Octávio Machado on the lack of punishment for Benfica

Octávio Machado gave a hard-hitting press conference following Sunday's Liga NOS fixtures, in what were the last of the season.

"Penalties are only against Benfica after the 95th minute, when they are already winning 5-0. It happened in the first match against Estoril when it was 0-0 and it happened again today, against Nacional. In the last match of the season, the decisive match, another penalty was not given when the game was 0-0", said Sporting's director of football.

Jorge Jesus proud of his team as Liga NOS campaign comes to a close with 4-0 win in Braga

Jorge Jesus paid a fitting tribute to his team and the fans in his post-match interview this Saturday, after watching Sporting dismantle Braga on the last game of a season taken right down to the wire.

"We did what we had to do throughout the season. It was a real show of the power and quality of this squad. We had to win and that is exactly what we did. It is never easy here, especially to win 4-0", opened Jesus, adding: "The best doesn't always win. The best was Sporting."

The Alvalade boss of course could not close the season without a word for the fans: "They supported us right up until the last second. It isn't natural for a team to win 86 points and not be champion."

Jorge Jesus includes entire squad for Liga NOS climax

Coach Jorge Jesus has named all available 27 players to form his squad for this Sunday's visit to Braga, on Liga NOS matchday 34:

Squad list in full:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Azbe Jug

Defenders: Schelotto, Naldo, João Pereira, Jefferson, Ewerton, Ricardo Esgaio, Sebastián Coates, Paulo Oliveira, Ruben Semedo, Tobias Figueiredo and Marvin Zeegelaar

Midfielders: William Carvalho, Alberto Aquilani, Adrien Silva, André Martins, João Mário, Bruno Paulista and Bruno César

Forwards: Carlos Mané, Gelson Martins, Matheus Pereira, Bryan Ruiz, Teo Gutiérrez, Hernán Barcos and Slimani

Sp. Braga-Sporting CP will kick- off at 17h00 on Sunday the 15th of May, in the Braga Municipal Stadium.

Alvalade midfielder scoops Players' Syndicate award

João Mário was named as the Professional Football Players' Syndicate Young Player of the Month for April this week, tallying 18.36% of votes cast to finish ahead of Diogo Jota (Paços de Ferreira) with 12.98% and Renato Sanches (Benfica) with 10.79%.

The results are based on the vote of members of the Players' Syndicate, as well as journalists from A Bola, O Jogo and Record newspapers.

It was actually João Mário's second award in two days, after winning the Player of the Month award attributed by Liga NOS coaches and fans through Samsung's official website.

V. Setúbal with almost 44 thousand spectators

This season has not only been fantastic on the pitch, but off it as well.

On Saturday night, against V. Setúbal, Estádio de Alvalade hosted a total of 43.827 spectators. The packed crowd saw this season's average break the 40k mark, more specifically an average of 40,017 fans over the 17 Liga NOS matches played in Alvalade this season.

Liga NOS race goes right down to the wire after 5-0 win against V.Setúbal

Not even a day of torrential rain in Lisbon was enough to stop Jorge Jesus' side dismantling V. Setúbal this Saturday, with a clinical display of finishing that saw Gelson Martins, Byan Ruiz and Teo Gutierrez tally up a total of five games between them. The result moves Sporting to the top of Liga NOS, with Benfica still to play against Marítimo on Sunday.

More than 43 thousand fans braved the weather to pace out Alvalade for the last home game of the season and it wasn't long before their dedication was rewarded, with Sporting almost instantly on the attack. First it was Slimani raining down his usual havoc up front, forcing Ricardo into two early stops in the Setúbal goal. Coates looked to have put Sporting ahead with a looping header from a corner, but Ruca somehow managed to clear off the line. However, the desperate defending was only delaying the inevitable, as Bryan Ruiz picked out Gelson Martins at the edge of the box, for the speedy winger to break through and dink the ball over the isolated Setúbal keeper after 25 minutes.

The goal only encouraged Jorge Jesus' charges to force home their dominance and 12 minutes later the ball was again in the back of the next. This time it was William Carvalho with the key pass, after bringing possession out of midfield and setting up Teo Gutierrez for the finish. Slimani could have made it three seconds before the break, but the big Algerian was denied by a fine save by Ricardo.

The second-half was, of course, much of the same. The visitors proved completely incapable of even putting a dent in Sporting's attack and the scoreboard again began to tick over. Teo had a glorious chance denied in the 55th minute by a Setúbal defender who tracked back to block hit shot, but Gelson Martins did the business with well placed finish after a break away instigated by Adrien and a classy pass from Slimani. With the result all but secured, Jesus brought off Slimani for Marvin. Setúbal were wrong if they thought the substitution would ease their defensive worries, as Sporting pushed for a fourth. Vasco Costa was rightly shown a second yellow card for a foul at the edge of the box and to add insult to injury, Bruno César's wire-guided cross was converted on by a typically brilliant Bryan Ruiz finish.

Barcos was also given a run out for Gelson Martins and he could well have scored a goal of his own after controlling well inside the 18-yard box, had it not been for Ricardo pulling off the best save of the night down low to his right. There was however still time for Ruiz to grab his second, this time with a cheeky free-kick through the wall that the Setúbal keeper didn't even react to.

Jorge Jesus on his side's 5-0 win against V. Setúbal

Jorge Jesus was understandably pleased with his side's 5-0 victory against V. Setúbal this Saturday, in what was Sporting's eighth consecutive win.

"We played really well again and I would say we are in our best form. The speed of and movement of this team is really hard to stop", opened Jesus at the final whistle, going on to add a word on João Mário's absence: "We waited right up to the last minute to see how we was, but we were a bit worried about risking him. Luckily Gelson Martins played really well and scored two."

As for the title race, Jesus was clear: "Sporting is the best team in the league."

Gelson Martins scores twice in 5-0 win

Gelson Martins repaid Jorge Jesus' confidence with a brilliant showing in Sporting's 5-0 thrashing of V. Setúbal this Saturday, in the last home game of the Liga NOS campaign.

"We started well and controlled the game from the start. We scored and that helps the team", said the youngster in an interview with radio journalists at the final whistle, adding a comment on his place in the starting line-up: "I am happy. Every player trains so that they can make the most of opportunities and that is what I did. We have done our bit and now we will wait and see."

Jorge Jesus ahead of the last Liga NOS home fixture of the season

Estádio José Alvalade will host the last home game of the season this weekend, as Sporting take on V. Setúbal on Liga NOS matchday 33, at 20h45. With the season coming to boiling point, Jorge Jesus is expecting a tough challenge from a team that put on a solid showing against Benfica.

“This will be a typical game for Sporting in Alvalade. It will be hard and we will be facing a team who played really well against our rival. We will only win this is we play at the level we have been at recently", explained Jorge Jesus, before reflecting on the season run-in: “We have two finals to go and we have one to win tomorrow. That is all we are focused on. We are ready for V. Setúbal's strengths, particularly their organisation in defence."

In relation to the fight for the title, Jesus dismissed the edge given by playing before Benfica: "Both teams have been under pressure throughout the season. Who ever places first doesn't make a difference. Of course things can influence the game, but that isn't one of them. This is the first time most of these players are in with a chance to win a national title and I have to say, the lads have shown a lot of class. We are in our best form right now and we have to keep it up."

Activities for the fans around Estádio José Alvalade

The area around Estádio José Alvalade is sure to attract the fans this Saturday, with the club organising demonstrations of various sports, as well as opportunities for fans to try for themselves.

Various regional food stands will also be open on the day, ahead of the opening of the turnstiles at 19h15.

Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as sales are progressing quickly and the match is expected to sell out.