Portugal to face Hungary and Greece in Euro qualification

Rui Jorge has included Tobias Figueiredo and Gelson Martins in his under-21 side, along with the on loan Sporting player Iuri Medeiros.

The 23 called up are: André Moreira, Bruno Varela, Rui Silva; Edgar Ié, Fábio Cardoso, João Cancelo, Rafa Soares, Nurio, Rebocho, Ruben Vezo, Tobias Figueiredo; Bruno Fernandes, Francisco Ramos, Rony Lopes, Raphael Guzzo, Ruben Neves, Tomás Podstawski; Bruma, Gelson Martins, Gonçalo Paciência, Gonçalo Guedes, Iuri Medeiros and Ricardo Horta.

Speaking after releasing his squad list, Rui Jorge took the opportunity to speak about Mauro Riquicho, who would certainly have featured if it were not for a serious injury: “We were counting on having him with us and we all wish him the best. I won’t wish him a quick recover, because that kind of injury needs time and the important thing is that he is okay.”

Portugal will host Hungary on the 8th of October in Penafiel’s 25 de Abril Municipal Stadium, before travelling to Greece for a 16h30 kick off on the 13th.

National squad to face Denmark and Serbia

National coach Fernando Santos has included two Sporting players in his squad for the encounters with Denmark and Serbia, on the 8th and 11th of October respectively.

Rui Patrício and João Mário are the Alvalade duo who will feature, in a squad comprised of 24: Anthony Lopes, Rui Patrício, Ventura; Cédric, Nélson Semedo, Bruno Alves, José Fonte, Luís Neto, Ricardo Carvalho, Eliseu, Fábio Coentrão; Danilo, Miguel Veloso, Tiago, André André, João Moutinho, João Mário; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Danny, Nani, Rafa, Éder and Ricardo Quaresma.

Portugal will host Denmark on the 8th of October at 20h45 in The Braga Municipal Stadium, before travelling to Serbia for a 18h00 (local time) kick off on the 11th.

Rui Costa named for I Liga matchday 8

Rui Costa, 39, from the Porto Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting’s hosting of V. Guimarães, on I Liga matchday eight.

Miguel Aguilar and João Silva will act as linesmen.

Sporting-V. Guimarães will kick off at 20h30 on Sunday the 4th October, in Estádio José Alvalade.

William and Matheus on Thursday's Europa League encounter

William Carvalho and Matheus Pereira both put in solid performances in Istanbul this Thursday, in a dominating Sporting showing that deserved the three points.

“We played well. We did really well in the first-half and we knew they would come back at us in the second-half. They created chances, but the fair result would have been a win for us”, said William, going on to add: “We did slip up when it came to finishing, but we have been training hard and goals will come.”

For Matheus Pereira, only the win would have made better on his senior debut. “We didn’t get the result. I am happy to have played and all I am sad about is the result, because we had chances and we deserved it”, said the younger, finishing: “The coach told me to just to what I do with the B team. I know that I have to work hard, because nothing is guaranteed.

Jorge Jesus reflects on draw with Besiktas (1-1)

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press after his side’s draw with Besiktas this Thursday, to reflect on what he saw could have easily been a different result.

“I wouldn’t say we were missing a bit of luck, but we were missing a bit of experience. We had a lot of young lads playing and you can see the difference at certain key moments in this kind of competition. We played really well and it was a brilliant first-half. In the second-half we expected Besiktas to react, but we knew we would carry on creating chances. We didn’t kill the game off, but we were playing against a really good team. The lads deserve a pat on the back for how thy played”, opened the Alvalade boss, adding: “Before the game and looking at the group, I would have said that a draw wouldn’t have been bad, but I am a bit unsatisfied with it now because we could have won.”

Jorge Jesus went on to speak about the individual performances of William and Matheus, who made his senior debut: “William showed his usual quality. He played really well and although he is young he has a lot of experience. I wasn’t expecting him to play as well as he did or for him to play the 90 minutes. Matheus did what he could against a strong team in a hard place to play, but he will develop and I am happy with him.”

Sporting held to draw in Turkey

Sporting were held to a 1-1 draw by Besiktas in the Turkey this Thursday, on Europa League Group H matchday two. Although currently in third in the group standings, the result reignites Sporting’s hopes of securing a place in the next round.

The first-half was completely dominated by the team from Alvalade and the first chance of the evening fell to the debutant Matheus Pereira, before Teo Guitérrez pulled a brilliant stop out of the Besiktas keeper, Zengin.

Jorge Jesus’ side did a superb job of exploiting the host’s weaknesses in what was probably one of the best displays so far this season and the inevitable goal came in the 16th minute through Bryan Ruiz, after a Matheus cross from the right that saw the Cost Rican drive in a powerful right footed shot.
The result could well have sapped the pace of the game, but Sporting kept up the pressure and continued to build chances, with Teo in particular having clear opportunities to extend the lead in the 20th, 32nd and 37th minute.

The second-half was much of the same in the opening exchanges and it wasn’t long before chances again fell on the Besiktas goal, but Teo was unable to capitalise on a tantalising sprint by Carlos Mané. Adrien was introduced for Matheus five minutes before the hour mark, which essentially saw Sporting tie down control of possession but lose speed going forward.

Completely against the run of play, Besiktas pulled level in the 61st minute from their first real opportunity and the harsh blow saw Sporting allow their Turkish opposition to get a foothold for a spell, before rallying in the dying stages and again pushing forward to create some dangerous probes forward. Gelson Martins was introduced late on for Aquilani and the youngter could have sealed the win in added time, but the encounter proved destined for a draw at the final whistle.

The result sees Sporting occupy third place with one point, behind Lokomotiv Moscow (six) and Besiktas (four).

Portuguese Cup third round on the 18th of October

The Portuguese Cup third round draw has handed Sporting a visit to Vila Franca de Xira to take on Vilafranquense, in a calendar that will see every I Liga side play away from home.

“Every opponent deserves respect. Sporting can’t think about anything but winning the competition again this season”, said Sporting SAD representative Sancho Freitas at the draw.

Draw in full:
Loures (CNS))-Boavista (I)
União-Rio Ave (I)
Vianense-Benfica (I)
Leixões-Arouca (I)
Gil Vicente-Tondela (I)
Sanjoanense-Académica (I)
Coruchense-V. Setúbal (I)
Varzim-FC Porto (I)
Penafiel-V. Guimarães (I)
Ac. Viseu-Sp. Braga (I)
Naval-P. Ferreira (I)
Mosteirense-Nacional (I)
Gondomar-Estoril (I)
Sertanense-U. Madeira (I)
Lusit. Lourosa-Marítimo (I)
Vilafranquense-SPORTING (I)
Olhanense-Belenenses (I)
Desp. Aves-Moreirense (I)
Operário-Salgueiros 08
Farense-Rio Tinto
Trofense-Pedras Rubras/Santa Clara
Coimbrões-Fafe
Casa Pia-Oriental
Amarante-Bragança
Louletano-Desp. Chaves
Cova da Piedade-Alcanenense
Malveira-Praiense
Angrense-Torre Moncorvo
Atlético dos Arcos-Caldas
Pampilhosa-Portimonense
Famalicão-Feirense
Leiria and Marrazes-Benfica Castelo Branco

Alvalade boss speaks ahead of Thursday's Europa League encounter

Jorge Jesus met with the press this Wednesday night ahead of his side’s trip to Turkey to take on Instanbul, on Europa League Group H matchday two.

“(Besiktas) are a strong team who are in first in the Turkish league. They are a quality opponent who have players who are known in Europe, like Sosa and Mario Goméz. It will be a hard game, but we believe in ourselves and we will play our type of football, without forgetting that our focus is on the league”, affirmed the Alvalade coach in the Turkish capital, before revealing that he may make some changes to his anticipated starting XI, with a difficult encounter with V. Guimarães just around the corner: “Some players will be used tomorrow who weren’t with us against Boavista, because we have a really important match against V. Guimarães and we won’t have time to do anything but recover. I have to think about both matches, so we will rotate the squad.”

Jesus also spoke about the return of William and Ewerton to his list of available players: “Ewerton is with us here in Turkey, because we didn’t have anyone else available to play at centre-back, but he still isn’t at level that William is. William played against Boavista and we will try and give him as many minutes as possible. He is a great player in his position and the team will benefit from his return.”

Information for fans travelling to Istanbul

Sporting Clube de Portugal will face Besiktas on Thursday the 1st of October, on Europa League matchday two to be played in Istanbul’s Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadi.

The following information is made available for all Club Members and fans travelling for the match:

- Sporting fans will gather Istanbul’s central square (Sultanahmet Square).

- Sporting, together with the local authorities, will provide buses for fans wishing to travel to and from Sultanhmet Square and the stadium.

- The meeting of Sporting’s fans will be supervised by the local authorities, with buses leaving the meeting point at 17:00.

- Fans can arrive earlier to the meeting point, as restaurants and other services are available.

- The area of the stadium for Sporting fans is the South Entrance.

- The area for 1st class tickets is the west stand.

- A Sporting representative will be available at the stadium for all logistical issues.

President Bruno de Carvalho with the press on Saturday night

The Sporting president spoke with the press on Saturday night, leaving a message for the fans and reflecting on the weekend’s chance to move clear at the top of I Liga:

“Firstly, I want to thank the thousands of Sporting fans who came here. We felt like we were playing at home and we should be proud of that. It is a really important that it continues to happen.

Secondly, it is important for us to reflect on how we think the fans are feeling. We are disappointed with the result, but we have to understand that the season is a marathon and not a 100m sprint. We will fight for the title to the end and we believe in the work we are doing. We need the support of our 12^th man and I am sure you will all be there with us.

There are also a few things I would like to share with you. I haven’t reached three years with the club yet, but this game has taught me things that the fans should know, because football looks like it is constantly changing.

Firstly, I was sent off at the end of the game. In the preparatory meeting, which I always go to, the refereeing team, namely the main referee, said that he didn’t want to stand out too much going on and off the pitch. At the game, I walked up to him and told him that for someone who didn’t want to stand out, he had in fact stood out too much. I was sent off. I learnt then that you can say whatever you want in the preparatory meeting, because it isn’t taken seriously and you can always do the opposite.

Secondly, I learnt that humility is not a characteristic to associate with referees. Some people think you need an ego the size of the world to be a referee, instead of being humble. I learnt that touching somebody’s back can rule out a goal, but pulling several players back in the area isn’t a penalty. It is an important change in the rules of the game and it isn’t worth getting upset about, because it is a rule now. I also learnt that brutal tackles and tackles from behind will not be disciplined. That is another new rule in the game. A player stops the ball with his hand then gets upset because he wasn’t given a free-kick, then runs after the player who supposedly fouled him and kicks him isn’t sent off. I also learnt that it is worth wasting time, because it isn’t the referee’s job to stop that happening, but rather to passively look at everything. A player can also be exactly where he should be for a substitution, knowing that he is coming off, but then go to the 18-yard box and then come back to be substituted. That isn’t punished and it is normal.”

Asked about the absence of Carrillo, Bruno de Carvalho responded: “We would only miss Carrillo if he had taken a refereeing course. What we are talking about here is the new rules of football.”

Relative to the naming of Artur Soares Dias to take charge of the weekend’s encounter, the Alvalade president added: “I don’t think it was strange and I have to say that I have a lot of consideration for Artur Soares Dias. I learnt a lot and I am upset, but I have to start changing how I think about the game, or I will always be upset. The rules changed and nobody told us, but maybe we can use the General Assembly tomorrow to explain the rules to the fans so they don’t criticise the referees.”

Confronted with a possible suspension, Carvalho responded: “If I am suspended, maybe I will go on holiday, because I have learnt a lot of new rules and I need a rest.“