Rui Patrício, Adrien, William and Gelson all given the green light for Lithuania

National team coach Fernando Santos released his squad list for the coming World Cup 2018 qualifier against Lithuania this week.

A total of four Sporting players feature in the squad of 24 Rui Patrício, Adrien, William Carvalho and Gelson Martins.

Squad list in full:

Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Marafona (Sp. Braga) and Rui Patrício (Sporting CP);

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Antunes (Dynamo Kiev), João Cancelo (Valencia), José Fonte (Southampton), Luís Neto (Zenit), Nélson Semedo (Benfica) and Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund);

Midfielders: André Gomes (Barcelona), Adrien Silva (Sporting CP), Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), João Mário (Inter de Milão), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich) and William Carvalho (Sporting CP)

Forwards: André Silva (FC Porto), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (Lille), Gelson Martins (Sporting CP), Pizzi (Benfica), Nani (Valencia) and Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas).

Portugal to face Gibraltar (friendly) and Switzerland (World Cup qualifier)

Rui Patrício, William Carvalho, Adrien and João Mário all feature in Fernando Santos' squad for two coming fixtures.

Portugal will take on Gibraltar next Thursday, before facing Switzerland on the 6th of September in a World Cup qualifier.

Goalkeepers

- Rui Patrício (Sporting CP)
- Anthony Lopes (Lyon)
- Eduardo (D. Zagreb)

Defenders

- João Cancelo (Valencia)
- Cédric (Southampton)
- Pepe (Real Madrid)
- Bruno Alves (Cagliari)
- José Fonte (Southampton)
- Luís Neto (Zenit)
- Raphael Guerreiro (B. Dortmund)
- Eliseu (Benfica)

Midfielders

- William Carvalho (Sporting CP)
- Danilo (FC Porto)
- João Moutinho (Monaco)
- Adrien (Sporting CP)
- André Gomes (Barcelona)
- João Mário (Sporting CP)
- Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich)

Forwards

- Rafa Silva (Sp. Braga)
- Bernardo Silva (Monaco)
- Nani (Valencia)
- Quaresma (Besiktas)
- Éder (Lille)
- André Silva (FC Porto)

Adrien's reaction to Sporting's masterclass against FC Porto

Adrien's ruthless performance in the midfield helped Sporting to a memorable 3-1 win in Estádio do Dragão this Saturday, in what is one of the most hotly contested league titles of recent years. Speaking with the press at the final whistle, the Alvalade skipper was keen to credit the collective performance for the three points.

“It isn't easy to come here and come away with a result like this. We showed great character and quality. We controlled the crucial moments and we held out against a great side like FC Porto. The lads responded well tonight and they all deserve to be congratulated. We scored right before half-time and that always lifts you a bit more than if you score at other times. We have maximum confidence that we can win the title and that is how we will carry on until the end of the season", commented the Portuguese international.

French magazine on Sporting's football factory

The article opens with a statement from Bruno de Carvalho, in December 2015: “Cristiano Ronaldo was trained here. That is message directly for Dubai." Three months later, France Football has highlighted the power of Sporting's very own football factory, the Sporting Academy, for having "trained two of the three Portuguese Ballon d'Or winners."

Over two pages, the article makes reference to Luís Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well Sporting's role as the major provider of players for the national team.

France Football also speaks about Sporting's Luso-Frenchman, Adrien. "It is a dream come true, but it was hard being away from my family", explains Adrien, before thanking the club "for training me as a player, but more importantly as a person."

Patrício, Paulo Oliveira, Jonathan, Adrien and João Mário all named in top 500

A total of five Alvalade stars feature in this year's World Soccer 500, ranking the 500 most important football players on the planet.

Goalkeeper Rui Patrício, defenders Paulo Oliveira and Jonathan Silva and midfielders Adrien and João Mário are the five named.

Adrien on Sporting's win against Marítimo

The Alvalade skipper scored a crucial goal in Madeira this weekend, securing a typically difficult three points from Marítimo.

“We knew that this trip is always really hard, but we held out and we controlled the game. We got our reward in the end. We could have lost first place, but that didn't happen and the team did well. We showed our character and we trusted in ourselves. We got the result we wanted and we will carry on", said Adrien at the final whistle, adding: "This is a team that does its best, that works hard and that makes sacrifices to be at the top of the league."

Adrien strike and Rui Patrício heroics guarantee three points in Madeira

A 53rd minute strike from Adrien helped Sporting to an important three points in Madeira this weekend, in a 1-0 win against Marítimo.

In search of a sixth consecutive league win and also a sixth against Marítimo, Sporting started the encounter well, but it became quickly apparent that the afternoon's task would be no easy one. To their credit, the evening's hosts were willing to get forward and battled hard for possession. Marega started a good move for Marítimo down the right, before Sporting responded with two chances in the first ten minutes. First it was Gelson Martins bursting down the flank and setting up João Mário in the box, but the midfielder was unable to keep his shot on target. Next Montero threatened after taking advantage of a defensive mistake, but the Colombian's effort finished wide of the mark.

The midfield battle for control sapped much of the quality out of the encounter, with passes going astray for both sides. Well orchestrated pressure by the hosts also kept Sporting on a defensive footing. A move down the right in the 14th minute finished with a corner for Marítimo picking ou Marega completely isolated at the far post, but a brilliant stop by Rui Patrício kept the scores blank. A couple of minutes later Marítimo had another dangerous corner, but Fransérgio's header was off target.

Sporting responded in kind and it wasn't long before the pressure began punching gaps in the Marítimo lines. João Mário broke away down the right and dragged a cross back for Adrien, who picked out Bryan Ruiz at the edge of the box. The Costa Rican drove a powerful shot goalwards, but Salin defended and the sides went in deadlocked at the break.

The interval worked wondered for Jorge Jesus' side, who come out fighting and were soon rewarded for their persistence. A brilliant bit of teamwork down the right saw João Pereira link up with Bryan Ruiz, before the Costa Rican released João Mário who skillfully found space and set up an unstoppable strike from Adrien.

Sporting kept up the pressure and Gelson Martins continued to rain down havoc on the Marítimo defence, himself firing a shot over the bar in the 58th minute. Some calculated counters from the hosts could well have done damage, but some mature defending by the team from Alvalade kept chances to a minimum. With the clock ticking down, their was still time for Rui Patrício to pull off one of his usually heroic saved and ensure that the three points returned to continental Portugal.

First in the Super Cup, then Liga NOS and now in the Portuguese Cup...

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's Portuguese Cup derby, the Benfica coach Rui Vitória, by sheer coincidence, arrived half an hour late and opened his conference after Jorge Jesus had already shared his thoughts. Ten times the Benfica coach said "win", six times the name "Sporting" and another six more "team". It turns out that Vitória was right: Sporting, the better team on the night, won.

With the introduction of Fredy Montero in place of Teo Gutiérrez in the starting line-up, the team from Alvalade got off to the stronger start and on four minutes Slimani hammered a header against the woodwork after a cross from the left. However, Benfica's luck was in from what was their first attack of the evening, when Mitroglou opened the scoring in the seventh minute after a long pass by Gaitán and some good ball control from Pizzi.

The encounter was yet to find its shape, but the goal went on to define what would be the theme for most of the first-half, seeing Benfica drop back and close ranks, breaking forward on the occasional counter-attack. With the evening's visitors inviting Sporting to take the initiative, the game was soon all one-way traffic and after good opportunities for Slimani in the 32nd minute and Jefferson in the 39th, only denied by some heroics from Júlio César, a thoroughly deserved equaliser came just before the break, when Adrien fired in a calculated volley.

Up stepped Jorge Jesus at the restart with his usual magic, introducing Gelson for Montero down the right and pulling João Mário into the middle. A good half-hour of Sporting pressure followed, but a more clinical touch was missing in the final third and the scoreboard remained stubbornly deadlocked. Benfica introduced André Almeida into the action, balancing out the midfield contest, and did have two shots on goal through Talisca and Eliseu, but it was Sporting who were really pushing for the win. Slimani could have finished it two minutes before the regulation ninety, but Júlio César pulled out a memorable stop from point-blank range to take encounter to extra-time.

Ricardo Esgaio and Tobias Figueiredo were introduced for Jefferson and Ewerton, as tired legs took hold in both camps. At last Sporting's technical, tactical, individual and collective dominance got its reward in the 112th minute, when Slimani struck to effectively secure the win. Samaris was shown a second yellow card for protesting the goal, before Benfica also saw claims rightly waved away for a nonexistent penalty.

For the first time in 61 years, Sporting has beaten Benfica for a third consecutive time.

Official Club Store welcomes 1000 fans to meet Alvalade stars

Around 1000 fans were at the Official Club Store this Wednesday for an autograph session with Slimani, Adrien and Matheus Pereira. Although the event wasn’t due to actually get underway until 18h30, the first fan arrived at 14h00!

The crowd welcomed the fans into the store with songs and even a scarf from the Algerian national team was eagerly given to Slimani for the Alvalade striker to sign.

“I wasn’t expecting so many people to come. I know that a lot of people have been waiting here for hours now and it is important that we repay all of the support that we have been given. We want to earn the fans’ support and do everything we can to keep them happy”, said Adrien at the session, continuing: “This is a way of spending some time with the fans and thanking them for the support that they give us in every match, no matter where we play.”

Matheus Pereira was also taken back by the mass of support on display: “It is really good to spend some time with the fans. With this rain it isn’t just anybody who makes the effort to come here and I am really happy to see so much support.”

Alvalade skipper praises his side's showing in Estádio da Luz

“Both sides showed intensity and quality, despite what people were saying in the build-up to the game”, said Adrien in a flash interview with radio journalists after his side’s 3-0 derby win.

For the Alvalade skipper, his side set the bar with Sunday’s performance, but the title is still a long way off: “The players set an example. A lot was said before the match, but the players were focused on doing their best. Fortunately we got the best result we could here tonight. It is still too early to be talking about the title, but it is always important to win a derby.”