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.

The calendar for the first half of the season is decided

Sporting Clube de Portugal will start the 2023/24 Liga Portugal season at home to FC Vizela, on the weekend of August 12-13th.

The draw for the calendar was held this Wednesday, in Lisbon, and provided a repeat of the opening fixture of two seasons ago. Curiously FC Vizela were the final opponents for Rúben Amorim's side last season.

Sporting CP will travel to Estádio da Luz to face SL Benfica on Matchday 11 in the first derby of the campaign, whilst 'O Clássico' against FC Porto will be played at the Estádio José Alvalade on Matchday 14.
 
Liga Portugal Calendar - First Half Of 2023/24 Season
Matchday 1: SPORTING CP vs. FC Vizela (August 13)
Matchday 2: Casa Pia AC vs. SPORTING CP
Matchday 3: SPORTING CP vs. FC Famalicão
Matchday 4: SC Braga vs. SPORTING CP
Matchday 5: SPORTING CP vs. Moreirense FC
Matchday 6: SPORTING CP vs. Rio Ave FC
Matchday 7: SC Farense vs. SPORTING CP
Matchday 8: SPORTING CP vs. FC Arouca
Matchday 9: Boavista FC vs. SPORTING CP
Matchday 10: SPORTING CP vs. CF Estrela Amateur
Matchday 11: SL Benfica vs. SPORTING CP
Matchday 12: SPORTING CP vs. Gil Vicente FC
Matchday 13: Vitória SC vs. SPORTING CP
Matchday 14: SPORTING CP vs. FC Porto
Matchday 15: Portimonense SC vs. SPORTING CP
Matchday 16: SPORTING CP vs. GD Estoril Praia
Matchday 17: GD Chaves vs. SPORTING CP

Rúben Amorim oversees a workout at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo

This Monday, the Sporting Clube de Portugal squad held their second training session of the 2023/2024 preseason at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo in Alcochete.

The group have come back from their summer break with a demanding mindset and the utmost commitment, with the players improving their fitness and also undertaking drills with the ball -all under the watchful eyes of coach Rúben Amorim.

The squad will train again on Tuesday, behind closed doors.

The goal is selected by UEFA technical observers

Pedro Gonçalves' goal in the Europa League Round of 16 second leg against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London has been chosen as the best goal of the 2022/23 Europa League by the UEFA technical observer panel.

In the away tie, Paulinho recovered the ball in midfield and Gonçalves picked out a long range shot on goal, sending his effort over helpless Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and into the net from over 50 metres out. The 1-1 result allowed Sporting Clube de Portugal to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Sporting CP coach's verdict on the final game of the season

Following the 1-2 win in the season finale against FC Vizela, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim explained that he was pleased with the performance in the farewell to the 2022/2023 campaign, underlining that there were “good things” to take away from the game.

“Although we immediately conceded the goal off a transition, we maintained our way of playing. We were trying to find spaces in a team that sometimes held onto the ball in midfield, and we had that calmness to look for the best moment to attack. We didn't create many clear opportunities either because of the number of players that were around the area," he began by saying in his post-match press conference.

“It was one-way traffic. We used our defensive transitions very well and the victory ended up coming naturally. Obviously the winning goal came at the end, but we were the team that wanted to win most. It was a fair victory, we worked well and we kept our run of 14 games undefeated going, which is important," he stressed, before identifying what needs to be improved next season.

“We have to do better planning and work on the things we didn't do so well at the beginning of the season, both on and off the field. Then we have to be more consistent and not drop so many points at the start of the campaign as that creates a lot of anxiety, and take things a bit like we did in the 'old days': Game by game. From now on, we have to work to win the first game of next season and plan things, now that we have more time for all players to be prepared," he said.

"It is important for us to opt for stability and not deviate from the project. Even when things go wrong, the fans know that there is a project here and an idea for how we play. They have every reason to be dissatisfied right now, but they know we have a path to follow. If we stray from this path, then everything becomes worse. The coach has to make the team, in tight moments and when we have to win -which is every game- correspond in a different way on the pitch. We are going to work on that."

In closing, he was asked about the calendar for the 2023/2024 pre-season, revealing that “the players will get back to work at different times."

“Jeremiah St. Juste, for example, will return earlier, and those who go away with their national teams will return later, but not as late as usual as we need to start all together at least a week before going to the Algarve for our training camp. Everything is planned, and on the 2nd of July we start work."

Os Leões claim victory against FC Vizela on the road

Sporting Clube de Portugal ended the 2022/2023 Liga Portugal season with a 1-2 triumph away to FC Vizela, on the 34th and final matchday.

Rúben Amorim made a series of adjustments to his starting lineup for the game. Without Ousmane Diomande, due to suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, he fielded Matheus Reis on the left side of the defence, handed a midfield role to Dário Essugo, alongside Morita, and also returned Paulinho to the attack, along with Francisco Trincão and Pedro Gonçalves.

On a rainy night, FC Vizela took the lead early, striking just six minutes in through Osmajić off a quick counterattack. However, Sporting CP quickly took control, set up shop in the opposition half and got back on terms after 20 minutes, with a header by Gonçalo Inácio from a corner.

Os Leões dominated possession and had a series of approaches on goal, whilst their opponents looked to limit the space and hit on the counter.

Before the break, Sporting CP had two shots through Trincão and Nuno Santos that the opposition goalkeeper was forced to take action to keep out.

Upon the return for the second half, the match gained intensity -with both teams becoming more aggressive. In the opening moments, FC Vizela managed to recover a ball high up the pitch and crossed dangerously, with the ball cut out in the six-yard-box, followed by Sporting CP's response with Pedro Gonçalves shooting very close to the target.

Marcus Edwards was brought on for Dário Essugo, as Gonçalves moved into the midfield. Sporting CP took control again, but their crosses into the area were not very successful and it was difficult to break through the home team's solid defensive axis.

As the clock ticked down, Sporting CP increased the pressure and added some promising shots. First, Nuno Santos crossed low for Paulinho, whose knock towards goal was blocked by a defender, then Gonçalves hit a strong shot off target. Paulinho rounded off the chances with a weak header.

In the final stretch, just after the 85 minute mark, the team finally managed to score the winning goal. Gonçalves made his way up the left flank and crossed into the area, looking to find Paulinho or second half substitute Youssef Chermiti, but it ended up being former Sporting CP player Ivanildo Fernandes who turned the ball into his own net.

With a 1-2 win, Os Leões say goodbye to the 2022/2023 season with a run of 14 games undefeated in Liga Portugal, taking a total of 74 points, in addition to 71 goals scored and 32 conceded.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis, Ricardo Esgaio (Héctor Bellerín, 80'), Dário Essugo (Marcus Edwards, 56'), Hidemasa Morita, Nuno Santos, Pedro Gonçalves, Francisco Trincão (Youssef Chermiti, 80') and Paulinho.