Jorge Jesus and Adrien Silva on Friday's win in Setúbal and next week's Lisbon derby

"Vitória de Setúbal are a good side who play quality football. Their coach likes to see good football and Couceiro (V. Setúbal coach) has been very positive for the club", affirmed Jorge Jesus in a flash interview at the final whistle on Friday night.

Speaking in greater depth about the evening's action, the Sporting CP coach highlighted Setúbal's form against Portugal's top side: "When you face on of the big clubs you need to a certain kind of strategy. They hadn't lost against one of the big clubs before night. We played really well and in additional to some really effective attacking play we were strong at the back. Only a really strong Sporting CP team could win 3-0 here. We were smart and I thought we managed the occasion well, so the lads deserve a pat on the back."

The Lisbon derby is up next and Jesus was inevitably asked to share his thoughts: "We want to beat Benfica, just like we wanted to beat Vitória de Setúbal tonight. It is a derby and is the focus of a lot of passion across the whole country. We are feeling good right now and it will be a great match to match. It won't decide the title, but we always go for the win and it is even better when it is against one of our rivals."

Adrien Silva returned to the starting line-up against Setúbal, but the Alvalade skipper preferred to praise his colleagues for filling in during his absence through injury, rather than focus on himself: "I am finding my confidence and form from before my injury. I want to congratulate the squad for how they have plated recently. They really showed professionalism and personality. Benfica is just another match that we want to win, but it is a derby and we can't hide from that."

Jorge Jesus looks ahead to Friday's visit to Vitória de Setúbal

Up next for Jorge Jesus' side is a visit to Setúbal on Liga NOS matchday 29 and the Alvalade boss was keen to alert the opposition's capabilities in defence in his pre-match press conference this Friday.

"As we are all aware, our opponent has claimed some good results in matches against the bigger sides. That is a sign of a team that defends well and that interrupts play a lot. Those two characteristics are really important. Sétubal have a lot of self-belief, but we are in great form right now and I think it will be a good game tactically and technically", opened Jesus, adding a word on the return of Adrien and Gelson Martins to match fitness: "Adrien played half an hour against Boavista and we are giving him time on the pitch based on what we think he needs. He will definitely be in the squad and will be better than he was against Boavista. Our medical department has said Gelson should be ready and he wil be included in the squad as well."

With Sétubal having already stolen points from SL Benfica and FC Porto so far this season, every caution must be taken. "Of course the top three are always under pressure to win and history brings with it responsibility", said Jesus, continuing with an analysis of his side's current form: "It is nice to be able to say that we have won seven of our last eight games and drawn one. We have another six games to go, but of course we won't be anywhere near the amount of points we finished with last season. I will never forget that we managed to get 86 points in one season and still didn't win the title."

To finish Jorge Jesus commented on Alan Ruiz's adaptation to the Portuguese game and his partnership with Bas Dost: "Every player needs time to adapt, especially when you move club and country at the same time. Alan Ruiz is still a young lad (22) and not a lot of people were giving him the credit he deserves. He was playing for Colón, who aren't exactly a massive side. We noticed his quality and invested in him. It is just a matter of time with him, because the quality is there. I think Ruiz and Dost are the best pair in Portuguese Football."

43,000 tickets already sold for Liga NOS matchday 30 Lisbon derby

Sporting CP informs that 43,000 tickets have already been sold for the Lisbon derby, on Liga NOS matchday 30. The remaining 7,000 tickets will be put on sale for club members, with each member able to purchase up to two tickets (ticket officers open from 10h to 20h):

CENTRAL – STAND A | Club Member (€45) or guest (€70)

CENTRAL – STAND B | Club Member (€40) or guest (€60)

Children under the age of three are not permitted for this high risk match and all spectators must have a valid ticket.

Jorge Jesus understandably pleased with his side's attractive performance against Boavista

Four goals unanswered and a comfortable performance in front of a crown fo 42,000 was more than enough for Jorge Jesus to show a smile in his post-match press conference this Saturday night.

"It has been a while since we could say that we won and played some very artistic football. Sporting CP were brilliant over the 90 minutes", opened Jesus adding: "Today we were brilliant against a good team that honestly didn't have a chance, because we were so creative. It was a great atmosphere tonight and strong team are built around a lot of things, including the fans."

Bas Dost's hattrick drew him level with Messi in the hunt for the Golden Boot (27) and Jesus of course reserved a comment for the Dutch striker: "He will comfortably be the top scorer in Portugal. In Europe it will be between him, Messi, Lewandowskia and Cavani. We have done well to develop him and this isn't just a coincidence. If you look back at the strikers who play for me, like Slimani for example who scored 32 goals. Bas Dost is having a brilliant first year."

Bas Dost nets hattrick in 4-0 demolition of Boavista

Bas Dost continued in unstoppable form this weekend, this time scoring three to keep the pressure up in the race for the European Golden Boot after Lionel Messi failed to find the back of the net. With another three added to his personal tally (now up to 30), the Dutchman has scored a total of 49% of Sporting CP's goals so far this season and now has as many goals as his previous two seasons with Wolfsburg.

The last time Sporting CP put four past Boavista was back in 2004/05 and Jorge Jesus' side are now eight games unbeaten (drawing on just one occasion against V. Guimarães). Down the other end, Rui Patrício had reason to complain, with the Alvalade custodian not being troubled on a single occasion throughout the ninety minutes.

Bruno César polishes the Golden Boot

It was a comfortable victory in from of a crowd of 42,822. Without Gelson but with Podence quickly making a name for himself, Sporting CP made a blistering start to the encounter. Bruno César tried his luck on two occasions (2' and 11') and was denied by the Boavista keeper, but Alan Ruiz opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Talocha offered possession back to Podence, who released Schelotto down the right for a cross that Ruiz finished on to equal his best season so far in terms of goals.

Eight minutes later Boavista gifted another opportunity, this time with Edu Machado giving up the ball to Bruno César. The Brazilian showed his gratitude with a pin-point pass back across goal for Bas Dost to tap in. It was all looking rather easy for Jesus' side and on 35 minutes Podence himself broke though on goal, but his pass to Alan Ruiz game up just short when the youngster would have been excused for trying for the back of the net himself.

The second-half was much of the same. Three minutes after the restart Bruno César was brought crashing down in the 18-yard box and Bas Dost obliged from the penalty spot for his second of the night. Chasing shadows, Boavista tried to stem the flow, but Bruno César had other ideas and carved up the visiting defence with another pass across goal that Bas Dost made the most of to round off his hattrick.

The evening also saw a long-awaited return to action for Adrien Silva, while William Carvalho celebrated his 150th senior appearance in a green and white shirt.

Jesus names squad for Saturday's trip to Boavista

Jorge Jesus has announced his squad list to face Boavista this Saturday in Alvalade, on Liga NOS matchday 28:

1 – Rui Patrício
2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
7 – Joel Campbell
10 – Bryan Ruiz
11 – Bruno César
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
18 – Francisco Geraldes
20 – Luc Castaignos
23 – Adrien Silva
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
34 – Beto Pimparel
35 – Rúben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
56 – Daniel Podence
77 – Gelson Martins
99 – Alan Ruiz

Jorge Jesus alerts to the dangers of a powerful Boavista side

Jorge Jesus is fully focused on the weekend's hosting of Boavista, but alerted to the dangers posed by the visitors from the north who took Sporting CP to the wire in the reverse fixture.

"Boavista are one of the historic names in Portuguese football. They have won the league and they have a nice history, but on Saturday all that matters is on the pitch. They are a quality side who are well drilled collectively against the bigger sides", opened Jesus, highlighting the importance of creativity if his side are to carry on their run of seven unbeaten matches: "I want the players to keep calm and to focus for a match that will be hard fought. Boavista are a strong side from free-kicks and corners and they can give a good match to Portugal's best sides. We are ready, but we will have to be creative."

Jesus finished with a word on Iuri Medeiros, who is currently on loan with Boavista: "Iuri has grown and is a regular starter, which shows that Boavista are good collectively."

Beto sits down for an interview Sporting TV

After spending 11 years in the Sporting CP young system, Beto Pimparel returned to his spiritual home this season. Speaking in a lengthy interview with Sporting TV this week, the Alvalade keeper reflected on the opportunity to make the move back to Lisbon.

"When I heard that Sporting CP were interested, I asked my agent where I had to sign. Then when I called my son he cried and said 'dad, you are going to play for our club'. That really was a special feeling", said Beto, adding: "Unfortunately after 11 years I didn't get into the senior team, but this is really important to me because I promised a person I really love that I would play here."

Currently 34 years old, Beto isn't about to take off his gloves just yet: "Why not finish my career here? I haven't put a limit on anything. I could play for four or even seven more years. The people who work with me know I am a professional and I love training and playing. I always try to do my best. I feel great and well motivated."

Speaking about the years he spent in abroad, Beto proved happy to be back on Portuguese soil: "When you are far away from home you miss your family. Technology helps, but it is nothing like giving a hug on the days when you don't feel so good. It was hard, but I knew what I was doing when I went. I tried to explain to the kids why I had to go, but it was hard. Seeing my son look at the map between Porto and Cluj in Romania was hard, but today he understands that it was to make a better life for us."

Coates looks ahead to the weekend's Liga NOS hosting of Boavista

Sporting CP will host Boavista at 20h30 this Saturday, at a time when Jorge Jesus' side are really in their stride. One of the star performers this season, Coates is looking forward to another three points this weekend.

“We don't have a lot of matches to go now and we will take them as they come. The last seven matches have been good for us. We haven't always played how we would have liked, but we have won and that is what matters", said the big defender in an interview this Friday, adding a word on the weekend's action: "It will be a hard game and we will gave to do what we have been doing in the last seven games, which is to look to control the game."

The Uruguayan completed his 50th match in a green and white shirt recently and he is certainly enjoying his time in the Portuguese capital, affirming: "I am honoured to have played 50 matches for Sporting CP and hopefully I will play a lot more. I said the day I arrived that this is a club with a lot of history. It is a massive club in Portugal and it is a big responsibility to play here."

In 53 attempts Boavista have only claimed the win once in league encounters in Alvalade

It may sound strange, but it was actually way back in 1976 that Boavista last got the better of Sporting CP in Alvalade, when a goal from Salvador secured a 1-0 win. This year Miguel Leal's team will be looking to break the curse, but Jorge Jesus' side are in a rich spell of form and that certainly won't be an easy task.

Looking at Boavista's strengths, efficiency from dead ball situations stands out. A total of 17 goals have come from such situations, four of which we penalties. Miguel Leal's side are also powerful when it comes to the aerial game, winning a total of 17.9 disputed balls per game. Understandably then route-one football is Boavista's preferred strategy, relying on Philipe Sampaio (1.91m), Lucas (1.94m), Idris (1.89m) and Iván Bulos (1.88m) to rule the skies.

It was last in 2003 that Boavista claimed points in Alvalade, after a 1-1 draw. However with Sporting CP winning every encounter since, the odds are in the host's favour.

At 32 years od age, the experienced midfielder is a regular feature for Boavista. Standing at 1.89m, he is a powerful figure who is aggressive in disputing possession.

The 51 year old joined Boavista after two good seasons with Moreirense. Although not having the best of campaigns, Boavista are currently sitting in a comfortable 10th.