Ticket news for Liga NOS matchday 23

Tickets for Liga NOS matchday 23, between Estoril Praia and Sporting Clube de Portugal, will go on sale at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices (from 10h00 to  20h00) as follows:

WEDNESDAY | Club Members with a Gamebox 2016/2017
THURSDAY | Club Members
FRIDAY | General public

A valid Gamebox or Member card must be presented on the first two days of sale (January 2017 fees paid), with each card valid for 1 ticket. Each person may present a total of 4 cards.

Kick-off is scheduled for 18h15 on Saturday the 25th of February, in Estádio António Coimbra da Mota. Tickets are for the North Goal End and are priced at 12€ each. 

Adrien Silva

Following the injury sustained in the match Sporting CP - Rio Ave FC, the player Adrien Silva was evaluated by Sporting Clube de Portugal's medical department, with the following diagnostic:

Rui Patrício makes 400th senior apperance with brilliant display

He was the star of the show, making his 400th appearance and putting in one of his finest performances in the process.

"We all went out to get the win and that is what matters most. That is what we want to do in every game and that is how this club is. I had to do a lot tonight, but that is part of the game and we all do our best. The best way to celebrate was with the win", said Rui Patrício at the final whistle on Saturday night.

Jorge Jesus highlights the importance of keeping a cleansheet in Saturday's win against Rio Ave

Analysing Sporting CP's win against Rio Ave on Saturday night, Jorge Jesus accepted that Rui Patrício's performance was a key piece of the puzzle. "In the first 20 minutes Rui Patrício was decisive. During the week I told the lads that Rio Ave are a good team. They have some very good players. We had a bit of trouble stopping them getting forward and we gave away a bit of possession. We scored without doing much in attack, but that changed in the second-half. Rio Ave couldn't threaten us and only got close from dead balls. We were a lot better after Bryan Ruiz came on, because he is tactically a very intelligent player", said the Sporting CP coach.

Looking in greater depth at the encounter, Jesus added: “Three positive things changed in this match. First was getting the win and second was keeping a cleansheet. Finally, the fans were superb and were really important for us."

Patrício secures 400th apperance with fantastic performance

It was always going to be a magical night for Rui Patrício, celebrating his 400th senior appearance. However, the night is sure to be remembered for a string of absolutely brilliant saves by the Alvalade keeper in the first-half of the weekend's win against Rio Ave. At the final whistle, Patrício scooped an overwhelming 83% of the vote for Man of the Match.

Jorge Jesus had alerted of the dangers posed by this week's opposition, who proved extremely dangerous going forward. The first twenty minutes kept Patrício on his toes, which was finally relieved when Nélson Monte was introduced in place of the injured Lionn. A minute later, William Carvalho unlocked Rio Ave with a stroke of genius, releasing Gelson on the edge of the 18-yard box. The winger smashed a shot against the visiting keeper, but Alan Ruiz was on hand to tuck away the rebound.

The goal was the perfect remedy for Jorge Jesus' side and Sporting CP took control of proceedings, with Bas Dost proving particularly tricky for Rio Ave to secure. First Roderick denied the big Dutchman with a last ditch intervention (38'), before Dost latched on to a cross from Gelson and came close to capitalising (41'). Finally, another cross from Jefferson saw the Liga NOS top scorer again come close (42').

The second-half saw the introduction of Bryan Ruiz for Bruno César, in the first of three substitutions. Adrien was forced off with a knock and Alan Ruiz was eventually called to the bench. As the game died out Rio Ave struggled to find space going forward and the three points stayed in Alvalade.

At the final whistle Patrício was given a commemorative shirt by president Bruno de Carvalho.

Jesus names squad for Alvalade hosting of Rio Ave on Liga NOS matchday 22

1 – Rui Patrício
34 – Beto Pimparel
2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
4 – Jefferson
10 – Bryan Ruiz
11 – Bruno César
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
20 – Luc Castaignos
23 – Adrien Silva
28 – Bas Dost
35 – Rúben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
56 – Daniel Podence
66 – João Palhinha
77 – Gelson Martins
99 – Alan Ruiz

Jorge Jesus looking forward to the weekend's hosting of Rio Ave

Sporting CP will host Rio Ave in Alvalade this Saturday, on Liga NOS matchday 22. For Jesus, the weekend's action promises its fair share of difficulties.

"We have been getting better and better lately. Our match against Rio Ave will be complicated. They are a good team who are well organised in defence and with good players up front. Rio Ave want to play football and they know how to do it. Obviously we will be trying to make sure they can't and we want to boss the game for the full 90 minutes, not just for one half like we have been. It won't be easy and no game is in this league", opened Jesus, going on to speak about João Palhinha, Francisco Geraldes and Daniel Podence: "Out of the three Palhinha has played most and he even started one match. Each one of the lads has different characteristics and each has different opportunities. Adapting to the way we play isn't easy."

Jorge Jesus went on to speak about what will be Rui Patrício's 400th appearance: "Rui's story at Sporting CP is all about big numbers and 400 is an interesting milestone. I read his interview this week and he wants to carry on winning titles. Of course he wants to break records, but what he wants most is to win titles. He has grown a lot, thanks to his belief and hard work. Goalkeepers get better as they get older and Patrício will be no exception to that."

To finish, the Alvalade coach highlighted the importance of stringing together a series of good results: "We are used to having to win. We don't want to win four straight matches, but more like eight, nine or ten, like we did last season. We have to find ourselves and look to the future. Sometimes it has been our fault, but sometimes it hasn't. We have to reflect on what has happened and come out stronger next season. Last season we were absolutely brilliant. It isn't easy to win 86 points and like I have said several times, that might not ever happen again."

Sporting CP striker scoops nomination after typically brilliant month

Bas Dost continues in unstoppable form in front of goal, with seven in just four games so far in 2017. Understandably, the big Dutchman picked up the Liga NOS Player of the Month award for January. Dost tallied 12.88% of the vote, ahead of Danilo Pereira (FC Porto) and his teammate Daniel Podence.

Jorge Jesus complements the impact of the latest Sporting Academy starlet

"This Moreirense side is really good. They beat FC Porto here and Benfica as well in the League Cup. They have some really quick players and it was a hard pitch to play on", said Jorge Jesus at the final whistle on Sunday night, after inspiring his side to a comeback with the introduction of Daniel Podence after the break.

For the Alvalade coach, his side were always likely to find winning form sooner rather than later. "Sporting CP has been improving. against FC Porto we played well and against Paços as well. We are still making a few mistakes in defence, but more on the individual level", said Jesus, before focusing more specifically on some of his players: "Alan Ruiz had a great game and young Daniel [Podence] coming on made a massive difference. He have us more width and mixed it up down the right flank. It was where our goals came from and this team will never concede a defeat. We had a great second-half, like we did against FC Porto. The difference today was that Casillas wasn't on the pitch."

Podence inspires Sporting CP to a hard fought comeback

It was in the 64th minute that Jorge Jesus took a gamble that triggered his side's fight back in Moreirense, when the Alvalade boss introduced Daniel Podence to the action. Although standing just 1.65m tall, this kid is packed with quality and the Moreirense defence could do little but chase the Sporting Academy graduate's shadow. On for Bryan Ruiz, Podence, who curiously made a name for himself on loan at Moreirense, picked up possesion from William Carvalho and skilled his way past three defenders, before hammering a shot against the post. His effort was not in vain, as the shot bounced back out into the path of Bas Dost for the finish.

The visiting fans erupted, as yet another Sporting Academy starlet lit the evening on fire. The goal really did lift Sporting CP, who had been trailing through an own goal from Bruno César and a touch of hesitation from Rui Patrício that gave away a penalty. It was Alan Ruiz who struck first for the team from Alvalade, grabbing his second Liga NOS of the season.

Of course Bas Dost had to get his name on the scoreboard, with the Dutchman now having tallied 17 times in 18 outings. The equaliser completely took the life out of Moreirense and give minutes later Schelotto linked up with Gelson Martins down the right and drove in a cross for Adrien Silva to complete the comeback.

Inácio's side did come close just a few minutes later to pulling the game level once again, but Patrício managed to tip Dramé's effort n the cross bar.

Next up will be Rio Ave on Saturday the 18th of February, in a 20h30 kick-of in Alvalade.