Bas Dost hattrick secures final-day victory

Sporting CP emphatically dismissed two recent defeats with a demolition of Chaves (4-1) this Sunday, on the final day of this season's Liga NOS campaign. Of course it was Bas Dost who did the damage, bagging yet another hattrick on an evening that also saw Matheus Pereira find the back of the net.

Alvalade's Dutch hitman showed signs of what was to come after just three minutes, with an attempted backheel that the Chaves keeper managed to deny. Sporting CP continued to push the pace and Chaves struggled, resorting to some heavy tackles in an attempt to break up the play. On 10 minutes Podence was brought crashing down in the area by Ponck and Dost stepped up for the conversion from 12 yards.

The narrowest of leads that really didn't last long, because Sporting CP's number 28 was at it again after quarter of an hour with a towering header to make it 2-0. Another 15 minutes later Matheus Pereira also got his name on the scoresheet after some brilliant work by the in-form Gelson Martins.

With the result virtually in the back Jorge Jesus' side slowed the pace after the break, while Chaves looked to find a consolation. Jefferson hammered a shot against the bar on the 52 minute, but it was the visitors who struck when Willian converted on a cross from Lenho.

A balanced last half an hour followed, with the odd chance at both ends, before Bas Dost rounded off what has been a brilliant season with his 34th goal of the campaign.

Jorge Jesus on the last game of the campaign

The last match of the season, the 2017/18 campaign and the coming transfer window were the three main topics covered by Jorge Jesus in this Saturday's pre-match press conference. While keeping the focus on winning the three points on Liga NOS matchday 34, the Alvalade coach also dismissed rumours on his relationship with president Bruno de Carvalho.

"This is the last game of a season that hasn't gone how we wanted it to. Our last game wasn't how we wanted it to be either. We are on the back of two loses and the atmosphere isn't great now, but we want to end this season with a win for the fans. We want to finish on a good note and turn our attention to next season", opened Jesus, who is already looking ahead to a series of preparatory meetings with Bruno de Carvalho: "We have ideas to talk about and we are working on them. What we want next season is one that is like my first here. A team that fights tooth and nail for the title. That is what we are looking to build and that is what we will be talking about."

To finish Jorge Jesus proved puzzled in relation to interest in Adrien, William Carvalho and Rui Patrício: "I honestly don't know anything about what is being said in the press. They are all important players for us, they are Euro 2016 winners and they are central to our project. We have grown in terms of developing our players and losing one of them wouldn't be complete unexpected."

Rui Patrício donates Euro 2016 shirt to the Sporting Museum

Rui Patrício was at the Sporting Museum this week to offer his Euro 2016 winning shirt for safekeeping. "I am really proud to offer my shirt to Sporting CP and the Sporting Museum. It means a lot, because I used it in the first game of Euro 2016. This shirt has a lot of history and it being here for everyone to see means a lot", said the Alvalade shotstopper.

Mattheus Oliveira on his move to Alvalade

Just a few hours after Cristiano Piccini secured a move to Alvalade, Mattheus Oliveira followed with a four-year deal and a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€. Reflecting on the decision, the midfielder couldn't be happier.

"I chose Sporting CP because of the club's history. I am really happy with this opportunity and I didn't think twice when it came up. It was because of the history of the club and the players who have come before me. I also want to make history at Sporting CP", said Oliveira.

"When I came to Portugal Estoril was my wa into European football and I had thought about getting into one of the big Portuguese clubs", added the midfielder, finishing: "I can bring my quality to the squad and I want to help, either with quality or drive. I like getting on the ball and setting up my teammates. I can also shoot from range and pass well in different situations."

Statement on medical tests undertaken by Cristiano Piccini in Hospital da Luz

In light of news published in relation to the clinical status of the athlete Cristiano Piccini and medical tests undertaken at Hospital da Luz, Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD notes the following:

1 – We are saddened by the fact that a hospital was not able to safeguard the fundamental principle of patient and professional confidentiality, thereby allowing restricted documents related to a patient to be released. These facts are extremely serious.

2 – Sporting SAD hopes that this remains as an isolated incident that is not repeated in the future, in order that Sporting CP and Hospital da Luz may continue cooperating.

Mattheus Oliveira

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Estoril Praia – Futebol SAD for the permanent transfer of Mattheus Oliveira. The player has signed a contract valid until 2022, with a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Mattheus Oliveira the best of professional and personal success.

Cristiano Piccini makes the move to the Portuguese capital

After Sporting CP secured the services of the central defender André Pinto from Sp. Braga back in April, Cristiano Piccini has become the second additional to the Alvalade armoury, with the wing-back produced at Fiorentina penning a three-year deal in a move from Real BEtis

"I feel really good here in Alvalade, with such a big club, and I am really happy. I know that the fans here are fantastic, which will drive me to play as well as I can. It is a nice opportunity for me and I want to make the most of it", said the 24-year old Italian in an interview with the Sporting Journal this week, before leaving a message for the fans.

"I will work as hard as I can and I like to get forward to set up and even score the odd goal", affirmed Piccini, finishing: "I love getting up and down the wing and physically I am in good shape. I really want to help Sporting CP win titles and I am sure we will be really happy in the coming seasons."

Jorge Jesus looks ahead to the weekend's Liga NOS action

Speaking in his pre-match press conference this Friday, coach Jorge Jesus accepted that last weekend's loss at the hands of Belenenses brought to an end one of the club's objectives for the 2016/17 campaign.

"The team really felt the loss, because we were on the back of a good run of games, with nine wins and two draws. It was a special day with a lot of families at the stadium, even though we are out of the title race. It was hard for us to lose like that, but players and coaches have to learn to live with both wins and loses. We have totalled 33 points in the second half of the season, which is at the same level as the teams at the top of the table. The match against Belenenses has stopped us going for 42 points, which is what we did last season", said Jesus.

Next on his list for analysis was the weekend's visit to 9th place Feirense: "This is one of the last games of the season and the win will be important for us. Feirense is a chance for us to pick up where we left off. It will be a hard game, like they all are in this league. Feirense have had a great season by their standards, built around intensity and good defensive organisation. "

About president Bruno de Carvalho's statement midweek, Jesus is in agreement: "The president said what he said and I have nothing to add. I agree with him and what we have to do now is pick ourselves up for the match against Feirense. The president took the right approach."

Liga NOS matchday 33 tickets on sale on Thursday and Friday

Tickets for Liga NOS matchday 33, between Clube Desportivo Feirense and Sporting Clube de Portugal, will go on sale at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices on Thursday the 11th of May and Friday the 12th of May from 10h00 to 20h00.

Tickets are for the south stand and are priced at €19.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20h30 on Saturday the 13th of May, in Estádio Marcolino Castro.

Jorge Jesus reflects on the weekend's loss to Belenenses

After watching his side let in three goals against Os Belenenses on Sunday, Jorge Jesus was never going to be happy in his post-match press conference. "We let in a penalty at a time when we were dominating. After that we let in two more from set pieces. Belenenses scored whenever they had the chance", opened the Alvalade coach, continuing: "We were slow, especially in the first-half. We just couldn't find the space to create clear opportunities. We have been playing really good football recently, but it just didn't happen for us today. The substitutions [Castaignos, Francisco Geraldes and Joel Campbell] didn't work and we didn't improve. In fact, I would say the changes damaged us a bit in terms of positioning."

With two matches to go and the battle for 2nd in Liga NOS thrown open by the weekend's previous results, Jesus was understandably surprised by what was only a third home loss of the season: "Belenenses were not better than us, but they were fortunate. We came into this on the back of a good run and nobody was expecting today. This kind of match gives us important experience and if we would have scored another goal it would have been a lot easier. We didn't take advantage of FC Porto's draw, but it wasn't because we didn't press. It was down to a lack of quality."