Sporting CP dominate with the help of an inspired Joel Campbell

Sporting CP turned in a convincing 3-0 win against Arouca this Sunday night, with a classy display that could well have finished with a more expressive result.

It was never going to be an easy night against a Arouca side that were always going to dig in, but an 8th minute strike from Bas Dost opened up the encounter and paved the way for what was a comfortable win.

Jorge Jesus rang the changes for the opening whistle, handing a start to Joel Campbell. The move proved to be a masterstroke, with the Costa Rican a constant headache foe the visitors with his moves in from the left flank. It was Campbell himself who scored Sporting CP's second (55'), rounded off with a cross for Bas Dost's second (69'). Despite the one-sided result, Adrien actually missed a penalty (64') just before Sporting CP's third goal, but his slip up was brushed off with a wave of songs around the Alvalade stands in tribute to the Sporting CP skipper.

Information from Sporting's medical department

Sporting CP's medical department has released the following clinical information:

Lukas Spalvis
Recovering from knee surgery.

Bruno Paulista
Recovering from dental surgery.

Jesus announces Liga NOS matchday 10 squad

Squad to face Arouca at 20h15 on Sunday:

1 - Rui Patrício
2 - Ezequiel Schelotto
7 - Joel Campbell
10 - Bryan Ruiz
11 - Bruno César
13 - Sebastian Coates
14 - William Carvalho
15 - Paulo Oliveira
20 - Luc Castaignos
21 - João Pereira
22 - Elias Trindade
23 - Adrien Silva
28 - Bas Dost
31 - Marvin Zeegelaar
34 - Beto Pimparel
35 - Rúben Semedo
77 - Gelson Martins
99 - Alan Ruiz

Jorge Jesus expecting his side to rediscover their winning form against Arouca

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press this Saturday to speak about the coming hosting of Arouca. "What we have to do in relation to our last match against Tondela is show our usual quality and turn in three points. Every match is important and this one is no exception. The fans are used to good football and we have to get back into that habit", opened Jorge Jesus, going on to answer a question on his side's recent slip down the table: "It is always a case of zero tolerance for us. The most important thing is to start showing the quality football that we did during the first five matches of the season. We didn't do well against Tondela, but the draw was harsh for us. It isn't enough to just sit here and talk about it, we have to do the business on the pitch."

Sporting will be hosting Arouca while Benfica travel to FC Porto, opening up the possibility of closing the points gap to the league leaders. Jorge Jesus however proved more focused on the task at hand: "Firstly we have to focus on our own match. We are depending on other results, but the other teams are depending on our results as well. There is not point speaking about our rivals when we have to play against Arouca on Sunday. We know we haven't been doing well and we have to overcome that now. We spoke with the lads during the week about it."

The return of Adrien Silva from a spell out with injury of course comes as a relief for the fans as well as the Alvalade coach himself. "Adrien being out isn't the only reason behind recent results. It was also down to some other individual characteristics of players who aren't here anymore. Adrien brings quality, but he also brings attitude and an understanding of the game. That guides the players around him, but we can't expect him to be 100% tomorrow after being out for so long."

Adrien Silva looks ahead to Liga NOS matchday 10

Back in action after a spell out with injury, Adrien Silva proved confident in relation to his side's chances of securing three points against Arouca this weekend, on Liga NOS matchday 10.

“Above anything else, our objective is to win. We aren't happy with ourselves right now, but we have what it takes to turn things around. The lads are still thinking the same way they were and I am sure we can do it", said the Alvalade skipper in an interview with Sporting TV, adding: "If the boss wants me to play then I am ready, but no player can do anything on their own. We have to stick together."

Surprising line-up deserved more in Signal Iduna Park

Although fielding five in defence, Sporting CP certainly didn't sit on the back foot in Signal Iduna Park, in a quest to guarantee Champions League continuity against Borussia Dortmund. It was a very much surprising starting eleven from Jorge Jesus, with Paulo Oliveira slotting in along side the usual pairing of Coates and Rúben Semedo, while Castaignos came in for Bas Dost. The final result was far from the objective, but Sporting CP did put in a battling performance that deserved better.

With Jesus and Tuchel both having mixed it up for the Champions League showdown, the game started with a chance in both 18-yard boxes and it was the first first effort on goal that dictated the final result. Ginter managed to find a yard of space down the right and float a ball in for Adrian Ramos, who got the jump on Paulo Oliveira and headed past Rui Patrício in the 12th minute. Sporting CP responded down the other end of the mark and Gelson Martins broke through on goal after a superb spell of passing play, but the Alvalade youngster was unable to get the better of Burki.

The dying stages essentially saw Sporting CP finish with 10 men, as Schelotto struggled on. Bryan Ruiz had a chance to level with a header late on, but his shot was off target. Legia Warsaw's surprise draw with Real Madrid does leave a narrow window for Jorge Jesus's side to still quality for the next round, but the maths is stacked against Sporting CP going into the last two matches of the group stage.

Adrien on his return to action and Bryan Ruiz on Wednesday's loss in Dortmund

Adrien Silva made his long awaited return from injury this Wednesday, in Sporting's narrow defeat in Dortmund.

"It is always hard to come back after a few weeks out, but I am happy to be back with the lads. No player can decide a result on their own, this only works as part of a team and that is what we will carry on doing", said Adrien at the final whistle.

Also speaking with the press was Bryan Ruiz. "We did everything we could. We had a good came against a good team and all we were missing was a goal. We had chances and possession, but couldn't get the goal."

Jorge Jesus reflects on his tactical shake up in Dortmund

Despite Sporting CP narrowly missing out to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night, coach Jorge Jesus gave credit to his players for pulling off a surprise with a formation rarely seen by the team from Alvalade.

"You could see our plan as the game went on. We played really well against Dortmund, against a really good team, and we created a few chances. The strategy we put together worked. We knew we would have a good game and that the ball would do a lot of the work for us. In the first-half Gelson had two chances on goal, but when you don't score against a team of this quality you run the risk of losing. That is what happened and honestly it was a shame. We deserved at least a point and we believed we could do it, despite the quality of our group", said Jesus at the final whistle.

Castaignos shares his Budesliga experiences ahead of Borussia Dortmund showdown

Luc Castaignos, who last year was playing in the Budesliga, was the player picked to accompany Jorge Jesus for Tuesday's pre-match press conference, ahead of Wednesday's showdown with Borussia Dortmund.

"The team is feeling confident right now. We fought hard in our first game against Dortmund and we have come here to get a result. Honestly, we feel good about tomorrow. I played in Germany last year, including against Dortmund, and I think we will have to be at our best tomorrow. That is the only way we can get something our of this", said Castaignos, adding a word on Adrien's pending return to action after injury, as well as his experience so far in the Portuguese capital: "Everyone at the club loves him (Adrien) and we are happy to have him back. He brings a lot of experience to a young team...I have to keep working in training and I am confident that the coach will give me some playing time in the future."

Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on Wednesday's visit to Dortmund

Speaking at a press conference in Signal Iduna Park ahead of his side's encounter with Borussia Dortmund, Jorge Jesus brushed off any pre-match pressure with a dose of confidence in securing a good result.

"We don't have as much pressure on us, because of the group we are in. We are fighting for qualification against two teams who are theoretically stronger than us. We are trying to qualify, but we have to be humble enough to accept that Dormund are who have a bigger reputation on the European level than us", opened Jesus, adding a word on his belief in his players: "I fully believe in the squad, even though we haven't won in the past three matches. We know what we have to do and every good team goes through its highs and lows. The same thing is happening in the Bundesliga with Dortmund."

Looking ahead to the encounter and what is one of Europe's most intimidating atmospheres, the Alvalade coach said: "Borrusia aren't only a difficult opponent because of their stadium, but because they are a quality team. They are one of the best in the Bundesliga and Europe. They are really strong in attack and everyone has trouble stopping them. We will try to keep ourselves organised in defence."