Jorge Jesus happy with his side's performance against Moreirense

Jorge Jesus spoke with the press after Saturday's 3-0 win against Moreirense, in what was a game of two halves for his much-changed side.

"We had some good spells. It looked a lot easier after our third goal and we took our foot off the accelerator a bit. Some of the lads are just back from the international break as well. I thought we passed the ball around well. Bas Dost is still getting to know the team and you could see that a bit in the first-half and it was the same with Campbell. We spoke at half-time and we improved after that. We gave some of the new faces to play and they did well", opened Jesus.

Speaking in further depth about his new signings, the Sporting coach added: "Bas Dost loosened up in the second-half. He didn't really know where to position himself before that. He was a lot of experience, but a debut is always tough and you could see that in everyone. Markovic looked the most confident, but he already knows Portuguese football. He is still a long way off the player that I know he can be though. All of the new players are creative and we have to give them time on the pitch. This squad gives us confidence to make choices, especially with us being in the Champions League. We will face the European champions next week, but we know what we are capable of and we are feeling confident."

Jorge Jesus expecting a tough challenge from Moreirense on Saturday

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press this Friday for his habitual pre-match press conference, ahead of Liga NOS matchday 4 against Moreirense. The weekend's visitors might not be one of Portugal's biggest names, however the Alvalade boss warned that his side will have to take the fixture seriously if they are to come away with three points.

"We will approach this game the same way we did with our other home matches this season. The most important thing is that we can live up to our potential and so far this season the team has been brilliant at doing that. That is what matters and that is what we have been working on during the week", opened Jorge, adding: "We will respect our opponent and they have some good young and talented players that are looking to make a name for themselves in this league. We will face a team that tries to keep organised in defence, but we are ready."

Preparing for the first encounter after a busy summer transfer market that has resulted in a notably different Alvalade squad, Jesus affirmed: "We are a privileged club, with some really talented players that left and some that didn't. João Mário and Slimani showed a great attitude and the same can be said of Adrien, William and Rui Patrício. These lads grew up here and the passion they have for the club makes them think a bit differently. They are 100% with us."

To finish, Jesus fended off a question on a coming midweek visit to the Spanish capital: "Honestly I wouldn't even have remembered the game against Real Madrid. We are focused on our next opponent, which is Moreirense."

João Pereira battles back spot in the Alvalade defence and is expecting a tough challenge this weekend

Looking ahead to this weekend's Liga NOS matchday 4 hosting of Moreirense, João Pereira is expecting a tough afternoon's work against what is typically stobborn opposition.

"It will be hard. We wanted to win every game, but especially now that we are at the top of the league. Moreirense are an organised team with a new coach and it will be hard for us, but we are favourites and we have to show why on the pitch", affirmed the wing-back, adding a word on the squad's return after the recent international break: "The break was good for integrating the new players, even though Markovic and Bas Dost arrived a bit later on."

Sales to begin on Tuesday for Liga NOS matchday 4

Tickets for Liga matchday 4 against Moreirense will go on sale on Tuesday the 6th of September.

Prices range from 11€ to 20€ adult club members and from 19€ to 32€ for adult fans

Agreement with Moreirense for the loan of Daniel Podence

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Moreirense Futebol Clube – Futebol, SAD for the loan of Daniel Podence until the end of the 2016/17 season, with no option for a permanent transfer.

Sporting SAD wishes Daniel Podence the best of personal and professional success.

Assistant coach Raúl José on win against Moreirense

Raúl José stepped in for Jorge Jesus in Saturday's post match interview, after Jorge Jesus was shown red in the last 15 minutes against Morirense.

“It didn't look to me like he deserved to be sent off and that is all I have to say about it", opened Rául José, adding a word on the weekend's opposition: "We were expecting a hard game. We did out job and we won the three points. Moreirense are a really aggressive side who play some direct football, but I thought we controlled the match well."

Rúben Semedo on Sporting's win in Moreirense

Rúben Semedo again featured along side Sebastián Coates at the heart of the Sporting defence this Saturday, contributing with a cleansheet that puts the Alvalade side back at the top of Liga NOS.

“We knew it would be difficult to play here, but we did well. The squad is confident and it was a deserved win. Even if we hadn't scored early it would have been hard, but we did our job and we defended well", said Semedo at the final whistle.

Sporting CP reclaim Liga NOS top spot with solo strike from Slimani

Sporting CP moved back onto the top of the Liga NOS pile this Saturday night with a battling win against Moreirense, courtesy of a 16th minute strike from Islam Slimani.

With the Liga NOS top spot up for grabs, Sporting showed their intentions early on to go on the attack and Jorge Jesus' side could have taken the lead from the very first play, when Slimani forced a corner that ended up harmlessly wide of Stefanovic's goal. Moreirense responded down the other end with a chance of their own, with a corner from Fábio Espinho headed just wide of the mark by André Micael. Not to be outdone, Sporting charged back and a break away from João Mário down the right ended up with the ball at Bryan Ruiz's feet, but the Costa Rican was unable to get his shot away. The next opportunity came when Adrien was brought down at the edge of the area for a free-kick and Bryan Ruiz stepped up for the resulting set piece, only to be denied by a decent save by Stefanovic.

Sporting continued to press and it paid off in the 16th minute, when Teo Gutiérrez found Schelloto with a delicate pass that the Italian-Argentinean diverted on to Slimani. With the goal at his mercy, the Algerian did what he does best and gave Sporting a deserved lead. The goal did little to slow up the team from Alvalade, while Moreirense could do little but resort to dead ball situations in reply. on 35 minutes, Nildo called Rui Patrício into a rare bit of action, with the Sporting keeper instinctively parrying away for a corner from the Brazilian's free-kick. Three minutes later, Teo Gutiérrez could have doubled his side's lead, but the Colombian came up just inches short of a cross from João Mário.

Looking to add a bit of comfort to their lead, Jesus' side continued to turn the screw and give minutes before the break João Mário tried to curl in a guided shot, but his effort finished the wrong side of the crossbar after a breakaway spearheaded by William Carvalho. Teo Gutiérrez actually had the ball in the back of the Moreirense net just before the break, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The second-half got underway with the masses of traveling fans pushing Sporting for a second and the players responded with a wave of forays forward. Around the hour mark, Teo Gutiérrez had the goal at his mercy, but he was unable to keep his header on target. To their credit, Moreirense had attacking intentions of their own and did manage to force the odd slip up out of Sporting. However, a second goal for the visitors always looked more likely than an equaliser for the hosts and next it was William Carvalho to threaten, but he was unable to find the back of the net with his header following a Bruno César corner.

To add a bit of late drama, Bruno Paixão actually sent off Jorge Jesus after Rafael Martins put a hard tackle in on Schelloto, right in front of the Sporting bench. Jesus appealed for the referee to discipline the foul, but Bruno Paixão saw fit to instead send off the Sporting boss.

Trailing by just a single goal, the hosts rallied late on with some moves down the flanks, but Sporting stood firm. On 86 minutes Adrien dribbled his way through the middle, but once again the ball ended up off target. Sporting might not have scored a second, but Moreirense were even further away from an equaliser and as the final sounded the three points headed for Alvalade.

Jorge Jesus on Saturday's visit to Moreirense

Jorge Jesus was with the press this Friday afternoon for his usual pre-match press conference, ahead of a potentially trip to 14th placed Moreirense.

"Experience tells us that it is always hard to play in Moreira de Cónegos. Moreirense are a strong team at home and we know that, but we are ready for whatever they throw at us", affirmed the Sporting coach, highlighting his side's current form: "We have been really strong recently and I think we will be in Moreira de Cónegos as well, with the help of our fans.”

Commenting on the fact that Sporting have played more matches than any other side this season, Jesus proved pleased with what is actually now an empty medical room: "We have played more matches, but the lads are all in foot shape. Thankfully we don't have any problems right now in terms of injuries, except Bruno Paulista. That is great for a coach."

The Sports Journalist Association has named Adrien Silva and João Mário in the running for Player of the Year, while Gelson Martins and Iuri Medeiros feature in the Revelation of the Year and Francisco Geraldes in the Ledman LigaPro Player of the year nomination list. A fact, of course, not wasted on Jorge Jesus: "It is the result of the work we have been putting in, which is getting the best out of a lot of the players. They are quality players, which makes things a lot easier. We are really happy with the nominations."

Moreirense-Sporting CP will kick-off at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.

Bruno Paixão named for Liga NOS matchday 30

Bruno Paixão, 31, from the Setúbal Football Association, has been named to take charge of sporting's visit to Moreirense, on Liga NOS matchday 30.

António Godinho and Rodrigo Pereira will act as linesmen.

This will be Bruno Paixão's second Sporting match of the season, following the matchday 22 visit to Nacional.

Moreirense-Sporting CP will get underway at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio Comendador Joaquim Almeida de Freitas.