The striker opens his account in a 0-1 win over Rio Ave FC

A maiden goal from Youssef Chermiti earned Sporting Clube de Portugal a 0-1 win over Rio Ave FC on Liga Portugal Matchday 19, as the young talent struck in the 84th minute on a cold night in Vila do Conde.

Opponents Rio Ave FC started the game in 13th place and, although they came into the contest after five league games without a win, they already showed their capabilities by beating FC Porto by 3-1 on Matchday 4.

Sporting CP had beaten SC Braga 5-0 in their previous fixture, and coach Rúben Amorim made only one change from the starting lineup from that game. Matheus Reis was brought in to replace Sebastián Coates, who had picked up a fifth booking of the season and was suspended.

The 18 year old Chermiti continued as starting striker in place of the also suspended Paulinho – serving the second of a three-game ban– and winter reinforcements Ousmane Diomande and Héctor Bellerín were part of the squad for the first time. They joined the returning Jovane Cabral on the bench.

After an even initial ten minutes, in which Luís Freire's Rio Ave FC were able to press harder, Sporting CP started to feel more and more comfortable on a fast playing surface, and started to take control of the ball. They alternated between trying to either give width to their play or find Chermiti up front.

Pedro Gonçalves found himself in a good position for the first shot of the game, which was blocked, and Hidemasa Morita, on the edge of the area, struck hard and wide after twenty minutes. However, despite Sporting CP's ascendancy, the home team remained organised and also tried to attack from transitions and corners.

A first half of few chances ended 0-0, but right after the restart it was Rio Ave FC who threatened for the first time: Boateng ran towards the area and only a huge stop by captain Antonio Adán prevented a goal.

In the 55th minute, Amorim brought on Francisco Trincão and Arthur Gomes, taking off Marcus Edwards and Nuno Santos -who was at risk of a sending off after picking up a yellow card. Around ten minutes later, Gonçalves came very close to scoring with a shot from outside the area that hit the crossbar.

Cabral's introduction for Ricardo Esgaio moved Trincão to the right wing, and there was a steady stream of approaches into the opponent's area, but Sporting CP found it hard to get through the organised Rio Ave FC defence.

Finally, in the 84th minute, an excellent diagonal pass by Gonçalo Inácio found Chermiti in space, and the young striker showed the necessary efficiency, lashing the ball into the net. It was the teenager's first goal for the Sporting CP first team, and was effusively celebrated by the players and by the approximately one thousand Sportinguistas in the stands.

Diomande and Bellerín both came on to make their debuts in a final stretch in which, despite the home team's efforts, Sporting CP held out for a second consecutive victory and a clean sheet.

Sporting CP remain in fourth place in the table, with 38 points. Next up, they play FC Porto in 'O Clássico.'

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK] [C], Ricardo Esgaio (Jovane Cabral, 75'), Jeremiah St. Juste, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Reis (Ousmane Diomande, 87'), Nuno Santos (Arthur Gomes, 55'), Manuel Ugarte, Hidemasa Morita, Marcus Edwards (Francisco Trincão, 55'), Pedro Gonçalves (Héctor Bellerín, 87') and Youssef Chermiti.

The Sporting CP coach looks ahead to the Monday night fixture

Sporting Clube de Portugal travel to Vila do Conde, home of Rio Ave FC, for a Monday night fixture on Matchday 19 of the Liga Portugal season.

Ahead of the game, coach Rúben Amorim warned of the quality that the opposition have been showing, recalling that in the last meeting between the two teams Os Leões did not have an easy task despite a 0-2 win.

“We are up against a team who play very well, who like to have the ball and who made life very difficult for us in the first 30 minutes of the Taça da Liga game. We used that game to prepare for this latest challenge, knowing that we have to put together a run of consecutive victories. It is important to keep going off the back of the victory over SC Braga," he began by saying in the press conference, before analysing 11th-placed Rio Ave FC.

“Sometimes they lose the ball because they always want to play out from the goalkeeper. They can play with Boateng and Aziz, who are very strong players. It is difficult to catch the two midfielders when they are very open, and we had difficulties there because it is difficult to cover all the spaces. It's going to be a tough game against a team that play good football."

“We have to be very intense and tire Rio Ave FC out, otherwise they will tire us out -despite the fact that we are in very good shape physically. One-on-one situations will be important, because we use two similar formations, and then we have to have an advantage because we are Sporting CP and we have the responsibility to win the game. It will be a very difficult match, against an excellent team and a coach who has won at all levels."

Amorim was asked about a possible starting role for winter reinforcements Ousmane Diomande and Héctor Bellerín.

“Bellerín is very intelligent, we know him and he has adapted well. He is used to tactical work and understands the game very well. As for Diomande, I am more and more confident that we made an excellent deal by bringing him in. He adapted very well from the first training session and is very strong with and without the ball, so I wouldn't choose anyone else. So much has been said about the price we paid, but I am very confident that we have a great player there. I will only give the starting XI tomorrow, but those two will be in the squad."

As for Youssef Chermiti, the 18-year-old striker who was in the starting lineup and performed well against SC Braga, the coach declined to reveal whether he will be back in from the beginning.

“Chermiti or another player could play. We are leaving it open," he replied coyly.

Even though Nuno Santos is at risk of missing O Clássico with FC Porto if he receives a yellow card, Amorim said that he will keep nothing in reserve.

"We will give everything, obviously. It's important not to say who the striker will be, but Nuno Santos will play. This is the most important game, and Nuno Santos will start. Taking into account what we want for this game, he will play and there will be no holding back."

The new signing speaks to the media

Héctor Bellerín gave his first statements as a Sporting Clube de Portugal player this Thursday, having joined the club through to the end of the 2022/23 season. The 27-year-old arrives from FC Barcelona to provide another option at right back for coach Rúben Amorim.

“Above all, coming to Sporting CP means a lot of happiness. From the moment I received the news that they were interested in me, I had a good intuition and felt a good energy from the club. I'm very happy to be here, and I really want to enjoy my football. Coming to the biggest club in Portugal is a very good option", he began by telling Sporting TV.

The defender, whose resume includes spells at Arsenal and Watford in the UK, as well as at Real Betis Balompié and FC Barcelona in Spain, revealed that he had spoken with Paulo Barreira, a physiotherapist for the team, before making his decision.

“I was with him at Arsenal FC and he was a bit of an intermediary between me, the coach and Hugo Viana. From the start I knew it was going to be a good thing, but he told me about how the club works and how it has changed in recent years. This, in addition to the good atmosphere that there is here and the desire to work. This had a big impact and I am very happy to be here".

“I had already played at the stadium with Arsenal, five years ago, but when you get to know the Estádio José Alvalade and the city you see how Lisbon breathes Sporting CP. I still have a lot to discover about the club, but I come here with a lot of desire to get involved in what it means to be a Sportinguista and enjoy it with the fans and the team".

The new No.19 has won several trophies already, including the Spanish Copa del Rey, three Cups in England and three English Community Shields, however he showed enormous desire to succeed in Portugal as well.

“I want to tell Sportinguistas that I have come to give everything and put in effort every day. I want to give a lot of joy to the members and supporters".

The coach talks about the 5-0 win

Sporting Clube de Portugal's 5-0 win over SC Braga had coach Rúben Amorim pleased with the showing from his men, as he explained in his post-match press conference.

"It was a game against a difficult team that played with three centre-backs, which was different to what we had prepared for, but it is a formation we are used to playing against. Scoring first helped us, as well as the crowd. We started the second half well, scored the goal and everything became easier with the sending off of their player. We controlled SC Braga well, created several chances and won fairly," he began by telling journalists at the Auditório Artur Agostinho.

Speaking about Youssef Chermiti, who made his first start for the club, the coach said that the striker "showed the characteristics he possesses."

"He hasn't been playing because he was injured, but he showed a lot tonight. He's going to improve a lot, as he's still very young. I'm very happy with him. He's a very confident kid, but he works hard. When those two things come together, you can only get a player with a bright future."

Commenting on Héctor Bellerín, a winter signing for the club who did not feature in the game, Amorim stated "he is an experienced player who has already played for big clubs. There is the prospect of him being able to stay and that is important. We have someone on the coaching staff who knows him well, and that's a help," he added, before talking about the experience that Sporting CP have been gaining.

"Big clubs have to win big games, but the most important thing is when we have to win every week. It's a difficult thing that players sometimes don't have. We have players with a lot of talent, but some don't grow with this."

On the subject of Ricardo Esgaio, who received applause in Alvalade for his performance, Amorim analysed that: "Esgaio needs to play. He has already shown quality at SC Braga and in his first season at Sporting CP. Pedro Porro being here made everything more difficult for him. There's no way to hide that he has had some games that weren't as good, which didn't help, as well as the results for the team. Today he played as he always does. Half of his performance is down to the fans. When a player feels supported, it's much better. Sportinguistas realized that they had to help Esgaio, because in doing so they are helping Sporting CP."

Finally, the coach also addressed the performance of Jeremiah St. Juste.

"In every moment of the game he shows a lot of quality. He needs several games. He didn't have a preseason and it was hard for him to get on the pace, but he is perfect for that position. He has offensive and defensive ability and is very fast, which is a determining factor. I hope not only for this from him, but also that he improves," he concluded.

Sporting CP impress with a 5-0 win at home

Sporting Clube de Portugal put in a stellar showing to beat SC Braga 5-0 at home, on Matchday 18 of the Liga Portugal season.

The team experienced three changes in the starting lineup for the midweek match, with Ricardo Esgaio chosen to replace Pedro Porro after the Spaniard's move to Tottenham.  Jeremiah St. Juste and Youssef Chermiti came in for Matheus Reis and Paulinho, respectively, on a cold night at the Estádio José Alvalade.

After a Banza shot saved by goalkeeper Antonio Adán, Sporting CP enjoyed their first chance through Manuel Ugarte, who shot wide off a deflection from a defender. Soon after, Marcus Edwards shot into the side netting, again with a touch from an opposition player.

From the resulting corner kick, Nuno Santos played the ball into the area, Jeremiah St. Juste headed on and the ball fell to Hidemasa Morita, who, on the turn, shot into the back of the net. It was the fourth goal for the Japanese player since joining the club, and put the team into an early lead.

Sporting CP continued well, threatening with attacks from Marcus Edwards and Youssef Chermiti -the latter reaching an excellent cross by Ricardo Esgaio with a header that Matheus saved.

Shortly after, it was Pedro Gonçalves who shot wide with another deflection. On the following corner, he created even more danger, and came close to scoring with a header.

Despite the high press from SC Braga, Sporting CP were calm in their buildup and dominated through to the end of the first half. The game went into the interval with Os Leoes 1-0 to the good.

The second half could scarcely have started better: In the first minute, Sporting CP made it 2-0. After a shot by Gonçalves that Matheus saved, Chermiti backheeled to Hidemasa Morita for the Japanese to complete his brace.

Life got even more difficult for SC Braga in the 49th minute, when Niakaté was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Sporting CP took advantage of the momentum to go in search of the third goal. Hidemasa Morita had two shots go just wide before, half an hour from time, Marcus Edwards found the net.

The Englishman advanced down the right and danced through the opposition defence, capping off a brilliant run with a confident finish past the goalkeeper. He now has ten goals to his name in 2022/23.

Coach Rúben Amorim started to change things, and Morita and  Ugarte were both withdrawn to be replaced by Mateo Tanlongo and Francisco Trincao. Another great opportunity followed, but Nuno Santos' shot missed the target by a question of centimetres..

Arthur Gomes, Matheu Reis and Fatawu came on, 15 minutes from time, for  Santos, Sebastián Coates and Edwards.

Adán prevented a consolation for SC Braga with an excellent save, and in the 86th minute, Sporting CP made it 4-0. Off a perfect short corner, Matheus Reis appeared outside the area to shoot into the top corner and bag his first goal of the season.

In stoppage time, Fatawu was brought down in the area, Gonçalves converting with the final kick of the game to complete a 5-0 triumph.

Sporting CP will next play on Monday, visiting Rio Ave FC.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Jeremiah St. Juste, Sebastián Coates [C] (Matheus Reis, 76'), Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio, Manuel Ugarte (Francisco Trincão, 63'), Hidemasa Morita (Mateo Tanlongo, 63'), Nuno Santos (Arthur Gomes, 76') , Marcus Edwards (Fatawu, 76'), Pedro Gonçalves and Youssef Chermiti.

The Spaniard will form part of the squad until the end of 2022/23

Sporting CP have completed the signing of Héctor Bellerín through to the end of the 2022/23 season. The 27-year-old fullback is a full international for Spain, and has experience both in his homeland and abroad.

After moving up through the youth system at FC Barcelona, the Spaniard moved to England to join Arsenal in 2012, featuring for the first team and also going out on loan to Watford and Real Betis.

Last summer he returned to FC Barcelona, playing seven games this season.

The defender joins on a full-time deal

Sporting Clube de Portugal have signed Ousmane Diomande to a first team contract. The 19-year-old central defender joins the club through to 2027, with a buyout clause of 80 million euros.

A native of the Ivory Coast, Diomande was on the books at Danish club FC Midtjylland, but had spent this season in Liga Portugal on loan at CD Mafra.

In 2022/2023, he played 17 games for CD Mafra, scoring one goal.

The coach previews the crunch clash with SC Braga on Wednesday night

This Wednesday, Sporting Clube de Portugal host SC Braga on Matchday 18 of the Liga Portugal season. Ahead of the game, Rúben Amorim gave a pre-match press conference at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo.

"We are expecting a very difficult game, and a different game to the one in the Taça da Liga, which had an abnormal result bearing in mind the difference between the teams," he told journalists.

"SC Braga are doing better than us in the league and they have more points. We are not satisfied with the results, but we are satisfied with the team's growth. I think we are playing better and better and the expectation is always to be the best. We are at home and we know that we will have the support of our fans. We have to impose our game and continue to play well, because things will change. It will be a tough game, but I hope that Sporting CP win."

Asked about Pedro Porro, whose transfer to Tottenham Hotspur was being negotiated on Tuesday, Amorim stated that "more than the professional relationship between us, there is a personal relationship. Our relationship is very close and he will be missed, but we are used to change in football -it's part of our lives. We will remain friends and I wish Porro the best of luck."

Asked if this is going to be an "all or nothing" match, the coach said that "every game has been, almost since the beginning of the season."

"At the end of the season is when we'll do the maths. The important thing is to keep playing well and keep a clean sheet again. If that happens, things will change. I'm excited about the team's growth, despite the fact that we know that the results determine the success of teams," he added.

"SC Braga have the great advantage of not having even half the pressure that the big clubs in Portugal have," he commented, before mentioning the transfer market situation for Sporting CP.

"The transfer figure for our most expensive player ever is that of a normal day at other clubs. When we are asked to fight for the same goals we have the same responsibility, but when we spend a little more money, people say that we are big spenders. It's difficult to understand, sometimes, the financial state of the clubs depending on how they want to portray the situation," he stressed.

With the absence of Paulinho, the coach said that "Youssef [Chermiti] could play, or a player with different characteristics."

As for the current situation for the club, Amorim explained that "It's a matter of pride. It is hard for everyone. It is hard for me to see my team in fourth place and failing to reach our goals. My motivation is much greater than at the beginning of the season. We have to improve every day and have a better second half of the season. You never know what can happen in the UEFA Europa League. We are Sporting Clube de Portugal, and there is no greater motivation than that," he concluded.

Sporting CP vs. SC Braga is scheduled for 9:15pm this Wednesday, February 1st, at the Estádio José Alvalade.

The coach reacts to defeat in the Taça da Liga final

Rúben Amorim expressed his disappointment with the defeat against FC Porto in the Taça da Liga final in his post-match press conference, explaining his thoughts on a match that featured a series of controversial refereeing decisions.

“What decided the game were the two goals. We conceded an unfortunate goal, but we had an excellent first half: We dominated, we created several chances, we didn't let FC Porto create too much and it was unfair for us to go into halftime behind," he stated.

"In the second half, there was only half of the period. After the sending off, the players lost it and the game ended there. Then we conceded the second goal when we tried everything to equalise, but it was already very difficult to press with one man less. I have nothing to criticise about how the players performed today. We played well, I think we were the better team in terms of our football, but it is what it is."

Questioned about the refereeing, the coach maintained his usual stance.

“I will not be commenting on the refereeing. You analyse the decisions, this is much more important. If I speak, you will talk about other things."

Despite missing out on the cup, Amorim insisted that the season does not end here, and spoke of the importance of unity. “Our aim is to win every game. There are times that are more difficult, but the most important thing is that we are all united and not distracted by any wars between us. We have to focus on ourselves and on winning games."

“Football does not end in a day, nor in a season and my job is to look at the present and the future," he concluded.

The team are beaten 0-2 by FC Porto in Leiria

Sporting Clube de Portugal missed out on a third consecutive Taça da Liga, losing 0-2 in the final of the competition against FC Porto at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria.

Coach Rúben Amorim made two changes to the starting eleven from the semifinal against FC Arouca, fielding a lineup of Antonio Adán, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates, Matheus Reis, Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte, Hidemasa Morita, Nuno Santos, Marcus Edwards, Paulinho and Pedro Goncalves.

Os Leões started the match well, not letting the opposition into their area in the first few minutes, but steadily it turned into an even contest with both teams trying to attack.

It ended up being FC Porto who drew first blood, on ten minutes, in a move from the right in which a cutback fell to Eustáquio, who fired in to make it 0-1.

Sporting CP went looking for an equaliser soon after and even had the ball in the net, when Pedro Gonçalves fed Marcus Edwards, goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos came out and the Englishman sent his effort in, but the goal ended up being disallowed for offside.

Ten minutes later, Gonçalves had a shot blocked by the defence, with Hidemasa Morita trying to lob the goalkeeper off the follow-up before Cláudio Ramos clawed the ball away.

Sporting CP remained more dangerous and, half an hour in, Morita tried to enter the box when he got past Pepe, but Marcano appeared to thwart the Japanese international.

In the 35th minute, Pedro Porro ran towards the area, shooting from the central channel and seeing his effort deflected onto the crossbar. The ball fell to Gonçalves, who shot on goal, and a defender put it onto the bar again. From the resulting corner, Sporting CP again threatened, as Gonçalves dug a shot over.

In the last five minutes of the first half, Paulinho had his strike tipped over by Cláudio Ramos, and Marcus Edwards tried to surprise the goalkeeper off the corner, to no avail.

Two more chances before the break were also dealt with, as the game went into the interval with the scoreline at 0-1.

Amorim kept the same lineup for the second half and the match resumed as it ended: With Sporting CP focused on attacking FC Porto's goal. Edwards was the first to provide a warning with a shot from distance, which went off target.

A first substitution was made before 60 minutes, as Nuno Santos was replaced by Abdul Fatawu.

The pace and quality of the match dropped thereafter, with many fouls, and the referee began handing out cards. A red for Paulinho, in the 72nd minute, for two rapid bookings, made things more difficult for Sporting CP.

Os Leões responded well and again attacked the opposition box, but Cláudio Ramos blocked another shot by Pedro Porro.

Against the run of play, from a move on the right, FC Porto made it 0-2, after Pepê's cross was met by Marcano at the far post.

In the remaining six minutes, Sporting CP continued with the same desire to level, and substitute Francisco Trincão nearly made it 1-2 after a Gonçalves cross, but the ball went wide and there would be no change in the scoreline.