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."

The squad keep sharp with a 3-1 win

Sporting Clube de Portugal played a training match at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo Academy on Friday, beating CF "Os Belenenses" 3-1.

Rúben Amorim opted for a starting XI consisting of Vladan Kovačević, Marcus Edwards, Nuno Santos, Iván Fresneda, Ricardo Esgaio, Bruno Ramos, Lucas Anjos, Diogo Abreu, Mauro Couto, Luís Gomes and Lucas Taibo.

Diego Calai, Rodrigo Marquês, Alexandre Brito and Marlon Júnior also played in the game.

Sporting CP enjoyed a halftime lead of 3-0, with Bruno Ramos, Marcus Edwards and Nuno Santos scoring the goals.

The squad will now enjoy two days off, returning to work on Monday morning behind closed doors.

The coach looks back on Sporting CP's eighth consecutive win in Liga Portugal

After the final whistle in Sporting CP's victory over Casa Pia AC, coach Rúben Amorim analysed the match in a press conference. He began by commenting on the fact that his team had reached the milestone of 50 consecutive games in Liga Portugal scoring at least once.

“We have improved over the seasons in terms of the number of goals we've scored. We won the first title by defending better, conceding few goals but not scoring many. Then, we improved, which is down to the process, the quality and the characteristics of the players”, he told journalists, before analysing the difficulties caused by Casa Pia AC's strategy.

“We have to be prepared for everything and their strategy made it very difficult for us. With every cross we had no advantage, even with two men in the box. We let Daniel Bragança play in more of a free role, and that helped. Trincão was the freshest player on the team, Geny tried to push, but with so many defenders ahead of you it's difficult. On the other hand, their plan helped us, in the sense that our central defenders, Quaresma and Inácio, who are struggling for fitness, didn't have much work to do”.

“Nobody is happy watching games like this, especially the fans, but these are strategies that exist and I also understand the difference. Playing against lines of six are difficult, but it was Trincão's inspiration that unlocked the game”.

Explaining the strengths of some of the absentees in the game, especially in these types of more cagey matches, Amorim said that: “Viktor [Gyökeres] didn’t have many opportunities, but when we have the whole group available against low blocks, [Matheus] Reis can get involved a lot, Marcus Edwards is the best player for this, ‘Pote’ is another one, and we still have Morita and Dani. We can put in a second forward, bring in new wingers… It’s going to be a lot about wearing down the opponents, using new characteristics and being good at defensive transitions”.

“We performed up to standard in a very difficult game. I won't say that the result was better than the performance, because we had more chances to score. It wasn't as pretty, because a defensive line of six against four makes it very difficult, and I also felt a lack of energy”, added Amorim.

“Football has evolved a lot. Everything used to be very static and today it's harder to find the references. The characteristics of the players in these games make the difference”.

When asked about Conrad Harder's starting position and his substitution at halftime, Amorim stated that it was the result of the need to have “fresh players”, as well as allowing “Dani Bragança to be free and have two strong forwards to make the breakthroughs".

“Harder is very hungry, he wants to score, but that wasn’t the reason for his substitution, it was just a question of characteristics”.

On Franco Israel’s good form, he praised the Uruguayan goalkeeper’s maturity. “The number 1 goalkeeper is whoever is playing. You can see a lot of maturity in Franco, he’s prepared, just like Vladan [Kovačević], and Callai has also grown a lot. On performance, Franco is playing and he deserves it”, he added.

Bragança, who has scored in three consecutive games, also received praise from the coach. “Beyond the numbers, he is already a player with a different dimension. He has more physical ability, is able to reach the opposing goal and is stronger in physical contact. He is a different player and it would be very difficult for me to take Dani out now”.

Finally, Amorim commented that “We have a way of playing that is enjoyable for people. We have started the season well, we played well and we have to take a step forward in the more difficult games. We are doing an excellent job and we have always managed to maintain our consistency. We need the group in shape to win every game in every competition”.

Sporting CP win against Casa Pia AC before the international break

In Liga Portugal action, Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Casa Pia AC 2-0 at home for their eighth win in as many games -a new record in the division in the 21st century. Daniel Bragança and Viktor Gyökeres got the goals that delighted the 42,887 spectators present.

To face an in-form Casa Pia AC that came into the weekend in ninth place, coach Rúben Amorim made four changes from his midweek lineup against PSV Eindhoven: Eduardo Quaresma, Maxi Araújo, Daniel Bragança and Conrad Harder got starts instead of Geovany Quenda, Nuno Santos, Hidemasa Morita and Ousmane Diomande, the latter of whom was forced to miss the match and joined Jeremiah St. Juste, Matheus Reis, Pedro Gonçalves and Marcus Edwards on the sidelines through injury.

Sporting CP marked Pink October with the players wearing the club's and latest pink kit, incorporating a message of awareness for the prevention and diagnosis of Breast Cancer.

It could have been a start to forget for the team, who were caught off guard by Casa Pia AC under two minutes in. Only goalkeeper Franco Israel prevented an early setback with a save from Svensson's dangerous shot from inside the penalty area.

Having overcome the scare, Sporting CP took possession of the ball and pushed the opposition lines back into their defensive third. With patience and careful movement, the spaces in attack began to open up slightly, and new signing Maxi Araújo made the first attempts for Os Leões: On the first, he headed the ball outside the far post, then he took a free kick that went just over the bar.

A set piece brought Casa Pia AC closer to the area in around the 20th minute, but Gonçalo Inácio nipped the problem in the bud and Sporting CP quickly returned to settling into the opposition midfield, trying to impose their dynamic through combinations. The visitors were no longer able to attack and limited themselves to closing down Sporting CP, sometimes with a line of six.

Just after the half-hour mark, Harder's cross-shot, when he received the ball and turned at the edge of the area, went just wide of the post. Then, a run by Geny Catamo and an effort inside the box rekindled the excitement amongst the stands.

The goal finally came from Daniel Bragança, who appeared in the right place and at the right time in the area after a brilliant individual move by Francisco Trincão. He converted the assist to make it four goals for him this season -three of them coming in the last three games.

To close the first half, captain Morten Hjulmand headed the ball into the hands of Patrick Sequeira, and the team went into the interval 1-0 up.

After the break, Amorim made the first substitution and Hidemasa Morita came on for Harder.

The first move in the second period nearly resulted in a goal, as only a last ditch tackle prevented the ball from reaching Viktor Gyökeres for a tap-in. Morita also had a chance, but Sequeira got the better of him and kicked the ball out for a corner.

Israel made a spectacular save from an effort that would have been ruled out for offside, and suddenly, the game became momentarily more open. A thunderous shot from Trincão that grazed the bar was followed by an opportunity for the away team, but Israel kept out Pablo Roberto's attack.

Amorim then continued to freshen up the team and brought on Geovany Quenda and Iván Fresneda for Geny and Inácio. Later, at the start of the final quarter of an hour, Ricardo Esgaio also came on for Eduardo Quaresma, just after Trincão threatened to score with a header.

The goal that would bring peace of mind in Alvalade was found by Gyökeres, as he was brought down in the box. Stepping up to take the penalty kick himself, he converted to go top of the scoring charts with his 11th strike of the season in Liga Portugal.

Sporting CP sealed the win, went six consecutive matchdays without conceding a goal, and upped their scoring tally to 27.

The next matchday of the 2024/25 league season will be a visit to FC Famalicão (26 October, at 8:30 pm), after the international break. Before that, Sporting CP will return to action with two away matches in two other competitions: Against Portimonense SC in the third round of the Taça de Portugal (18 October, 8:15pm), followed by a trip to Austria to face SK Sturm Graz in the third round of the UEFA Champions League (22 October, 8pm).

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Geny Catamo (Geovany Quenda, 68’), Eduardo Quaresma (Ricardo Esgaio, 77’), Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio (Iván Fresneda, 68’), Maxi Araújo (Nuno Santos, 64’), Morten Hjulmand [C], Daniel Bragança, Francisco Trincão, Conrad Harder (Hidemasa Morita, 46’), Viktor Gyökeres.

The coach talks before Matchday 8

Sporting Clube de Portugal return to Liga Portugal action this Saturday at Estádio José Alvalade, hosting Casa Pia AC on Matchday 8.

After the 1-1 draw away to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League, coach Rúben Amorim assured journalists that his side are ready for the domestic fixture.

“This change of mindset is starting to become more natural, given the years we have been playing in both Europe and in the league. The players already know that to maintain our position in the table, we have to win. The players have done well in the transition from one competition to another before. We had an away trip, with an intense game, and our focus was on getting the players recovered and doing the tactical work,” said Amorim, before analysing eighth-placed Casa Pia AC.

“We will play the same formation as them, and we have many hours of experience in that. We have doubts about some Casa Pia AC players in their starting XI, and that can change their characteristics, but we are already used to the overall way Casa Pia AC play, because we use the same formation. They are a team with a low block and we have to be imaginative to create problems for them. They may have set pieces in which they use their three central defenders. Cassiano up front could be dangerous and Nuno Moreira was once a Sporting CP player and is very talented. We have looked a lot at individual characteristics because we didn't have much time to work on things, but the good thing about it is that we are already used to the references. We are prepared."

Zeno Debast is the only fully fit central defender available for Sporting CP, and Amorim revealed that Gonçalo Inácio and Eduardo Quaresma will be involved in the squad, despite being doubtful right until kickoff. Matheus Reis, Jeremiah St. Juste, Marcus Edwards, Pedro Gonçalves and Ousmane Diomande are all ruled out due to injury.

“Ousmane will be out for a few weeks. He will not be playing for the national team because he is not fit. Quaresma is not fully healed yet, Inácio also still has a little niggle. We will see tomorrow, but we do not have many solutions for the defence and they will have to make the sacrifice if they can. Ousmane is definitely out and St. Juste and Matheus Reis are too, so there are few players left. We have Fresneda, Esgaio -who can adapt to any position-, and players from the B team. But we will be ready for the game and the team are confident."

The coach was also asked about who will occupy the left side of the attack, and did not rule out Maxi Araújo or Conrad Harder playing there.

“We’ll see tomorrow, I’m not going to say because that changes the approach to the game. Although they play in the same position, they play completely differently. Maxi is increasingly better prepared and they can both play on the wing. He switched positions and that can sometimes be difficult since he doesn’t have a very strong base yet, but he can clearly play there and do it alongside Harder."

Finally, he was asked about the “rebirth” of rivals FC Porto and SL Benfica in European competitions, addressing the importance of maintaining the 100% winning streak in the league before the international break.

“We always have to win. Before the game against PSV, everyone said that Sporting CP would not lose the title under any circumstances. Now thay are saying that SL Benfica and FC Porto are better sides. We know that they are great teams and have excellent coaches, so we have to do our job. We will continue fighting, and if we win we will go to the break in first place, so that is our only objective."

The coach talks about the 1-1 draw in the Netherlands

After the 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadion, coach Rúben Amorim gave a press conference to reflect on the Champions League Matchday 2 result.

“We didn’t manage to deal very well with the pressing from the opposition at the start. We don’t usually get pressured like this, but we lost the duels. We often didn’t make good decisions with the ball up front, Geny had difficulties between the lines and we couldn’t provide support to the forward line. We kept giving confidence to our opponents until we conceded the goal,” he said of the opening minutes.

“In the second half, the game became more evenly matched. We left it as man-to-man at the back, PSV's Luuk de Jong had the ability to connect and we, who often isolated Viktor, couldn’t follow up on that. Daniel Bragança was another extra man and by swapping his position with Trincão we were able to dominate the game more, with a more open pitch,” Amorim explained.

“PSV had opportunities in transitions and so did we. Considering the way the game went, it’s a good point, but we have a lot to improve in this competition. If we look at the result, it doesn’t feel like a victory, but we have to accept the point, considering the performance we put in on a difficult pitch, against a team that haven’t lost here in 42 games. We have to be aware of that."

Regarding Bragança's impact during the game, coming on late, the coach acknowledged that he had been in the equation for a starting position, along with Hidemasa Morita and Morten Hjulmand.

“It was just a choice, but we had already thought about having three midfielders. I thought that at the start of the game we might lose some speed with him, because with the high press I would push the team even more -which I was wrong about, as he proved. After the game it is easier to choose who should play."

When asked about his players slipping on the surface much more than the opposition, he said that "I prefer to do tactical training in Lisbon when no one is watching to prepare the strategy, rather than train to adapt to the pitch. The players have the warmup for that and we have to be better at this approach. It is something that the players have to know, as they are professionals."

Finally, Amorim addressed Ousmane Diomande's replacement due to injury and confirmed that he will be out of the next Liga Portugal game.

“He is struggling and will be out of the next match. We will try to get him back soon, because we are short on central defenders."

Sporting CP stay unbeaten in the Champions League with a 1-1 draw

In the UEFA Champions League, Sporting Clube de Portugal took a 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven thanks to an 84th minute equaliser from Daniel Bragança. They now have 4 points from their two games in the competition.

Both sides had a perfect record of seven wins and 30 goals scored in their respective domestic leagues, although Sporting CP had also bested Lille OSC 2-0 in their Champions League opener.

To face a team unbeaten at home since 12 November 2022, Rúben Amorim made two changes to the starting lineup used in the victory at home against GD Estoril Praia. Geovany Quenda came in on the right wing and Geny Catamo moved to the attacking trio, whilst Gonçalo Inácio returned to the XI. Maxi Araújo was rotated out and Matheus Reis was absent due to injury, as were Pedro Gonçalves and Marcus Edwards and Jeremiah St. Juste.

Around 1,750 Sporting CP fans made their voices heard from the start.

PSV took more initiative with the ball in the early going and Sporting CP looked to send passes upfield to Viktor Gyökeres as quickly as possible, but they were always closely monitored by PSV's Ryan Flamingo.

Soon after, the home team's plans came to fruition. A ball stolen near the Sporting CP area resulted in the first shot, saved by Franco Israel, but shortly after the threat continued: Once again, the Dutch side pressed high, and Jerdy Schouten fired a powerful and well-placed shot in to make it 1-0. Sporting CP conceded for the first time since their 1-6 win against CD Nacional on August 17th.

PSV were galvanised by the goal, and they also increased their aggression and the number of fouls (12-3 at half-time). Sporting CP suffered another setback when Ousmane Diomande was injured, and he had to be replaced by Eduardo Quaresma.

As they gradually recovered, a run by Francisco Trincão ended up at the feet of Gyökeres, but his first-time shot was immediately blocked by a defender. A header wide by Inácio at the end of the first half, was the closest they would come to an equaliser before half time.

At the start of the second half, it was once again the Dutch champions who began strongest. Ismael Saibari and Guus Til both provided warnings with shots off target, leading to Rúben Amorim looking to reshuffle the team. Daniel Bragança came on for Geny Catamo, providing fluidity and tempo to Sporting CP's play.

After PSV's Luuk de Jong missed from a one-on-one with Israel, Sporting CP managed to get their first chance to attack through Quenda, but neither Bragança nor Trincão managed to get a shot off well. That was followed by a chance in which Quaresma slipped just as he was about to square up to goalkeeper Walter Benítez.

Quenda tried his luck with a curling shot that went just wide, and to continue the momentum Conrad Harder and Maxi Araújo were brought on for the final ten minutes -replacing Nuno Santos and Francisco Trincão.

Both Johan Bakayoko, for PSV, and Harder, for Sporting CP, had clear-cut chances to score, but were unsuccessful with their finishing.

Just when it seemed that an equaliser would not arrive, Bragança salvaged a point in the 84th minute. The cross came from another substitute, the recently introduced Maxi Araújo, and the midfielder burst into the area to score his first ever goal in the UEFA Champions League.

Late on, it was Sporting CP who had the last chance, but Benítez stretched out and blocked a powerful shot from Harder to keep the stalemate at the final whistle.

Now with four points, Sporting CP will visit Austrian side SK Sturm Graz on October 22nd. Before that, they will return to Alvalade to face Casa Pia AC in Liga Portugal this weekend.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Geovany Queda, Zeno Debast, Ousmane Diomande (Eduardo Quaresma, 31’), Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Santos (Maxi Araújo, 80’), Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita, Francisco Trincão (Conrad Harder, 80’), Geny Catamo (Daniel Bragança, 52’) and Viktor Gyökeres.

The midfielder talks ahead of the game in the Champions League

Daniel Bragança commented on the Tuesday night meeting with PV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League, and said that he expects a competitive game.

“Our team are confident and I believe PSV are too. They have won seven league games, just like us, and the only difference is their start in the Champions League: We got the three points on Matchday 1 and they didn’t. They may be more alert because of that, but we are two very confident teams who want to win," he began by saying in the press room.

“This one will be decided by details, but our preparation was done in the best way possible to get the three points. It is always a mistake to come into a game more comfortable after having taken the three points, so we have to be alert," he added.

As for his possible starting position, Bragança did not reveal the plan, but stressed that all of the players are ready to contribute.

“As for starting positions, you will see tomorrow. We are all prepared and we have already shown more than once that, whoever plays, the team win and play well."

On his numbers of two goals and three assists so far this season, Bragança analysed that “It is easier to have good stats when the team play well and reaches the opposition area more often. The important thing is for the team to win, to continue with our offensive flow, because if the team are doing well, the individual players will stand out."

“The Champions League is a dream for any player and for me it is no different. It is up to us to enjoy these games and the atmosphere to take advantage of this competition. The Champions League is a higher level, but every game makes a difference."

When asked about his role as one of the team captains, the 25-year-old admitted that it is “an added source of pride and responsibility."

"I was already a captain at youth level, but here it has a different meaning. It’s special, but it’s a feeling I’ve had before."

Finally, he talked about the adjustments made over the summer by Sporting CP.

“We lost important players who I miss spending time with, but that’s part of football. We made good signings, they have adapted very well and the group are doing well. It's also easier to manage everything when we win, and we’ve done that," he concluded.

The coach looks at the Champions League meeting with PSV Eindhoven

Sporting Clube de Portugal visit PSV Eindhoven this Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League. Speaking in the Netherlands upon his team's arrival, coach Rúben Amorim began by commenting on the many compliments that Peter Bosz, the opposition boss, had for the team. He previously faced Bosz' Olympique Lyonnais side in the 2021 Cinco Violines game.

“We've all evolved in terms of our style of play, and I also remember that game well. What I take away from that game is that Peter [Bosz] always sends his side forward. I think it's a cultural thing here. His teams are always on the attack and that's what we can expect tomorrow: two attacking teams. We have different cultures, but similar results throughout the season," he noted.

“There is not that much difference between the two teams this season. There has been just one game in the Champions League: ours at home and PSV away, in Italy, against a club with a great history in European competitions. This one is going to be a good game, with goals."

“Just like when we play at Alvalade, we don't think that since we always win it will be easy, when we play away we always think about playing our game and we believe that we can win at any ground."

Amorim considers that the focus is on “improving on what was done against Lille OSC."

“To be able to play in a stadium like this, with intense pressure, against a Dutch team, we have to have a different capacity to build and have a different presence even to the what had in the first year, when we got past the group stage."

“We have proven that we are competitive, year after year. We have been consistent performers in Portugal and now people expect us to take the next step in Europe, but we also have to understand that there are teams like PSV, from a similar league to ours and used to these games, and others with different levels of investment."

Next, Amorim spoke about the current situation with Jeremiah St. Juste, who although is not fit for this game.

“We will have a training session here on Wednesday morning, and we want St. Juste with the team as much as possible. We didn’t want to leave him in Lisbon. We want him to feel this relationship with his teammates and everything is important in his recovery," he explained.

Daniel Bragança was also discussed at the press conference, with Amorim commenting on his midfield dilemma.

“It is difficult to choose one of the three midfielders, out of Hjulmand, Morita and Bragança, but Bragança has reached another dimension. He is a different player and he has the ability to play for the national team. For me, he is a starter, but sometimes I have to rotate the central midfielders, because everyone can play and it is a position that does not worry me at all."

When asked about the replacement in consideration for the injured Pedro Gonçalves, he played his cards close to his chest.

“We will play according to what we want from the game, in order to create more problems. There will be a player there ready for the challenge,” he assured.