Sporting in cruise control on Champions League matchday 2

Sporting CP outclassed Legia Warsaw on Champions League matchday 2 this Tuesday night, securing 3 points with a 2-0 win to put the pressure on group leaders Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.

The game actually got off to tense start for Jesus's side, with Legia looking to show that they had shaken off the matchday 1 thrashing by Dortmund (6-0) by venturing forward against what was expected to be a dominating Sporting.

However, the Polish visitor's resistance didn't keep up for long and as soon as Sporting turned up the pace, possession and opportunities followed. First to try his look was Bruno César with one of his usually audacious efforts from range (10'), followed by Adrien a minute later (11'). Bruno César was having a terrorising night going forward and in the 17th minute the stand-in midfielder picked out Bas Dost in the heart of the area, but the Dutchman's shot was cut out by Czerwinski as he raced back into position. One minute later, Gelson somehow managed to hammer a rebound off the underside of the cross bar and out to safety from little more than three metres away.

The first big cheer of the night came in the 26th minute, but it wasn't because the ball was in the back of the net, at least not in Alvalade. Over in England, former Alvalade hero Islam Slimani had opened the scoring against FC Porto and the news was enthusiastically welcomed in Alvalade.

Slimani's goal over a thousand miles away was the signal for Sporting's opener, when Bryan Ruiz popped up at the far post (28') for a goal that had been coming pretty much since the opening whistle.Bas Dost has a couple of opportunities to double the lead with a header wide (32') and an effort cut out by Rzezniczak (35'), before it was third time lucky for the Dutchman with a shot that sent Malarz the wrong way.

With the result essentially guaranteed, the rest of the encounter was largely just management for Sporting, as minds turn to a generally tough encounter with Guimarães at the weekend.

Jorge Jesus highlights the importance of coming encounters with Dortmund

"The win gives us a chance of qualifying, knowing that we are fighting against two really strong teams. Legia lost 6-0 and didn't look like a quality side in the first match, but that isn't true", said Jorge Jesus in his post-match press conference on Tuesday night, going on to analyse the encounter in further depth: "We scored in the first-half and managed the game in the second. In the Champions League there is no point chasing another goal. We were looking to keep possession and that takes aggression out of the game, which is normal."

Asked where he watched the game from, having been sent off against Real Madrid on matchday 1, Jesus revealed: "I spoke with Raúl José during training in the week and I told him everything I had to say. It is even harder to watch the game when you aren't on the bench. We will see on Saturday after Guimarães if the lads are tired, but obviously the added responsibility of these matches takes energy as well. "

In relation to Real Madrid's and Dortmund's draw, the Sporting coach affirmed that he would have preferred to see the points go to the Spanish capital: "If you asked me I would have preferred that Real Madrid had have won, because they will almost certainly qualify. The other place will be between Borussia and Sporting CP. Our next two games will be crucial for who qualifies, but we can't put Legia out of it yet. We are closer to Real Madrid and Dortmund now and the next two matches will be important."

Playfully asked what he thought of Slimani's strike for Leicester against FC Porto, Jesus finished: "Slimani did what he is used to doing which is scoring. He has grown a lot and he will continue to grow. He likes scoring against FC Porto and he did it again. I am not happy for him for scoring against FC Porto, but because he was my player. Whoever it is against I would be happy."

Jorge Jesus on Champions League matchday 2

Missing out in Real Madrid after such a brilliant performance was not easy for Jesus' team. However, the Sporting coach has had time to brush off the blow and prepare for Tuesday's hosting of Legia Warsaw in Alvalade.

"Legia are just as ambitious as we are and they think they can beat us. All we are thinking about is the three points. We know this will be a tough match against a really aggressive team who are quick on the break", opened the Alvalade coach in his pre-match press conference on Monday, adding a word on Polish football and Legia's loss to Dortmund on matchday 1: "The Polish league has evolved and the performances of the Polish national team is proof of that. A lot of good footballers have been produced in Poland and the match against Dortmund was not normal.

As for the Legia coach, Jacek Magiera, making his Champions League debut, Jesus had a light-hearted message of his own: "Obviously I hope that his first match doesn't go well and that he focuses more on Legia's next game in Poland."

André Filipe looks ahead to Tuesday's hosting of Legia Warsaw

André Felipe could make his Champions League debut this Tuesday, after scoring his first Sporting goal in Friday's 4-2 win against Estoril.

"It is an honour to be in this competition for Sporting and I am focused on helping the team. Every Brazilian player dreams of being in the Champions League and of course I would love for my first match to be a win", said André Felipe in a pre-match press conference on Monday, adding a word on his strike against Estoril: "It is the start of something that I really want to grow. Scoring gave me confidence and I want to carry on and make sure I am an option for the coach."

Sporting reminds fans of fines from UEFA for using pyrotechnic devices

Despite Sporting's excellent win against Estoril on Friday in front of more than 40,000 spectators, two young fans took it upon themselves to 'spoil the fun'.

Sporting CP stresses the damage that using pyrotechnic devices in the stadium can cause and the club will take the appropriate steps against anybody involved in such activity.

The use of such devices results in fines for Sporting from UEFA and puts the club at risk of having one of its stands or even the whole stadium closed.

Fines are also applied in national competitions and have a negative impact on the club's finances.

The two fans involved in the incident against Estoril have been identified.

Morning session open to the press for 30 minutes

As is normally the case before UEFA competition matches, this morning's training session was open to the press for 30 minutes.

Just after 9h30 Jorge Jesus led his squad onto the pitch, with 28 players taking part: Rui Patrício, Beto Pimparel and Azbe Jug; Jefferson, Paulo Oliveira, Ricardo Esgaio, Schelotto, Coates, Douglas, João Pereira, Marvin and Rúben Semedo; William, Adrien, Petrovic, Bruno César, Elias, Meli and Bruno Paulista; Alan Ruiz, Matheus Pereira, Gelson Martins, Markovic, Campbell, André, Castaignos, Bas Dost and Bryan Ruiz.

Gelson Martins on Sporting's return to winning form

Gelson Martins was once again the fire in Sporting's belly this Friday, this time with a superb performance out wide against an Estoril side that struggled to deal with the speedy youngster.

"It was a good win after two losses. We started well and we looked good for the most part. The fans really help us and they have stuck with us", said Gelson at the final whistle, adding a word on the coming Champions League hosting of Legia Warsaw: "We want the win, just like we always do."

Jorge Jesus praises his side's performance in Alvalade on Friday night

Jorge Jesus was understandably pleased with his side's 4-2 thrashing of Estoril on Friday night, although two last-minute Estoril goals could have been avoided.

"It was objective achieved for us and it was important to get the win. Losing always leaves you a bit shaken, but we made a really solid start in the first half an hour and it got easier in the second-half. It was looking really easy when we were 3-0 up, but we eased up a bit in defence", said Jesus in his post-match meeting with the press, adding: "Normally teams who work with me don't let in a lot of goals. We conceded two through a lack of intensity and discipline in defence."

Alvalade's new faces were also the focus of the Alvalade coach's analysis at the final whistle: "The lads who have arrived don't have the awareness or form of the others yet. You notice it a bit when we put the new lads in defence, but it has to be done. This is the same as the pre-season for three or four of the players."

Sporting CP put four past Estoril courtesy of Bas Dost (2), Coates and André

Sporting brushed off two consecutive defeats (Real Madrid and Rio Ave) in the best possible fashion this Saturday, with a convincing performance against Estoril that saw Jesus' side bag four goals.

The game got off to a more or less balanced start, but it wasn't long before Sporting took cntrol of the action with some high pressure and a defensive back line virtually playing in the Estoril half. It took just 13 minutes to break and concede after a move triggered by one of Gelson's blistering bursts down the wing and a pin-point cross that Bas Dost headed home.

Sporting would have been forgiven for easing off after the early strike, but Jesus' side had other ideas and kept turning the screw with some fantastic tackling and calm passing in midfield. Chances, however, were largely few and far between and Sporting took in just a narrow lead at the break. Jesus responded with one of his typically genius substitutions, bringing on André in place of Alan Ruiz with a move that started an avalanche of attacking football.

A deserved second goal came one minute before the hour mark, when Coates won the areal duel with the Estoril keeper to head in. It took just three minutes for Sporting to strike again, this time with William Carvalho picking out Bas Dost's serging run through the middle for the Dutchman to slot a cool finish from just inside the area. Sporting could have completely ran away with the result after Dost's second, but André came up painfully short of a pass from Markovic in the 73rd minute and William blazed his effort over the bar after sprinting the length of the pitch with the ball at his feet.

The last few minutes of the game brought with them their fair share of drama, starting with an 84th minute goal from Estoril through Bruno Gomes after a move down the right. Seconds later Bruno Gomes fired in his second after a lapse in defence, before André secured the three points just before the whistle after a pass from Bryan Ruiz.

The win moves Sporting into the Liga NOS top spot on 15 points.

Jorge Jesus more than aware of the difficulties posed by Friday's hosting of Estoril

After last week's slip up against Rio Ave (3-1), Jorge Jesus is confident that his side will be back in winning form this Friday against the visiting Estoril, on Liga NOS matchday 6.

"We are feeling confident going into the match, particularly with us being strong at home. Estoril are a hard team to play against for teams in Lisbon, but we will try to show the form we have been, especially at home, and if we do then we will be one step closer to getting the win. The objective is to get the three points", opened the Sporting boss, adding: "Every team is a reflection of its coach, both negatively and positively. Teams are the image of the person who leads them and we can't get away from that. Is there any coach that doesn't think that their team is the best? Of course I believe in my players.

Asked about any likely squad rotation, with a Champions League fixture awaiting next week, Jesus affirmed: "I have never been of the opinion that you shouldn't change a team just because it has won a match. I have never let that idea guide me. For me the most important thing is that we put the work in during the week and how the lads deal with that. A squad can always change based on what I think. Bruno César has been praised for various performances at left back, which wasn't where he played in Madrid. I said several times that if he doesn't play at left back then he he will play in another position. If there is any one of my players I am happy with then it is with him.

Despite Sporting having suffered two consecutive defeats, albeit one against Real Madrid, Jesus brushed off any suggestion of damage to his side's morale: "Of course it hurts whenever you lose. There is not such thing as a moral loss and losing against Rio Ave is the same as losing against Real Madrid. Of course it hurt us to lose in Vila do Conde and sometimes it can leave a mark, but sometimes it doesnt."