Sporting CP surprised by Rio Ave with three first-half strikes

Jorge Jesus had issued the warning in his pre-match press conference: Rio Ave were going to close down the place more than Real Madrid. That is exactly what happened, with Rio Ave pressing high and putting in one of their finest performances to go in at the break with a staggering 3-0 lead.

The opening exchanges proved to be a reflection of the rest of the encounter, with the hosts pressing hard when Sporting took possession. A forced error from Rúben Semedo saw the defender scuff his clearance and Gil Dias broke away down the right wing and put the first chance of the evening across the face of goal. In response Alan Ruiz tied his luck from range down the other end, but Cássio was having a brilliant night in the Rio Ave goal and made one of a string of decent saves. It honestly only looked like a matter of time before Rio Ave's high-tempo play broke the Sporting backline and their goal came through Tarantini, after an excellent sprint forward by Roderick with the ball at his feet.

A reaction from Jesus' side was expected, but the midweek visit to the Spanish capital was still wearing hard on tired legs and wholes began to appear while clambering back to defend against Rio Ave's relentless counter attacking. Seven minutes later, Gil Dias beat the offside trap and set up Guedes for his side's second. With the team from Alvalade totally disorientated, Rio Ave made it three seven minutes later, again with Gil Gias turned playmaker and again with Guedes with the finish.

Attempting to salvage something from the evening, Jesus rang the changes at the break, bringing on Bryan Ruiz and Bas Dost for Campbell and Alan Ruiz. The substitutions did eventually make a difference and Sporting put together a chance a minute after the hour-mark, but Bryan Ruiz slashed his half volley to the wrong side of the post. The Costa Rican's shot triggered a better final half-hour from sporting and Bas Dost pulled a goal back, but it was too little too late after such a devastating first-half.

Jorge Jesus includes 19 for trip to Rio Ave

Jorge Jesus has announced his squad for Sunday's Liga NOS matchday 5 trip to Vila do Conde to face Rio Ave.

Squad list full:

1 - Rui Patrício 
2 - Ezequiel Schelotto
3 - Lazar Markovic
4 - Jefferson Moreira
7 - Joel Campbell
10 - Bryan Ruiz 
11 - Bruno César
13 - Sebastian Coates
14 - William Carvalho 
15 - Paulo Oliveira
16 - André Felipe
21 - João Pereira
22 - Elias Trindade
23 - Adrien Silva
28 - Bas Dost
34 - Beto Pimparel
35 - Ruben Semedo
77 - Gelson Martins 
99 - Alan Ruiz

Jorge Jesus expecting a strong Rio Ave on Sunday

Sporting CP will be back in domestic action this Sunday, facing a difficult trip to Rio Ave after a testing encounter against Real Madrid. For Jorge Jesus, his side have to now reset their sights on Liga NOS.

"Wednesday and tomorrow will be different stories. We have to fully focus on tomorrow. It is nice to hear people from the world of football praising us, particularly the Spanish press, but we have to keep our focus on Rio Ave now. Real Madrid defends one way and Rio Ave will defend another. We will have less space than we did on Wednesday. Every game in Vila do Conde is hard and this one will be as well", affirmed the Sporting coach, going to talk about how we is likely to manage his squad after such an exhausting visit to the Spanish capital: "The only way to manage the players to keep them at there best is to make a few changes here and there. We will train tomorrow as well and I will see how the lads are feeling. The players covered a lot of ground against Real Madrid, both physically and physiologically. Marvin and Bryan struggled to finish the match, so we will see."

Jesus also spoke about the two sending offs he has already received this season: "I think about everything involved in the game, but it would be hard for me to change. Its not me that's wrong, it is the bureaucracy involved in football. It seems like people want to change football into an opera, where we all have to be quiet. Football isn't like that, it is an emotionally charged sport. I am sure I will be sent off more, that is just how I am."

Bruno César looks ahead to Sunday's clash with Rio Ave

Bruno César was the player chosen to accompany Jorge Jesus to share his pre-match thoughts this Saturday, ahead of the weekend's visit to Rio Ave. For the Brazilian, who has been in absolutely storming form so far this season, his side will have to put their memorable showing against Real Madrid behind them if they are to claim the points against Rio Ave.

"We played really well against Real Madrid, but we have to change our focus now. We know how important the match in Vila do Conde is and it will be hard. We have four wins in four matches so far and we want to defend that run. It will be tough, but if we want to win the league then we have to win these matches", opened César, going on to reflect on the trip to the Spanish capital: "Scoring in the Bernabéu was special, completely different to anything I have ever experienced, but I was upset by the result. It would have been even better if we hadn't lost."

Bruno César reflects on his goal in the Bernabéu

The author of Sporting's strike in the Bernabéu on Wednesday night, Bruno César spoke with the press at the final whistle.

"We came here with the intention of going for the win. Everything went well until the last five minutes. We played really well and we showed what we are capable of. Now we have to focus on our coming matches. Of course we are upset, but we stood toe to toe against against a team you can't even compare. We can be proud of what we did", said the Brazilian.

Gelson Martins on Sporting's performance against Real Madrid on Wednesday night

Gelson Martins has been without doubt one of Sporting's star performers under the watchful eye of Jorge Jesus and he certainly didn't disappoint with his showing against Real Madrid.

Reflecting on his side's performance in the Spanish capital, the skillful youngster affirmed: "Of course the team if frustrated with the result. We started well and took control. We showed that we are not inferior and that we could have won. It was hard to take those two goals. We thought we controlled the game and had done enough to win. We trained hard for the game and we knew what we had to do. A win or draw would have been nice, but we still have a long way to go."

Adrien Silva praises his side and the fans for Wednesday's showing in the Spanish capital

The Alvalade skipper was the first voice of the Sporting dressing room to speak about his side's showing against Real Madrid, in a night that could have gone down in history as an unlikely win against the reigning European champion.

"It is hard to come away from the Santiago Bernabéu with a loss like this. After the way we played and the quality and personality we showed, with so many chances against a club like Real Madrid. We had the best chances and we fought really hard. Our fans were brilliant and that shows how together we all are", affirmed Adrien Silva.

Jorge Jesus reflects on his side's performance in the Spanish capital

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press after watching his side come just seconds from what would have been one of the most memorable victories in the club's history.

"It would have been a lot harder for Real Madrid if I would have still been on the bench in the final stages. We played really well against the European champion. All we were missing was a bit of experience in the Champions League. We were not playing against a team that ignores the little details and if you get distracted then anything can happen. We managed to completely block out their offensive game and we were really good up until the 85th minute, but then the substitutions took away from of positioning a bit. James Rodríguez coming on shifted our structure a bit and we didn't' have the experience to defend the result, but we can be happy with having only lost in the last minute", opened the Alvalade boss in his post-match press conference.

Jesus went on to praise his team's performance, having pushed the European champion to the limit: "We know what we can do, regardless of who we play against. Real couldn't get anywhere near our goal and they only did so through a free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo. We were really strong in defence and we played really well. The 5 or 6 thousand fans that travelled with us deserve to travel back to Lisbon feeling proud."

Coates looks ahead to Wednesday's visit to Real Madrid

Sebastián Coates was the player chosen to share his thoughts on Wednesday's visit to the European Champions in Sporting's return to the Champions League.

"Real Madrid are a great team and we will have to be focused and try to play to our strengths. We will see how it goes, but we will try to play our game. It doesn't matter who plays, we are all ready. I think we just have to take this competition one game at a time. We are going through a good spell now and we are full of confidence, so we will try and show that tomorrow", said the Uruguayan.

Jorge Jesus guarantees his side are ready for Real Madrid

Showing respect, but not fear. That was the challenge set out by Jorge Jesus in his Champions League pre-match press conference this Tuesday, ahead of a daunting visit to the reigning European champions.

“We have been drawn against the European champion for our first game, but that won't change how we play. We will respect Real Madrid like we do every team. We believe in the way we play and in what the team is capable of. We are ready for a hard game and we will also create our own problems for Real Madrid", affirmed the Sporting coach, before adding the inevitable word on Cristiano Ronaldo: "Cristiano is loved in Portugal, particularly by Sporting's fans. It was at the club that he grew up as a player and a person. We will have to pay attention to him, just like every other player. We don't have any special defensive focus on Ronaldo and we will play the way we always do, like we did against Moreirense."

To finish, Jorge Jesus thanked Zinedine Zidane for his complements, but did not pull his punches when it came to the match itself: "We know who we will be facing and we will show respect, but not fear. This is the strongest Real Madrid of the last few years, a lot stronger than before Zidane came in."