A 3-0 triumph over the Spanish side is spearheaded by Pedro Gonçalves

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Real Sociedad 3-0 at the Estádio do Algarve in the final friendly of their preseason training camp.

Before the opening whistle, a tribute was made to former Sporting CP and Real Sociedad players Carlos Xavier and Oceano (for professional reasons, Sá Pinto could not be present).

The game was a good test against a side who will play in the Champions League next season. The main interest for Sporting CP was whether Gyokares would play for the first time since signing for the club, and his debut proved that he was strong, fast and instantly on the same wavelength as his teammates. The icing on the cake was the goal that he scored on 20 minutes, after a great move by Sporting CP that started with a ball from Pedro Gonçalves to Ricardo Esgaio, a cross from the right winger and a deflection that was met by Gyokeres in the box to finish.

Sporting CP were playing with three defensive players (Gonçalo Inácio, Coates and Matheus Reis), with the wingers (Esgaio and Nuno Santos) high up the pitch and two central midfielders handling the ball (Morita and Pedro Gonçalves). Marcus Edwards operated on the right side and up front, Gyokeres and Paulinho formed the strike partnership.

Esgaio would come inside on several occasions, and from one of these situations he was perfectly assisted by Pedro Gonçalves to provide a two-goal advantage before half an hour had elapsed.

They would come close to a third goal before the break, as Edwards had a shot in the area intercepted by a Real Sociedad defender, but ended the first half 2-0 to the good.

In the second half, Sporting CP's superiority continued to be well established, and in a great move by Nuno Santos on the left, a shot by Pedro Gonçalves made it 3-0.

A harsh decision by the referee led to Leonado Barroso being sent off, and Real Sociedad tried to use the numerical advantage, but were denied three times by Antonio Adán.

There was no change in the scoreline and Sporting CP's 3-0 victory over Real Sociedad had some magnificent individual and collective lessons to take away. This Sunday they play against Villarreal CF at the Estádio José Alvalade in the Trofeu 5 Violinos.

The countdown to the start of the campaign continues

Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to training on Wednesday morning, preparing for the game against FC Vizela which will mark the first step in the 2023/2024 Liga Portugal season. 

The squad are scheduled for another session at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday, under coach Rúben Amorim, behind closed doors.

The team work on fitness and skills in a hot session in Lagos

In their Sunday morning training session, Sporting Clube de Portugal continued their work ahead of the match against Real Sociedad, scheduled for 8:30pm local time this Tuesday.

Ball work took centre stage, with goalkeepers Antonio Adán, Franco Israel, Diego Callai and Francisco Silva working with coaches Jorge Vital and Tiago Ferreira,and the remaining players in the squad training fitness and skills under an intense heat.

The friendly against Real Sociedad precedes the last day of the training camp in Lagos, where the squad will be put through their paces on Monday.

The midfielder returns to action after an injury-hit year

Having been unable to compete for a year due to a serious injury suffered in the preseason for the 2022/2023 campaign, Daniel Bragança is back to full fitness and featured in the entire second half of the game against KRC Genk.

Speaking to journalists, he expressed his satisfaction with the way the preseason is going so far. “It has been a very good comeback. I was missing the adrenaline that you get in games a lot. I felt really good. Everyone knows what I went through, and it's about forgetting about that a little."

"Regardless of whether there are new dynamics in the team or not, we are absorbing everything the manager wants and trying to do things in the best way. We want to get to the start of the season in good form," he added, explaining that psychologically he has also overcome the most difficult part of his return.

"I feel that I came on and I didn't even remember the injury."

The midfielder had positive words for the fans present in the friendly which is yet another stimulus for hard work. 

“I felt this affection. In fact, I felt it many times during my time on the sidelines and I am grateful for that. I hope the fans are at maximum strength to help us this season. 

Bragança is motivated for the new season, and driven by the display of confidence in him conveyed by the coach and the club, since he recently renewed his contract. “The coach gave me motivation, after a difficult year that I went through. This gives me the courage to face the new season and I'm another player available to help," he concluded.

Sporting CP and KRC Genk meet in the Algarve

As part of their preseason training camp in the south of Portugal, Sporting CP drew 1-1 against Belgian team KRC Genk at the Estádio do Algarve in their first game in front of spectators this summer.

It took just ten minutes for the team to open the scoring, with Youssef Chermiti beating a defender for speed and technique down to the right, serving up a pass into the area for Francisco Trincão. The attacker skilfully rounded goalkeeper Maarten Vendervoodt and tucked the ball into the net.

In a highly mobile system, in which the defenders sought to build from the back and creative freedom was afforded for the players further upfield, Sporting CP moved the ball around safely and carefully and also played penetrating passes.

In a game that was picking up intensity, KRC Genk threatened an equaliser with a dangerous shot by captain Bryan Heyen, then levelled on 25 minutes through Alieu Federa.
The contest reverted to Sporting CP putting together good combinations and dangerous moves, with Afonso Moreira on the left shooting off-target from a narrow angle on the half-hour.

In the second half, Daniel Bragança came on early to replace Morita. The left-sided midfielder wasted little time in making an impact, with careful passing and the creation of chances.
Trincão had two good opportunities to put Sporting CP back in front, as well as Afonso Moreira striking over after a good connection with Pedro Gonçalves.

Trincão enjoyed a better opportunity just ahead of the hour, with a left-footed shot that required Vandervoordt to make his best save of the night. It was part of an excellent phase for Sporting CP, who only lacked finishing. Chances for Afonso Moreira and Chermiti followed, and Trincão managed to isolate himself after a pass through by Jovane, but struck wide.

A shot over Franco Israel but onto the crossbar was the only occasion of danger for KRC Genk in the second half, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

On July 25th there will be another friendly at the Estádio do Algarve, against Spanish side Real Sociedad.

The team will spend 12 days in Lagos

Sporting Clube de Portugal have begun a 12-day training camp in the Algarve, in the city of Lagos, where they will play a series of preseason friendlies as well as preparing for the 2023/24 campaign.

Rúben Amorim has taken the following players to the south of Portugal: Antonio Adán, Matheus Reis, Jeremiah St Juste, Sebastián Coates, Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Gonçalves, Viktor Gyokeres, Marcus Edwards, Nuno Santos, Franco Israel, Luís Neto, Dário Essugo, Francisco Trincão, Youssef Chermiti, Paulinho, Geny Catamo, Daniel Bragança, Gonçalo Inácio, Ousmane Diomande, Diego Calai, João Muniz, Ricardo Esgaio, Eduardo Quaresma, Chico Lamba, Jovane Cabral, Mateus Fernandes, Tiago Ferreira, Afonso Moreira and Francisco Silva.

The two friendlies will be played on Wednesday, July 19th, against KRC Genk from Belgium, and on July 25th against Spanish side Real Sociedad. Both matches will take place at the Estádio do Algarve.

Sporting CP play Estrela da Amadora and CS Marítimo

The preseason schedule continues apace at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, and on Friday the team played two preparation games at the training facility. Os Leões won both, beating CF Estrela da Amadora 4-1 and CS Marítimo 3-0. The matches featured two 35-minute halves.

In the morning, a strike from Jovane Cabral and a hat trick from Youssef Chermiti earned the first win. To take on Estrela da Amadora, coach Rubén Amorim fielded Antonio Adán, Matheus Reis, Sebastián Coates, Hidemasa Morita, Marcus Edwards, Nuno Santos, Dário Essugo, Youssef Chermiti, Ricardo Esgaio, Jovane Cabral and Mateus Fernandes, as well as giving minutes to Viktor Gyökeres and Chico Lamba.

In the afternoon, they bested the Madeirans thanks to two goals from Francisco Trincão and a goal from Geny Catamo. Diego Calai, Pedro Gonçalves, Luís Neto, Francisco Trincão, Paulinho, Geny Catamo, Daniel Bragança, Gonçalo Inácio, João Muniz, Eduardo Quaresma and Afonso Moreira were starters, and Franco Israel and Tiago Ferreira would also come on.

The only absences were Jeremiah St. Juste, who undertook gym work, and Ousmane Diomande who, due to a fever, did not participate in the session.

The squad now move on to the Algarve, where they will carry out their preseason training camp. The first session in the south of Portugal is scheduled for Sunday morning.

The striker joins the club on a 5 year contract

Sporting Clube de Portugal have signed Viktor Gyökeres on a contract through to 2028, with a €100m release clause set for the Swedish international.

The 25-year-old striker, who scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists in 50 games last season for Coventry City as the English side reached the Championship playoff finals, expressed his delight with the move in his official presentation.

"It's a fantastic feeling. I've been waiting for this opportunity and it's great to have everything confirmed and to finally be here. I'm very happy", he told the club's official media.

"Lots of great players have played here and Sporting CP produce a lot of good players as well. The club has a lot of history and when I heard about their interest it was an easy choice to make. I had other options, but I felt that Sporting CP were the team that were most interested in me and when someone wants you, it means they like you a lot and will take care of you. This was the best option".

Previously of IF Brommapojkarna in Sweden, Brighton & Hove Albion FC in England, German side FC St. Pauli and Welsh team Swansea City, Gyökeres described himself as a "strong, fast striker who likes to score goals", explaining that "I try to attack and go towards goal as much as I can when I receive the ball. I also try to create chances for my teammates as well".

After his first training session with his new teammates, he praised the atmosphere in the dressing room and at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, adding that he had also enjoyed seeing the Estádio José Alvalade in person.

"It was good to be able to see the stadium, even though I had seen it before in photographs. It was good to be there and see what it's like, and I can't wait to play there".

"I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the stadium when we play, and I hope to see you very soon", he said in a message to fans.

The team train in their second week of preseason

Sporting Clube de Portugal began their work plan for the week on Monday morning, at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo in Alcochete.

At the beginning of this second week of preseason, Rúben Amorim welcomed back Hidemasa Morita, who arrived later than the rest of the squad due to his having been away with the Japan national team.

Tuesday is a rest day, followed by a return to work on Wednesday.

The players work on ball skills in a morning workout

This Sunday, Sporting Clube de Portugal continued their preseason work at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo with another training session.

As has been customary this summer, the players responded to what was asked of them by the coaching staff with focus, commitment and the utmost effort. The session centred around skills.

Called up by coach Rúben Amorim was 18-year-old fullback Leonardo Barroso.