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."

Sales news for the CTT Cup and Liga NOS

Sporting Clube de Portugal has begun ticket sales as follows:

VITÓRIA DE SETÚBAL (CTT CUP MATCHDAY 3)

. Exclusive for Sporting Clube de Portugal members
. Member fee applicable: December 2016
. Tickets priced at 7.5€ and are for the South Goal End
. Kick-off is at 20h15 on the 4th of January, in Setúbal

FEIRENSE (16ª JORNADA LIGA NOS)

. Tickets from 5€ (members) or 17€ (fans)
. Member fee applicable: December 2016
. Match included in Gamebox 2016/2017
. Kick-off is at 20h15 on the 8th of January, in Estádio José Alvalade

Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices will be open from 10h00 to 20h00.

Sporting B miss out to Feirense after two penalties and two red cards

Sporting B lost 2-0 to Feirense in Santa Maria da Feira this weekend, on II Liga matchday 24.

After Luís Machado threatened's Pedro Silva with a shot that ended up just wide, the hosts took the lead in the 13th minute form the penalty spot, after an alleged foul by Rúben Ribeiro on Luís Machado. The Sporting B keeper actually saved from the 12-yard kick, but Machado converted up the rebound.

João de Deus' side tried to rally, but struggled to build anything going forward while the hosts seemed happy to rely on set pieces to probe goal. After a brilliant stop by Pedro Silva in the 27th minute, Plantiny was again given the enviable task of converting on a penalty after Ivandildo supposedly fouled Vasco Rocha, but the Feirense forward fired the shot against the bar.

with under-19 starlets Ronaldo Tavares and Bubacar Djaló now on the pitch, Deus' side went looking for an equaliser, but the afternoon's refereeing just wasn't going there way and the hosts made it 2-0 after the official waved away appeals for a foul on Pedro Silva by Rúben Oliveira.

That could have been the end of it, but Rui Oliveira really left a bitter taste in Sporting B's mouths with a red card to Francisco Geraldes (61') and Dramé (76').

The loss sees Sporting B remain in eighth place in II Liga, with 35 points.