-1 victory over Portimonense SC, as part of the team's training camp in the Algarve.

Coach Rúben Amorim used the fixture to run the rule over 22 of the 29 players who have been training with the team this week, and fielded a starting line-up of Luís Maximiano, Pedro Porro, Sebastián Coates, Luís Neto, Zou Feddal, Antunes, Rodrigo Fernandes, Wendel, Gonzalo Plata, Nuno Santos and Andraž Šporar.

As is customary in preseason, the second half saw the game broken up by substitutions. Whilst Amorim decided to take a look at new goalkeeper Antonio Adán between the sticks, opposition coach Paulo Sérgio replaced every member of his first XI.

Portimonense SC took the lead when Zou Feddal brought down Luquinha in the area, Lucas Possignolo converting the resulting penalty past Adán.

Sporting CP had a penalty of their own when Andraž Šporar was on the receiving end of a foul, the Slovenian international dusting himself off to take the spot kick to make it 1-1.

On 71 minutes, Rúben Amorim made wholesale changes, with all outfield players replaced. Nuno Mendes, Matheus Nunes, Tiago Tomás, Ristovski, Borja, Pedro Gonçalves, Gonçalo Inácio, Daniel Bragança, Eduardo Quaresma and Jovane Cabral all got their first preseason minutes, and a goal would follow swiftly.

Gonçalo Inácio sent a ball over the Portimonense SC defence, which Pedro Gonçalves latched onto on the left. He broke into the box and played to Tiago Tomás at the back post- who scored to hand Sporting CP the lead.

The goal and the win got the team off to a promising start to their preseason. Next up is a Sunday friendly against Belenenses SAD, on the final day of their stay in the Algarve.

Nuno Santos talks to journalists and Federico Varandas attends the session

Sporting CP's first preseason friendly takes place on Friday against Portimonense SC, part of a training camp for the squad in the Algarve. The game kicks off at 8:30pm (local time) at the Estádio Municipal de Portimão, and will be the first chance to see some of the club's new signings in action.

One such player is Nuno Santos, who joined the club last week from Rio Ave. He was chosen to speak to the media on Thursday, after another intense session to get the squad ready for 2020/21.

"I think that we are going to give a good showing of ourselves," he told reporters. "We are training well; the sessions this week have been tough, and tomorrow will be a test for us to show our good football."

"We have a lot of quality and we are all here to work. We all want to earn our spot in the team, and to do that we need to show our qualities to the coach. The best players are the ones who will play," added the 25-year old.

Asked about what position he expects to occupy, in both friendlies and the Primeira Liga, Santos says that he can feature "both on the wing and in the middle". "I'm available wherever the coach wants me to play."

"This is an excellent group. I like being here a lot and I'm really happy to represent Sporting CP. We have a lot of quality, and in these friendly games the fans are going to see that."

Club president Frederico Varandas watched the session on Thursday, whilst Luciano Vietto joined up with the squad for the first time since their arrival in the Algarve. Tactical work was the main focus of the workout, helping to bring together established names and new arrivals.

Sporting CP's new goalkeeper speaks at preseason training camp in the Algarve

Antonio Adán was signed by Sporting Clube de Portugal last week, but had only the briefest of introductions to the Academia Sporting training ground before being whisked away to the Algarve for the club's preseason training camp. There, he has been acquainting himself with his new teammates and looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I'm happy and very excited. I was looking forward to coming here," said the goalkeeper, who has also had a turn on the microphone during the team's downtime in Lagos.

"My initiation task was to sing at dinner yesterday," he revealed, laughing. "It's part of being accepted into the group, and I was very happy to provide my teammates with that fun moment. That's what this group are like: It's a really good group of people, with a strong bond and a lot of desire to start the season."

With the more serious business of the Primeira Liga season just around the corner, the squad are in for a demanding few weeks of training.

"The work has been hard, but that's normal in preseason. Every component of the squad is working with a lot of intensity, with plenty of ball work and plenty of fitness work. We have to create a strong group for what is coming up: It will be a hard season, and I believe that the entire team are focused for it."

"The mentality for a club as big as Sporting CP to always be at the top. That's the mentality of the coach and the club, and the way we want to approach this season. We want to face it with ambition and enthusiasm."

Adán is also looking forward to a battle for his place in the starting XI at his new club, saying that "My teammates and I are ready for whatever the coach decides. We all want to play, and I think that it is good for the group to have this competitiveness in every position. I hope the coach picks me to contribute, but if he doesn't then I have to keep working to help the team."

The new signing says that he already feels part of the group

Antunes only arrived at Sporting Clube de Portugal just over a week ago, but the defender says he already feels fully integrated into the team coached by Rúben Amorim.

"It has been very positive so far," he told the media at the club's training camp in Lagos on Monday. "I had been told that this was a very good, hardworking group, and that it would be easy to adapt. I already knew some members of the team, and that has made it easier. These past few days have been very positive."

The veteran campaigner also praised the attitude of the younger players, whilst explaining what he believes he brings to the team.

"I offer hard work and I will try to instil that mentality in the younger squad members, although I have already realised that they all have a lot of ambition and work their hardest every day," he said, singling out fellow defender Nuno Mendes for particular compliments.

"Competition is good for both of us. He is a quality player, make no mistake about it, and he will give a lot to both Sporting CP and Portuguese football. I will help him in whatever way I can. What is best for him – and for me – will be what is best for the club, and I am here to help."

Antunes also talked about Amorim, with whom he is working for the first time.

"A new season is beginning, with new ambitions, and he will be prepared for that. The ambition here is at its highest. All of the players want to win and we will face each game trying to claim as many points as possible. We will do this game by game, to achieve the club's objectives, increase the group's confidence and increase people's trust and respect for this team," promised the summer signing.

With the Portuguese national team squad for the UEFA Nations League games next month announced, the fullback says he is still available for his country if selected in the future.

"The door isn't closed on that, and it never has been. I will never say no to the national team. If I am called up, then great. If not, then life goes on. I sense that today it is much more difficult, as there are many more left backs from which to choose -there is even one here at Sporting CP."

The Manchester United midfielder stopped by on the squad's second day in the Algarve

The Sporting CP squad were visited by a familiar face on Sunday in the Algarve, as former teammate Bruno Fernandes stopped by the preseason training camp to check in with Os Leões. The midfielder, who left the club for Manchester United back in January, was pleased to catch up with people at a club for whom he still has great affection.

“I took the opportunity to visit those who were my teammates up until a few months ago, as well as the coaching staff and all of those whom I worked with for two and a half years," he told Sporting TV.

"It was brief, but they need to work and I need to rest. The most important thing was to be able to hug everybody here, and I can go home happy."

The Portuguese international became one of the breakout stars of the Premier League in the second half of last season, as well as the top scorer in the UEFA Europa League. He still follows Sporting CP closely, and spoke about the season ahead for the team.

"Sporting CP always have to aim high, but they have to go game-by-game and prepare for the Europa League qualifiers, to play in Europe. That is what the club deserve, and where they want to be," he stated.

As for his own aspirations, Fernandes promises to "continue to improve and do more" when the English season gets underway in September.

Week-long training camp for the first team squad

Sporting Clube de Portugal left Lisbon on Saturday for a summer training camp in the Algarve, which will run through to next Sunday. During their stay, the team will play two friendly games.

Before heading south, the team trained in the morning at the Academia Sporting, with two new faces: Antonio Adán and Nuno Santos, the most recent signings in a busy week of transfer activity, undertook their first session with their new teammates. Striker Luiz Phellype took part in the session with the group, although only for the initial drills.

Rúben Amorim has named the following 28 players for the trip:

Goalkeepers: Antonio Adán, Renan Ribeiro, Luís Maximiano and André Paulo;
Defenders: Zou Feddal, Sebastián Coates, Pedro Porro, Nuno Mendes, Luís Neto, Stefan Ristovski, Cristian Borja, Antunes, Eduardo Quaresma and Gonçalo Inácio;
Midfielders: Matheus Nunes, Jovane Cabral, Nuno Santos, Gonzalo Plata, Pedro Gonçalves, Marcus Wendel, Daniel Bragança, Rodrigo Fernandes, Idrissa Doumbia, Mees de Wit and Geny Catamo;
Strikers: Andraž Šporar, Tiago Tomás and Luiz Phellype.

The experienced goalkeeper arrives to provide competition between the sticks

Former Real Madrid, Cagliari, Real Betis and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Antonio Adán has become the latest player to join the Sporting CP project, signing a two-year deal with the option for a further year.

Adán was unveiled on Thursday after passing a medical and signing his contract in Lisbon.

"I feel very happy. After finishing the Champions League with Atletico Madrid, I was looking forward to joining this club - which has so much history in Portugal," said the new arrival.

"I am aware of the amount of trophies that the club have won, plus the effort, dedication and enthusiasm that is present here. I believe that I have come here to contribute to that."

Adán was recently present at the Estádio José Alvalade as with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, and had high praise for the ground.

"It's a spectacular stadium. It's a pity that there will be no fans there for the moment, but I am looking forward to having them there with us. It is sure to look even more beautiful then, than it did last week."

Amongst the Sporting CP squad are some familiar faces from the goalkeeper's time in Spain, including some other new signings.

"Feddal, Pedro Porro and Vitorino Antunes are players who come here from the Spanish league, and we know each other already. That's going to help with our adaptation. Everybody has spoken highly of the group. It's a young squad, but a good one, and I believe that adapting to that and to the city will go very well," explained the Spaniard, who will compete with the other goalkeepers for his place in the starting XI.

"It's good for me, for the team and for the club. The more competition in each position, the more the team grows -and the closer we will get to our objectives. We're teammates, but everybody has the ambition to play," commented Adán, coming into his 16th year as a professional.

"I'm in the best moment of my career and I have tremendous maturity. I'm looking forward to playing and to contributing with my experience and the hard work that I've been doing."

Adán will join up with the team this week, in their first sessions back after the summer break.

The goalkeeper commented on preseason and new arrivals in a chat with Sporting TV

Following their initial medicals and fitness tests, the Sporting Clube de Portugal first team squad made their long-awaited return to the training pitch this week. The players - including new signings such as Zouhair Feddal and Pedro Gonçalves - were put through their paces on Wednesday at the Academia Sporting in Alcochete.

Goalkeeper Luís Maximiano spoke to Sporting TV after the session to talk about the work undertaken.

"We are anxious to get the season started. We want to work hard, and the sooner the preseason games come around, the better for us to get ready," he explained.

"We have a strong group and players who are integrating right now. They have come in to increase the quality of the team, and that's why we are keen to have a good season."

Establishing objectives is standard for this time of year, and Maximiano is no different.

"The first thing that we have to do is get into the Group Stage of the Europa League, but a team like Sporting CP always fight to win every game - and that is what we intend to do."

The shot-stopper also hopes that the club will be able to welcome fans back to their stadium soon, to provide a boost to the players.

"It's always different playing in front of fans at the stadium, and if this happens it will be very positive for us and for those who must be missing coming to the Alvalade. I prefer to play in front of a full Estádio José Alvalade."

Five-year deal for promising central midfielder

Central midfielder Pedro Gonçalves has joined Sporting Clube de Portugal on a five-year deal from FC Famalicão.

The 22-year-old is in the third year of his senior career, having played at youth level for Vidago, Chaves, SC Braga, Valencia CF and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Speaking at his official presentation, 'Pote' said: “It is an honour to wear this shirt. Sporting CP are one of Portugal's big clubs, and I am sure that I will give everything for the Sportinguista family. There is an exciting project here".

"The objective is to win every game that we can, to bring as much joy as possible to the fans. We need their support", he continued. "I hope that the current situation is over as soon as possible, and that we can be together at Alvalade".

An almost ever-present last season for FC Famalicão, Gonçalves hopes to be equally as important at his new club. "I fit into the coach's ideas there, and I always gave everything that I had. I hope to do the same this year or even better".

"Talking isn't my strength; I like playing football more. I'm a player who likes to have the ball, win it back and I have good acceleration. It depends on what the coach wants. I adapt to any style of play".