Jorge Jesus ahead of Sunday's hosting of Sp. Braga

Sporting will host Sp. Braga at 16h00 this Sunday, on Liga NOS matchday 16. On the back of wins against FC Porto (2-0) and V. Setúbal (6-0), Jorge Jesus sees this as his side's best spell of the season.

“We will be taking on an excellent team. One of the best in Portugal in fact and they have already beaten us. It is a club that is making a name for themselves both on and off the pitch. They have their own objectives and a team with a lot of quality that will make life difficult for us tomorrow. It will be one the same level as the game against FC Porto here, for example", opened the Sporting coach in a pre-match press conference on Saturday evening, adding: "We are ready for those difficulties. We will try to play at the level we have been at, to defend first place with a win. Obviously Braga will have other intentions, but we are feeling confident. The fans will be with us again and that will help us get over this hurdle."

There is little doubt that Sporting are currently on-song, with two convincing Liga NOS wins. For Jorge Jesus, this is certainly his team's best form of the campaign so far: "Over the course of the season, teams go through different periods. It is only natural that Sporting go through a strong spell now and I have already said that we will be stronger in the second half of the season. These last two games are our best form of the season so far. This is the last game of the first half of the season and, whatever the result, Sporting will be in first at the start of the second half of the season. It has been a brilliant season so far, spectacular in every way, from the quality of how we have been playing to the points we have."

Asked about the possible debut of Marvin Zeegelaar and Bruno César's stellar performace against V. Setúbal, Jesus explained: “Bruno César, as well as being more of a forward player, already knows me and those are two positive things. His relationship with the team makes it easier. He has been working with us for a month and that made it easier for him to come on and play with the quality he showed. Marvin has been with us for a week. He is a defensive player and that makes it a bit tricker if you are looking to attack, but with time he will fit in, like Schelotto."

After brushing off temptation to add to a war of words with Rui Vitória, Jorge Jesus commented on Julen Lopetegui's exit from FC Porto: "No coach likes to see a colleague in that position, but that is not my decision to make. I hope that he gets back into work as quickly as possible, because every coach always want to be involved."

Marcelo Boeck

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Marcelo Boeck for the renewal of his contact, valid until 2018 with an additional optional season and a buy-out clause of 45,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Marcelo Boeck the best of professional and personal success.

Speaking after penning the deal, the Alvalade keeper was in a happy mood: "I am really satisfied with the confidence shown in me by the coach and the president. It is recognition of my work and this is a great time to be at Sporting. To be part of this is good for me. This contract is down to four and a half years of work at the club. It represents a lot of dedication to Sporting. This is like my home now and it is where I have spent a big part of my life."

Sporting-Sp. Braga at 16h00 on Sunday

Sporting Clube de Portugal will host Sporting Clube de Braga at 16h00 on Sunday the 10th of December.

More than 35,000 fans have already secured their seat for what is the last game of the first half of the season. Ticket offices will open from 10h00 to 20h00 on Friday the 9th of January, with non-renews Special Seats also on sale.

The Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices will also be open from 14h30 on matchday.

Jorge Sousa named for Liga NOS matchday 17

Jorge Sousa, 40, from the Porto Football, has been named to take charge of Sporting's Liga NOS matchday 17 hosting of Sp. Braga.

Bertino Miranda and Álvaro Mesquita will act as linesmen.

This will be Sousa's third time in charge of a Sporting match this season, following the Super Cup (1-0 against Benfica) and the Portuguese Cup fourth round (2-1 against Benfica).

In total, the Porto Football Association official has refereed 15 matches in Liga NOS, II Liga, the Portuguese Cup, League Cup, Super Cup, Champions League and Europa League so far this season.

Sporting-Sp. Braga will get underway at 16h00 on Sunday the 10th of January, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Bruno César on his dream debut in Setúbal

Bruno César made a dream start to his Sporting career this Wednesday night with two goals and an assist for Slimani. Speaking at the final whistle, the Brazilian preferred to focus on the collective performance: "I played well, just like the whole team did. Our objective was to win, to play well and to stay at the top of the league. I am happy to have helped the team. It was a good debut for me, but the most important thing was the win."

Although his side now extend their lead to four points at the top of Liga NOS, César played down thoughts of silverware come May: "I don't think we are the big favourites. We in first and we always go for the win, but we will take each match as it comes. We are focused, but we will keep our feet firmly planted on the ground. Nothing is won yet."

Jorge Jesus on his side's 6-0 win in Setúbal

It was mission accomplished for Jorge Jesus in Setúbal this Wednesday night. Speaking in a flash interview at the final whistle, the Alvalade boss reaffirmed his intentions of staying on top of the Liga NOS pile.

“We played well. The difference in goals gave us more confidence. We played against a good team and it isn't by chance that Vitória were in third with one more goal scored than us even. We wanted the three points and if by a decent margin then even better, but it still just means three points", said the Sporting coach, adding: "This isn't the best we have played. We have had harder games than this and showed the same quality. We played really well and nobody can take that away from what the team did today. We wanted to defend first place and that meant winning here today. We came here expecting a hard game and sometimes things end up being easier than you think, which is what happened, but let me say that Vitória were not as good as usual today because we covered the space well."

Jorge Jesus finished with a word on Bruno César's debut, as well his current outlook on the Liga NOS table: "He (Bruno César) is a player who is good enough for a big team and I saw that. thankfully we got him. We have played 16 matches and their are still a lot to go. This team doesn't have the experience of being in first or of winning the league like FC Porto and Benfica do. We are finding out way. You don't create a mentality in six months, it takes years, but fortunately things are happening quicker than I expected."

Sporting put six past Setúbal, with Bruno César debut double

Sporting dished out an absolute thrashing of Vitória de Setúbal this Wednesday night, with braces from Slimani and Bruno César and strikes from João Mário and Alberto Aquilani securing a 6-0 win. With FC Porto also held to a draw by Rio Ave, the team from Alvalade now extend their lead at the top of Liga NOS to four points.

With Bruno César handed his debut, João Mário down the right and Bryan Ruiz again featuring off Slimani in attack, Jorge Jesus' made it clear early on that Lukas Raeder was going to be given a busy night in the hosts' goal. Slimani has the first chance of the encounter with a header that lacked power and Ruiz followed up with a decent opportunity after a cross by Bruno César knocked on by Adrien, but the Costa Rican's shot was deflected over.

It really looked like just a matter of time before the evening's opening goal and Slimani obliged in the 18th minute, converting on a cross from Bruno César after Jefferson released the Alvalade newcomer down the wing. Sporting set up camp in the Setúbal half and chances naturally followed, next with Paulo Oliveira pulling a stop out of Raeder with a shot following a corner.

Bruno César, who had already done his fair share on his debut by setting up Slimani's opener, began what would go on to become a dream start in a sporting shirt with a goal of his own, after João Mário linked up with Slimani charging forward. Possession ended up with the Brazilian and he obliged with a great strike three minutes before the break.

Vitória introduced Vasco Costa to the action alongside Suk in attack (in place of Paulo Tavares), but the change did little to alter the hosts fortunes against a rampant Sporting. In the 52nd minute Slimani struck again, heading in after some brilliant team play and a pinpoint cross from Bryan Ruiz.

The third goal finally broke the Setúbal's resistance and Sporting turned on the flare. Next on the scoresheet was João Mário, bursting away down the left and into the middle, leaving defenders trailing and finding the net from range. Not to be outdone, Bruno César again struck (61') with another unstoppable leftfoot from the edge of the area.

With the win comfortably secured, Jesus made the most of the dying stages to bring on Gelson, Aquilani and Matheus Pereira (for Bruno César, Adrien and Bryan Ruiz, respectively). However, not even the change in personnel slowed down the Alvalade attack and after Slimani saw his hattrick denied by Lukas Raeder's instinctive save, it was the recently introduced Italian who rounded off the scoring with five minutes left on the clock, beating the keeper with a classy finish after João Mário had danced his way into the area.

Tickets snapped up in just four hours

Jorge Jesus' pre-match press conference ahead of trip to V. Setúbal

While accepting that his side will face a tough trip to Setúbal this Wednesday evening, Jorge Jesus was in an affirmative mood in his pre-match press conference this week, setting out his objective of staying on top of the Liga NOS pile for as long as possible.

“It will be difficult, not only because of the quality of our opponent, but also because of how their fans get behind their team. However, we are back in first place and we want to defend that and we will play to win like we always do. I won't say a lot about possible changes. We have made some in the Europa League, but of course we might do it again and that is my way of playing", opened the Alvalade boss, going on to speak about Vitória, recent praise for him from the opposition coach and the likely state of the pitch: "Vitória are having a good season. We all like to be ready for our critics, in the good and the bad times, and I think I have contributed to Portuguese football. The Vitória coach is doing that as well, just like other coaches who have welcomed new ideas. The hardest thing for us will be how V. Setúbal approach the game, as well as the quality of some of their individual players. I don't know how the pitch will be and I don't know if Vitória have trained there or not. I know that Quim Machado, the Vitória coach, would like to have a good pitch as well, because we both play good football and it will be harder if the pitch is full of holes.”

In parallel, Jesus dismissed the suggestion of added pressure brought by topping the league table: "First place doesn't bring any pressure or extra responsibility. We had the goal of getting into first and we were for a while. We lost it for one match and now we are back in first. We are on the right track, amongst Benfica and FC Porto. We have shown in the first third of the season that we have what it takes. Tomorrow is a tough step, but we want to carry on where we are."

To finish, the Sporting coach commented on Teo Gutiérrez, as well as rumours of a search for a defender during the transfer window: "As well as Slimani I have Montero and Tanaka up front. Teo is authorised to be what he is doing and what matters are the players I have available right now. He will be back at the end of the week and we will go into the next third of the season with him. Tobias has been a true professional and he has shown a lot of respect for the club. Even when he wasn't ready, he tried his best to help. Speaking about possible signings isn't worth it right now, especially because we have players in the B team if we need them."

V. Setúbal-Sporting will kick off at 20h15 tomorrow in Estádio do Bonfim, Setúbal.

Alvalade reinforcements now officially registered

Marvin Zeegelaar and Bruno César are now officially registered with the Professional Football League and and could be used tomorrow against Setúbal.

The former Rio Ave and Estoril stars had already been officially unveiled as Alvalade reinforcements earlier this season.

V. Setúbal-Sporting will kick off on Tuesday the 6th of January at 20h15, in Estádio do Bonfim.