Coates on extending his stay in Alvalade

Sebastián Coates was a largely unknown name for many Sporting fans when arriving at Alvalade this January, but the backing given by fellow Uruguayan and former teammate at Liverpool, Luís Suárez, has certainly rung true: "A player like Sebastián brings lot of quality to a team. I am certain he will be a great signing." Since arriving in the Portuguese capital, Sabastián truly has bossed the Sporting defence in an intimidating double-team with Rúben Semedo.

"All players dream of playing for a club that is fighting for titles, with ambitious objectives, and that made the difference for me", said Coates in an interview with the Sporting website after signing his loan extension, before adding a word on his odd forays forward: "Personally, my role is to defend, but If I can help in attack then I will."

Jorge Jesus' focus on defence has actually taken the Uruguayan by surprise, considering that goals are need to turn in wins. However, the final result can of course be decided by good defending. "The coach worries a lot about how we defend. Of course goals are needed to win, but he really worries about getting us all defending. Not every coach does that and it makes a big difference", said the defensive giant, finishing: "This is a great club with fans who are always pushing the players. I want to do my best for this shirt for us to get the results that we all want."

Alvalade president sits down with the Sporting president ahead of league showdown

You have to go back 42 years for the last time that Sporting and Benfica took the title race down to the last match of the season. It was in 1974, when millions waited for the final whistle. History isn't on Sporting's side, with the league leaders going into the decisive fixture tending to hold out and take the trophy, however Bruno de Carvalho sees things a little differently.

“Going into the last match of the season, we are two points behind first place. Of course it isn't the place we would prefer to be in and of course we would like to be in first. However, we are completely focused and we know anything could happen. That is what makes football such a beautiful game. While it is mathematically possible, anything can happen", commented the Alvalade president in an interview with the Sporting Journal this week, adding: "What I see is a Sporting team focused on our match and that believes that we can bring home a title that we have been missing for so long now. We will do everything we can to do that."

Sporting's hopes of silverware after the dust settles this weekend does however not just depend on what happens in Estádio Municipal de Braga. Meanwhile in Lisbon, Benfica will host Nacional, with Sporting needing the team from Madeira to at least steal a point.

“Looking at Benfica-Nacional, well from what I have seen and heard it seems like Nacional doesn't count for anything. It seems like Nacional doesn't care. That if what I have felt when listening to commentators associated with Benfica, but honestly I don't believe it", affirmed Carvalho, continuing: "Nacional are a good side and I don't think they want to be the side show for the league title. I know how hard Rui Alves has been working to put Nacional on the map and they are fighting for places further up the league now. Of course Benfica are motivated, because winning gives them the league, but Nacional are motivated as well."

Gyökeres resolves a difficult tie with CD Santa Clara (2-1 ET)

Sporting Clube de Portugal made their way through to the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal, beating CD Santa Clara 2-1 after extra time. After a late goal from the opponents forced the additional half hour, Viktor Gyökeres struck to give his side the win.

Up against a team who had beaten them 0-1 a fortnight ago, and who lie in fourth place in the Liga Portugal table, Sporting CP fielded the same starting XI as against Boavista FC this past weekend: Franco Israel in goal, Eduardo Quaresma, Zeno Debast and Matheus Reis in the defence, Geny Catamo and Maxi Araújo on the wings, captain Morten Hjulmand and youngster João Simões in the centre and the offensive trident composed of Francisco Trincão, Geovany Quenda and Viktor Gyökeres. Jeremiah St. Juste was back available and started on the bench, while Gonçalo Inácio was left out and joined the long list of injured players that included Daniel Bragança, Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Gonçalves and Nuno Santos.

Although somewhat erratic with their passing, Sporting CP sought to take the initiative from the opening whistle, whilst CD Santa Claratook a more reactive stance. The first real approach came in the 16th minute, when Quenda didn’t make clean contact with Catamo’s precision pass.

CD Santa Clara rarely managed to venture into the attack, but defensively they made the task difficult for Sporting CP. Later, a shot from Catamo from outside the area was saved by goalkeeper Neneca, and in the 40th minute, following a corner, Hjulmand had the ball in the net with the help of a rebound off the opposition goalkeeper, but VAR called handball against him.

After the interval, Sporting CP continued to try to up the pace to unlock the game, and came very close again on the hour mark. However, just when the ball was left for Trincão to shoot at goal, with Neneca already out of the equation, the winger slipped and a defender from CD Santa Clara had time to clear the shot from close to the goal line.

With the continuous stoppages forced by the Azoreans, impatience and displeasure with the officials grew both on and off the pitch. Substitute Ricardo Esgaio, warming up on the sidelines, ended up not only receiving the first yellow card of the game for protests, but also a second immediately afterwards, leading to his expulsion.

The first changes came in the 72nd minute, and the move could not have worked out better. In addition to St. Juste coming on (for Matheus Reis), Conrad Harder entered the pitch, and it was the Danish striker who immediately broke the deadlock. Around two minutes after his arrival, Harder appeared in the area to deflect a cross into the net and make it 1-0.

From there, a Gyökeres' free kick went just over the bar, Ousmane Diomande and Iván Fresneda were brought on, and the opposition tried sporadically to pull bac level.

After two big scares in the last moments of the game, with Gabriel Silva heading over and a fantastic save from Franco Israel denying an opposition player, CD Santa Clara finally made it 1-1 off a ball deflected in by Pedro Ferreira in the 98th minute. Extra time was forced.

In the first part of extra time nothing changed, and Gyökeres had another strong shot kept out by Neneca.

In the last 15 minutes everything was decided, with some details along the way: 19-year-old winger Mauro Couto made his debut for the first team, replacing a tired Eduardo Quaresma. CD Santa Clara would limit themselves to little more than defending, but made a fatal error with around seven minutes remaining. Frederico Venâncio tried to play the ball back to his goalkeeper and Gyökeres read the move perfectly, intercepted the pass, rounded Neneca and scored the goal to make it 2-1

St. Juste received a red card before the end, but Sporting CP made their way through to the next round of the cup competition.

 order after clashing with an opponent. Despite the 'hot' final stretch of the game, the Lions' victory and classification were finally guaranteed.

They now make a trip to Barcelos this Sunday (8:30 p.m.), to face Gil Vicente FC in Liga Portugal.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Geny Catamo (Conrad Harder, 72'), Eduardo Quaresma, Zeno Debast (Ousmane Diomande, 83'), Matheus Reis (Jeremiah St. Juste, 72'), Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand [ C], João Simões, Francisco Trincão, Geovany Quenda (Iván Fresneda, 90+5') and Viktor Gyökeres.

The coaching staff member explains the win over CD Santa Clara

At the end of the game against CD Santa Clara, in which Sporting CP earned a place in the quarter finals of the Taça de Portugal, coaching staff member Tiago Teixeira talked about the contest in his post-match press conference.

“The main objective was to go through, and we achieved that. We came into the game well, albeit more cautiously because it was a knockout game, but we controlled and understood the spaces that were there to be explored. We created some chances, but without converting the first ones we had against a team that were playing with a low block. We also deserve credit for not allowing transitions”, he explained.

“The players provided an excellent response and didn't deserve to concede the equaliser, but they responded again despite being tired”,  he highlighted.

“We fully deserved the victory and to go through to the next round”.

Asked about the final moments of regulation time, where the opposition managed to draw level, Teixeira considered that it was a “merely physical issue”.

“We have had a lot of games, playing with the same players. We are also playing with two 17-year-olds and we gave another debut, for Mauro [Couto]. We have total trust in all the players”.

“Those who we thought were most prepared, played. For us, there is no rotation, there is a game to win and that is what happened. CD Santa Clara gave up on playing, just defended and wasted time from the start. The players really wanted to win and felt harmed by the timewasting”.

Afterwards, asked about the 2-1 scoreline that was much celebrated on the bench by the players, the coach pinpointed this as “a sign that everyone wants to win”.

“Since the first day, we have felt great dedication from the players. Today, once again, they had an incredible attitude and commitment.

“It is victories that fuel us and we seek to win and dominate every game, that is what gives us confidence and that is what we will also try to do with Gil Vicente FC”.

The coach expresses satisfaction with the win over Boavista FC

"The Sportinguistas can expect the maximum work from the entire structure for us to continue winning games. I didn't notice any uneasiness in them, I felt their support from the first to the last minute. Together, everything becomes easier".

A deserved 3-2 victory keeps the side top in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to winning ways with a 3-2 triumph over Boavista FC on Liga Portugal Matchday 14, in the two sides' 135th meeting. A goal from Viktor Gyõkeres and a brace from Francisco Trincão helped the team to a deserved victory.

For Sporting CP's second game of the week, following the Tuesday encounter with Club Brugge, they fielded a starting lineup of Franco Israel in goal, Eduardo Quaresma, Zeno Debast and Matheus Reis in defence, wingers Geny Catamo and Maxi Araújo , central midfielders João Simões and Morten Hjulmand, plus a front three of Trincão, Gyõkeres and Geovany Quenda.

They started well, with Quenda's shot, after receiving a pass from Araújo, hit a defender from the first chance of note.

Before the 10th minute was out, Gyõkeres had his first opportunity, off a rebound, but his effort flew over the top. Minutes later, after Geny Catamo had also shot over the crossbar, the Swedish international turned towards goal again, but placed his shot wide.

At the third time of asking, Gyökeres got his goal: Boavista's Pedro Gomes made a bad pass out, and the striker recovered the ball, rounded César and opened the scoring.

The opposition's Seba Pérez threw himself in the way of a shot from João Simões, hit from inside the box, as Sporting CP continued to turn up the heat.

Gyökeres was only slightly too late to a ball across, moments later, and then the game took a turn: Boavista FC took advantage of a moment of lower intensity to cross from the right, with Róbert Bozeník at the back post to head in the equaliser.

César prevented Araújo's cross from reaching Gyõkeres just ahead of the halftime whistle, and the game went into the interval level at 1-1.

In the second half, Sporting CP did not have to wait long to make it 2-1. They pressed high and, after a couple of threatening moves, Trincão -who had started the play- turned in a short pass from Araújo.

Catamo popped up in a good position to score inside the area, but was unable to set up his shot in time. The attacks were arriving, but once again there was a setback: Against the run of play, after a free kick, the ball went to the left and Bruno Onyemaechi got his foot in to shoot and score.

From a Sporting CP free kick, Gyökeres forced César to make a huge save. He then turned provider for Trincão, setting up his teammate with an assist from inside the box.

With the score at 3-2, Conrad Harder replaced Catamo and Quenda moved to the right wing, moving the Danish striker to the left side of the attack.

Ousmane Diomande came in for Quaresma and then Henrique Arreiol stepped in for João Simões, who received an applause for his latest solid performance.

The last ten minutes were scrappy, but Sporting CP saw it through to earn a 3-2 win at home.

They remain outright leaders of Liga Portugal, and now focus on the Taça de Portugal, where they will face CD Santa Clara on Wednesday at the Estádio José Alvalade.

The coach previews the match against Boavista FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal face Boavista FC on Saturday night at the Estádio José Alvalade, on Matchday 14 of the Liga Portugal season.

Before the game against a side just two points above the relegation zone, coach João Pereira gave a press conference to talk about his side's aspirations.

"We have been talking about this turning point for some time. We go into every game to win and with the desire and desire to do the best we can. That's what we're going to do with Boavista FC: Demonstrate that we really want the three points, like in the last games where we started well and scored, but also believe that some things –  as fate has played some tricks on us – won't happen again", he began by saying.

Sporting CP will once again have several players missing, with Gonçalo Inácio joining Eduardo Quaresma, Hidemasa Morita, Daniel Bragança , Pedro Gonçalves and Nuno Santos on the sidelines. Although he did not deny the importance of these absences, Pereira highlighted that "there are other players and they have to demonstrate that they are prepared".

"What counts most is winning tomorrow. We know that victory is what gives coaches security. I would say 'yes' again [to President Frederico Varandas' call for him to take charge]. Of course I want to be here, I thought I was prepared and I still think that. I believe in the work of the technical committee, the players and the structure. I feel like we are all in the same boat and going in the same direction, so we are closer to victory. The results have not come, but competence, sometimes, is not only seen in the results and is seen in other things too".

Furthermore Pereira stated that he feels "the same confidence he felt on the first day".

"The results are not coming, but I believe they will. We all know the message we have to send out.  Everyone saw how the players celebrated the goal against Brugge. They really want to win again and get back to good performances. There is little I could ask more of them in this regard".

"There is no one more frustrated than me, the players and the structure for not being able to deliver the victories that everyone wants. We really want to win. This is our life, our work. I accept everyone's criticism and frustration, because it's normal. We have to be able to deal with it; that’s why we are professionals".

The coach responds to the loss away to Club Brugge KV

At the end of the UEFA Champions League loss to Club Brugge KV, Sporting CP coach João Pereira analysed the performance in his post-match press conference.

“We were strong and showed belief. We made it 0-1 and we had the game under control, we played well and then we conceded again from a shot that wasn't even going in. It's another misfortune and a strange goal that affected the team, which is normal when you are on a run of three consecutive defeats. We regained control and it seemed to me that we were always closer to making it 2-1, but we conceded the goal off a long ball,”, summarised the coach, who then highlighted João Simões' starting debut.

“He took advantage of the opportunity he had and showed that he has character and maturity. He played an excellent game, like all the players," he stated, before giving an overview of the injuries to Gonçalo Inácio and Eduardo Quaresma.

“Inácio had a problem in the warmup and we didn’t want to force things. Quaresma was having an excellent game, and in a move where I believe there was an elbow and not a clash of heads, he got hurt."

“This is a tough defeat that leaves us feeling down today, but we have to pick ourselves back up quickly because we already have a game coming up in the league, where we can't drop any more points," pointed out Pereira.

Afterwards, he explained the substitutions he made in the second half.

“Maxi was already worn out, he was on a yellow and we didn’t want to risk going a man down. Esgaio coming in was not to control the game, because I think we were on top and, therefore, I didn't want to change the team too much."

Pereira also stated that, despite the several setbacks suffered, he is “not a coach who makes excuses."

“If I didn't have confidence in myself and the players, I would give up, and today they showed great personality again. It's a difficult time, and it's normal for fans to feel dissatisfied. Four defeats in a row is something that hasn't happened in a long time. Throughout the game the fans support you and, at the end, it's normal for them to speak up and show their displeasure. We have to receive criticism and continue to believe in our work. I feel like the players trust the message we send out to them. We have to be stronger and give an even more positive response in the next game.”

The team lose to Club Brugge KV 2-1 on the road

Sporting Clube de Portugal lost 2-1 to Club Brugge KV in their sixth UEFA Champions League game of the season, conceding a late goal in the 84th minute after a positive start.

On a freezing night at the Jan Breydelstadion, the team took on the side currently second-placed in the Belgian league, unbeaten in ten games and coming off a 1-0 win at Aston Villa FC and 1-1 draw against Celtic in the Champions League.

Sporting CP were missing midfielders Daniel Bragança and Hidemasa Morita, and made five changes to the starting lineup. Franco Israel returned in goal, with Eduardo Quaresma, Geovany Quenda and Maxi Araújo joined by 17-year-old João Simões. Gonçalo Inácio was injured in the warm-up and was replaced at the last minute by Matheus Reis.

A dream start saw Sporting CP take the lead in the third minute, when Viktor Gyökeres turned on the edge of the area, found Maxi with a pass and the Uruguayan smacked a shot against the crossbar. The ball fell to Geny Catamo, who only needed to tap in the rebound -to the delight of the 1500 travelling Sportinguistas.

High, intense pressure and a monopoly on possession in the first 20 minutes kept things comfortable, whilst Gyökeres was the target man for quick breakthroughs. On one such move, he set up Quenda for what ended up being a tame shot.

Afterwards, however, the home team peppered in some crosses and approaches to the Sporting CP area. After a threat from Maxim De Cuyper, they found the equaliser off a low cross from the right, as Christos Tzolis' shot in the area deflected in off Quaresma.

In the minute thereafter, Maxi Araújo was knocked down when entering the area and a penalty was initially awarded, but VAR indicated a direct free kick. From the set piece, Gyökeres shot hard but just over the crossbar.

Close to half-time, after Skov Olsen forced Israel to make another save, then Sporting CP suffered another setback: A collision between Tzolis and Quaresma resulted in a yellow card for the Greek and the central defender having to go off injured - replaced by Jeremiah St. Juste.

In the second half, Club Brugge KV had a glimpse on goal close to the hour mark, but Tzolis' arching shot went just wide of the post before their momentum cooled.

Sporting CP also found it difficult to create opportunities and trouble goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Amidst the deadlock going into the last 15 minutes, Gyökeres made a run, but his cross was not met by a teammate.

A defensive lapse cost Os Leões dearly. A ball deep into the space left by the defence was met by Club Brugge debutant Casper Nielsen, who made it 2-1 in the 84th minute.

In response, Sporting CP immediately created their best chance of the second half, but Trincão's shot in the area off a header by Gyökeres went straight to Mignolet. Shortly afterwards, Conrad Harder came on and one last effort was made, but there would be no equaliser.

In the UEFA Champions League, the next stop is Germany to face RB Leipzig in the penultimate round of the league stage. Before that, Sporting CP meet Boavista FC at the Estádio José Alvalade in Liga Portugal.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Eduardo Quaresma (Jeremiah St. Juste, 45'), Ousmane Diomande, Matheus Reis, Maxi Araújo (Ricardo Esgaio, 81'), Morten Hjulmand [C], João Simões, Geny Catamo, Geovany Quenda (Conrad Harder, 87'), Francisco Trincão, Viktor Gyökeres.

The coach talks before the UEFA Champions League fixture

Sporting Clube de Portugal travel to Belgium for a game on Tuesday with Club Brugge KV, as the UEFA Champions League campaign continues. At the Jan Breydelstadion, the venue for the match, João Pereira spoke in a press conference upon arrival in Belgium.

The coach acknowledged that the midweek contest is another opportunity to reverse the form his side are experiencing after three consecutive setbacks.

“We are going to encounter a team that have not lost in ten games, and Sporting CP has not had very positive results here, in Belgium, in European competitions. We want to be the first Sporting CP side to win here and motivate ourselves for what's to come in the season. There's still a long way to go," he began by saying.

The coach confirmed that he will be without midfielders Daniel Bragança and Hidemasa Morita, who are both injured, and that Henrique Arreiol, João Simões, Alexandre Brito and Mauro Couto are all called up to fill the squad.

“The youngsters can play. There may be some adaptation involved, but the team will play the same way. The players recognise what their teammates do in their positions and everyone has to be prepared for any eventuality," he  highlighted.

“I know them perfectly, they work well and [João] Simões has been involved in the work done by the first team for some time, even before I was the coach. I have a lot of confidence in [Henrique] Arreiol, Mauro [Couto] and [Alexandre] Brito too, whether they come on later or play from the start."

On his approach, Pereira insisted that "We will be confident, as we were with Moreirense FC”. We may not have played our best football, but we were the better side, we had more opportunities and we could have come away with the victory. I saw a completely different team than against CD Santa Clara: more willing and looking for victory. With that eagerness, we even broke the game up more than we should have," he posited.

“The players will be confident and we will fight for the win, which would practically guarantee a place in the playoffs. We don't have to think much more about it. We will come in confident, focused, alert and ready to control the game for most of the time."

On the recent negative results, Pereira highlighted that he will “stand up and be counted, regardless of what happens. The position I have is the biggest vote of confidence possible."

“My life has never been easy and if I couldn't handle the pressure I wouldn't be here anymore. When I started playing they said I was skinny, small, and that I would never be successful in football -and luckily I had the career I had. As a coach, the first few years were difficult. We were close to the bottom places with the Under-23s, and after three years we had an excellent season and were one point away from becoming champions. That made me be considered the future of Sporting CP. A coach’s life is based on results and if they don’t appear, it’s normal for there to be criticism and doubts."

"Everyone is pulling in the same direction. I can't have any doubts about what I think and what I want the team to do. I am confident the future will be much better than things have been so far," he concluded.