Jaime Marta Soares on the visit of the giants from the Spanish capital

A Sporting committee made up of Bruno de Carvalho, Luís Roque, José Quintela, Artur Torres Pereira, Rui Caeiro, Bruno Mascarenhas and Jaime Marta Soares hosted a special lunch for their Real Madrid counterparts this Tuesday, ahead of the evening's Champions League encounter.

Speaking about the relationships between Alvalade and the Santiago Bernabéu, Sporting General Assembly president Jaime Marta Soares affirmed: "Football is played on the pitch, but the level of respect between the two institutions and directors is really important as well. The way we were hosted in Madrid was brilliant and we had to repay that here today. This is a great moment between Real Madrid and Sporting CP...It isn't every day that that you play against Real Madrid and have the chance to see the best players produced here on display. Ronaldo is 'Made in Sporting' and the whole world knows him, just like Figo and the other 10 of our lads who won the European Championship with Portugal."

Madrid international relations director Emilio Butragueño on the relationship between the two clubs

Speaking with the press following an institutional lunch between Sporting CP and Real Madrid this Tuesday, The Spanish giants' head of international relations, Emilio Butragueño, reflected on the blossoming relationship being crafted between the teams from the two Iberian capitals.

"The relationship between Sporting CP and Real Madrid is fantastic. We are delighted to be here and Sporting CP are great hosts. These matches are a great chance to really strengthen the relationships between clubs and here are two big names who have to work together for the sake of football", said Butragueño, adding a word on the first-leg in Madrid: "Sporting CP played really well and put us under pressure. We had a bit of luck at the end, which you need on occasions like that. Of course the individual quality of some of our players helped a low as well. We are expecting something similar today, against a team that has to get something from the game."

Questions about CR7 were inevitable and the Madrid representative was happy to oblige: "Cristiano means a lot to us. He started here and he is really thankful to Sporting CP. He is always showing that. For him this will be a special night, but he is a great professional and I hope that makes the difference for us."

Rui Patrício preparing to face off against the world's best

Still beaming after celebrating 10 years defending the Alvalade goal, Rui Patrício was the player chosen to accompany Jorge Jesus in the press room, ahead of Tuesday's hosting of Real Madrid.

"We want the final result to be different to what happened in the Santiago Bernabéu. We showed what we can do in Madrid and we are capable of doing it again tomorrow, but all we want is the win", said the Sporting CP shotstopper, going on to talk about the prospect of facing Cristiano Ronaldo: "He is the complete athlete. There is nothing I can say against him. We can score a million ways and we will have to focus a lot of him. Every single one of us will have to do our best and we will do everything we can to get the win."

Jorge Jesus welcomes the challenge of a visit from the European champions

"We feel confident as well and I say that knowing we will be taking on the best team in the world. We believe in ourselves and since the draw we have been dreaming of qualifying for the next round", opened Jorge Jesus in his Champions League pre-match press conference this Monday afternoon.

Although the Alvalade boss is refusing to throw in the towel, with nothing else but a win capable of keeping qualification hopes alive, he does recognise that the odds are stacked against his team: "It has been getting harder, but we are still dreaming. Our intention tomorrow will be to play as well as we did in Madrid, but of course it will be hard. Madrid know a lot more about our team now. Playing in front of our fans will give us that extra bit of passion, but for Real Madrid it doesn't mean much and that is why they are the best. Everyone knows where they are at their best, they have the World Player of the Year and best goalscorer."

Tomorrow also promises to be the stage or a battle between Cristiano Gelson. For Jorge Jesus, this is the perfect opportunity for the Alvalade starlet to show what he can do against the world's best: "He (Ronaldo) is really strong right now in terms of goals. His talent is all down to how professional he is and the passion he shows for the game. When he finishes his contract with Real Madrid he will be 37 or 38. It would be great if he came back home with the same passion, but for now all we an do is imagine it. Gelson will have a shot in the Champions League to show what he can do. The game will be broadcast around the world and the lad will have his chance. Everyone in Portugal already knows who he is and the rest of the world will as well, similar to what happened with Figo. Of course him and Figo are different, but that doesn't mean they can't follow the same path."

Squad out on the Sporting Academy training pitch before facing European champions

Just over 24 hours before hosting Real Madrid in Alvalade, Jorge Jesus had his squad out on the training pitch for a session that president Bruno de Carvalho also took part in. A total of 27 players were available, with only Spalvis out through injury.

Jorge Jesus will be as near as he ever will be to full strength tomorrow when his side takes on the Galácticos, with only a win enough for his side to continue dreaming of a place in the Champions League knock-out stages. 

Sporting shotstopper celebrates a decade in the Sporting CP senior team

It was exactly a decade ago today, on the 19th of December 2006, that Rui Patrício stepped in for the injured Ricardo and Tiago to make his senior team debut. It really was a special night for the Alvalade hero, as he pulled off a penalty save in the 75th minute to guarantee the three points for his team. Now, 387 matches later, Patrício is 6th overall in terms of most games played in a green and white shirt.

"I remember the win, because we won of course and because it was my starting debut. It is a special night for any player and we call dream of getting into the first team. Ten years ago I made by debut and I am still in the team. I am really proud of that and so are my friends and family that have always supported me", said Patrício in reflection on a decade of action. 

Patrício's teammates of course didn't let the day go by unnoticed:

Jorge Jesus back with full squad in preparation for Champions League showdown

Just a few hours after Sporting CP put five past Praiense in the Portuguese Cup 4th round, Jorge Jesus had his squad out on the training pitch early doors in preparation for next week's hosting of Real Madrid.

Jorge Jesus this time had all of his players available, with everybody now back after international duty.

Beto makes Alvalade Sporting CP Alvalade debut

Beto made his first start in Alvalade this week, in Sporting CP's win against Praiense.

"It was my debut in a Sporting shirt in this stadium. I had already played here as the opposition though, unfortunately. I was a really passionate moment for me. We let in a really good goal early on, but we responded well. We played seriously and competitively and I am proud to have made my debut", said Beto at the final whistle, adding: "This match was a good opportunity to to give a few minutes to some of the lads who have been playing less and that is how we find out form. We showed respect for Praiense and that reflects well on the lads."

Jorge Jesus praises his squad's Portuguese Cup performance on Thursday night

Jorge Jesus sat down with Sporting TV after his side's Portuguese Cup win this Thursday, in a match which saw the Alvalade boss rotate the majority of his squad.

"We pretty much conceded right at the beginning of the match and that gave Praiense a lift. After that we slowly took control and they couldn't keep up the pace physically. I thought it was a really enjoyable game and we showed a lot of quality in terms of positioning. After the break I just told the lads to carry on, but we were having a bit of a hard time finding space at the back. It became a lot easier as soon as we started scoring", opened Jesus, going on to reflect on the performance of what was a very different starting line-up: "We have 24 or 25 players in the squad and we have to believe in all of them. If we do, then there are certain times when everyone will get their chance. A few of the lads really responded well today I thought. André came on well and he is a good goalscorer. He is a bit different to some of the other players and doesn't get on the ball that much, but when he does he scored. He reminds me f Liedson and I hope he shows some belief in himself."

To finish Jorge Jesus looked ahead to next week's hosting of Real Madrid: "Everybody wants to be in the squad and everyone wants to see the match, which is why the stadium will be full. We will be facing the best team in the world, the European champion, and we will have to be as good as we were in Madrid."

Sporting CP cruise through Portuguese Cup fourth round after scoring five

Sporting CP took another step down the long road to Jamor this Thursday night, with a 5-1 win against Praiense in the Portuguese Cup fourth round.

Despite the evening starting with a brilliant goal for the team from the Azores courtsy of Filipe Andrade, a bit of patience soon resulted in an avalanche of attacking football that the lower league visitors could do little to stop. Paulo Oliveira restored the deadlock with a 21st minute header, before Matheus Pereira saw his close range finish ruled out for offside four minutes later. Praiense had a chance to pull ahead again three minutes later when Stebh cut in from the right, however Ricardo Esgaio managed to get back and put in a last minute clearance ahead of Filipe Andrade at the far post.

The first-half started with a goal for Sporting, when Luciano Serpa brought down Bruno César for a spot kick converted on by Adrien. The goal triggered wave after wave of forays forward and it was Bruno César himself who next found the back of the net, rounding off a superb collective move three minutes after the hour mark. It was also a memorable night for André Felipe, who came off the bench for Luc Castaignos and struck just a minute later, before finding a second with two minutes left on the clock.

A final word must of course be said for Francisco Agatão's Praiense, who battled the ods in an entertaining game of football worth of a cup tie.