Sporting CP play a competitive friendly in the Algarve

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew their final preseason friendly 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Estádio Algarve. Pedro Gonçalves scored the equaliser for Os Leões, on a hot evening in the south of Portugal.

Thousands of Sportinguistas (as well as a number of Wolves fans), took in the team's last summer fixture before the Liga Portugal opener against SC Braga.

Rúben Amorim made few changes to the starting lineup that began the Troféu Cinco Violinos game, with the only novelties being Franco Israel's presence in goal and Hidemasa Morita coming into the midfield, replacing the unavailable Antonio Adán and Manuel Ugarte, respectively.

Sporting CP provided the first danger after just five minutes. Francisco Trincão recovered the ball in the opposing midfield and, from outside the area, shot over. Wolves responded shortly after, with Dendoncker's effort put out by Franco Israel for a corner.

Soon after, Wolves won a controversial penalty kick when referee Bruno Vieira called a foul by Gonçalo Inácio on Pedro Neto inside the area. Rúben Neves converted to put the English side 0-1 up.

Several more attacks from Wolves followed, such as a shot over by João Moutinho and a counterattack finished by Pedro Neto, with Hidemasa Morita blocking for a corner.

At the other end, Gonçalves and Trincão were always very mobile, even switching flanks on occasions. Paulinho was a standout and, in the 33rd minute, he went down in the box. A penalty was appealed for vehemently, but not given.

Shortly after, a counterattack ended with Paulinho cushioning down for Francisco Trincão to shoot, but the ball deflected off a defender and out of play. Pedro Porro also struck a powerful shot, again blocked by an opposing player.

Just before the break, Sporting CP got their equaliser. Paulinho again fell in the box, this time off a foul by Nathan Collins, and a penalty kick was awarded. Gonçalves shot firmly past José Sá, levelling the game.

With no changes for either side, the second half started with more intense duels, resulting in yellow cards for Porro, Paulinho and Morita.

It was Amorim's men who created the first chances: In the 56th minute, Porro fired a strong shot that was kept out by José Sá, who also had to deny Gonçalves when he ran through several defenders and drove on target.

Sporting CP came close to making it 2-1 in the 73rd minute. On a counter, Gonçalves set up  Trincão and he conjured up a shot, but the ball went just centimetres wide. Wolves also threatened late on, when Hwang Hee-chan rounded Franco Israel, shot and had Matheus Reis clear off the line.

Fatawu and Sebastián Coates both knocked efforts off target in the dying moments, as the game ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Sporting CP will now visit SC Braga on August 7th, in their first Liga Portugal contest of the new season.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis, Pedro Porro (Ricardo Esgaio, 78'), Hidemasa Morita, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Santos, Francisco Trincão (Rochinha, 83'), Pedro Gonçalves (Fatawu, 83') and Paulinho (Marcus Edwards, 68').

The starters run through recovery work

The morning after the Troféu Cinco Violinos game, Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to work on Monday at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo in Alcochete.

The starters in the match against Sevilla FC undertook recovery work, while the rest trained normally on the pitch in a session that featured several youth team players.

Jeremiah St. Juste was given conditioning training on the pitch, and Manuel Ugarte was absent due to low back pain.

The group next train on Wednesday morning.

Sporting CP fall 5-6 in a shootout with Sevilla FC

Sporting CP appeared at the Estádio José Alvalade for the first time this summer in the traditional Troféu Cinco Violinos game, drawing 1-1 with Sevilla FC and losing 5-6 on penalties.

The day began with the General Assembly at the Pavilhao João Rocha, moving on to the presentation of the Sporting CP squad for the 2022/23 season.

The starting XI was made up of several frequently featured players from last season, with the addition of new signing Francisco Trincão the big news. For Sevilla, Marcos Acuña started against his former club.

After a special version of 'O Mundo Sabe Que' was played by five violinists on the pitch, the match got underway, with Sevilla FC assuming the early possession. Despite the slow pace of the play, the Spanish side took the lead with their first chance, scored by Tecatito.

Sporting CP suffered a further blow when Manuel Ugarte went off injured, to be replaced by Hidemasa Morita. Nevertheless, the team grew in strength and sent several crosses into the Sevilla box,  whilst the visitors tried to take advantage of counterattacks and slow things down with long spells of possession

In the final stretch of the first half, the pace of the game increased and Sporting CP had their first opportunities. First, Matheus Nunes tried his luck from distance, striking wide. Just before the break, the ball was swiped away off a cutback to Pedro Gonçalves, with the following corner knocked just wide by Nuno Santos.

At halftime, Sporting CP presented their third kit for 2022/2023, and the team took to the pitch for the second half wearing the new strip.

Upon the restart, Morita showed his quality with the ball and Paulinho enjoyed the best opportunities in front of goal: First, a deflection off a perfect cross by Pedro Porro, then a shot from straight on flew just wide.

Increasingly comfortable, the team imposed their game, pressing high and aggressively. Gonçalves and Matheus Reis enjoyed chances, but could not convert.

In the 72nd minute, coach Rúben Amorim brought on two more attacking players in the form of Rochinha and Marcus Edwards, pushing Gonçalves into the middle. The impact was almost immediate: Gonçalves recovered the ball high up the field, dribbled past an opposition defender and played to Edwards, who rounded the goalkeeper but struck just wide.

In the last ten minutes, Paulinho was sent through by Gonçalves, and smashed the ball into the net for the equaliser.

Before the end of regulation time, Edwards had a penalty appeal ruled out, and the game went to a shootout.

After five successful attempts for each side, in sudden death it was late substitute Fatawu who hit the woodwork, shot, giving Sevilla the win.

In the final game of their preseason calendar, Sporting CP will return to Estádio Algarve to play against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 6:45pm local time kickoff on Saturday.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Pedro Porro, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis, Nuno Santos, Manuel Ugarte (Hidemasa Morita, 23’), Matheus Nunes (Marcus Edwards, 72‘), Francisco Trincão (Rochinha, 72‘), Pedro Gonçalves e Paulinho.

2022/2023 SQUAD PRESENTED:

1 - Antonio Adán [GK]

2 - Matheus Reis

3 - Jeremiah St. Juste

4 - Sebastián Coates

5 - Hidemasa Morita

7 - Bruno Tabata

8 - Matheus Nunes

10 - Marcus Edwards

11 - Nuno Santos

12 - Franco Israel [GK]

13 - Luís Neto

15 - Manuel Ugarte

16 - Rochinha

17 - Francisco Trincão

18 - Fatawu Issahaku

20 - Paulinho

22 - André Paulo [GK]

23 - Daniel Bragança

24 - Pedro Porro

25 - Gonçalo Inácio

28 - Pedro Gonçalves

41 - Diego Calai [GK]

47 - Ricardo Esgaio

63 - José Marsà

71 - Flávio Nazinho

79 - Youssef Chermiti

82 - Mateus Fernandes

84 - Dário Essugo

91 - Rodrigo Ribeiro

The team claim a 3-2 win over the Italian side

Back at Estádio Algarve for their third preseason friendly of the summer, Sporting Clube de Portugal won 3-2 against AS Roma this Tuesday.

Sporting CP were in control for practically the entire match. However the victory would only be confirmed in the 86th minute, with a goal by Bruno Tabata. Before that, Rúben Amorim's side had twice taken the lead, through goals from Pedro Gonçalves and Gonçalo Inácio, only to concede from isolated moves by the Italian team.

Amorim once again fielded a starting XI with many of the most frequently featured players, albeit bringing in Franco Israel in goal and forming a mobile frontline made up of Rochinha, Pedro Gonçalves and Marcus Edwards. AS Roma – winners of last season's inaugural UEFA Conference League – began with players such as Nicolò Zaniolo, Tammy Abraham, former Sporting CP goalkeeper Rui Patrício and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Just past the opening minute, Pedro Porro was the first to try his luck, shooting from far away into the hands of the opposing keeper. Sporting CP also enjoyed more possession of the ball, but without it they pressed intensely to force mistakes from AS Roma.

It would be from a long pass from Luís Neto, over the top of the Roma defense, that led to a first opportunity: After snaking into the area, Gonçalves shot and forced Rui Patrício into a save. From the corner kick that followed, only a final touch from Matheus Reis' near post header was lacking to open the scoring.

Sporting CP continued to be the most threatening side, and two long range shots from Manuel Ugarte and Rochinha would go off target.

The first goal of the match came when Edwards was fouled in the area, and Gonçalves converted the penalty.

Just two minutes later, AS Roma managed to make it 1-1 thanks to an own goal from Gonçalo Inácio. The always physical play of José Mourinho's team led to many stoppages and slowed the pace of the match down until halftime.

At the break, Antonio Adán came on for Franco Israel and Francisco Trincão  for Rochinha, in the only changes for the second half.

Sporting CP got things back underway brilliantly, as Inácio made amends by heading in a cross, taking the score to 2-1.

The Italians, who found it very difficult to reclaim the ball and stop the sprints of Ugarte and Matheus Nunes, began to get frustrated. Trincão left his marker behind and only Mile Svilar, the goalkeeper brought on at halftime, prevented another goal from 'Pote.'

However, when Sporting CP were looking more and more like the better side, AS Roma responded with another equaliser: Abraham did damage on the right flank and crossed late for Pellegrini's accurate shot on 70 minutes.

Edwards threatened with a shot that went just over the bar, and immediately made way for Bruno Tabata – and it would be the Brazilian forward who decided the match. In the 86th minute, the ball was won in the opposition half, reached Tabata, and he shook off the defence to shoot and score.

A 3-2 win came at the end of another positive display from Sporting CP, whose preseason continues apace.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK] (Antonio Adán, 46’), Pedro Porro, Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Reis, Manuel Ugarte, Matheus Nunes, Marcus Edwards (Bruno Tabata, 72’), Rochinha (Francisco Trincão, 46’) e Pedro Gonçalves.

The goalkeeper speaks in the Algarve

The work for Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lagos, Algarve, continues apace as they prepare for the upcoming 2022/2023 season. This Saturday, goalkeeper Antonio Adán spoke at the training camp.

"We are on the right path for what we are looking for from this preseason. I think this year the games are more demanding than in previous years; there are many young players and many new faces that are having to assimilate the ideas, but I think we are responding well," he reflected.

"The integration by players to Sporting CP is always good. We have a great group, which makes everyone fit in. Take Francisco Trincão: He is a fantastic guy, who has come in from abroad, from Barcelona, and knows what it's like to be inserted into new groups, knows Portugal and knows several of the players in the squad. It's easy for him and for all who come from outside."

Adán also praised Franco Israel, his understudy as goalkeeper for the team.

"All those who make up the squad are fighting for a place to play. He's come from a big club like Juventus FC, and you can see that. He has very good technique when it comes to his positioning, which is very important for what Sporting CP require. The club have the responsibility to win each game, and he brings that mentality too."

Looking ahead to 2022/2023, the experienced 35-year-old Spaniard stressed that the focus is currently on preseason. "We want to prepare for each training session and each game in order to be ready for the game against SC Braga, which as the first match is also the most important. From then on, we'll go game by game, as always."

Finally, Adán took stock of his career at Sporting CP to date, before the start of his third season with the club.

“The first year we were league champions, and the following year we finished second and competed in the UEFA Champions League. Playing regularly was one of the things I was looking for here."

“I was confident that I could offer good performance. I'm very happy to have renewed my contract, and I have the enthusiasm of a young man to be here for a long time, corresponding with the goals of Sporting CP," he concluded.

“Estava confiante de que podia dar um bom rendimento e assim foi. Estou muito feliz pela renovação [de contrato] e tenho o entusiasmo de um jovem para estar aqui muito tempo, correspondendo aos objectivos do Sporting CP", concluiu o guardião.

Sporting CP draw positives from their 1-1 stalemate

Close to 24 hours after a 1-1 draw with Royale Union Saint-Guilloise, Sporting Clube de Portugal had another game and another stalemate - this time with Villarreal CF. Os Leões performed at a high level against last season's Champions League semifinalists, and took the lead in the first half through Pedro Gonçalves. However, a goal conceded in the 76th minute meant the game ended 1-1.

The previous day, several new faces and a lot of young talent from the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo had featured. On Thursday, coach Rúben Amorim chose a starting XI composed of several of the most frequently used players. New signing Francisco Trincão and youngster Rodrigo Ribeiro were on the bench for the first time in the Algarve, joined by goalkeepers Franco Israel and André Paulo and youth players Hevertton Santos, Diogo Travassos, Dário Essugo and Renato Veiga.

The first opportunities on goal arrived immediately, and Villarreal CF came very close when Antonio Adán made a save and Manu Trigueros put the rebound wide. Sporting CP's response didn't take long in coming, and before the eight minute mark a pass by Gonçalves was not quite finished off by Paulinho in the six-yard-box.

Then Etienne Capoue and Trigueros, for the Spaniards, and Gonçalves for Sporting CP, tried their luck from mid-range, but without success. The opening fifteen minutes saw quick and constant approaches by both sides, with Sporting CP the more patient in possession.

Gonçalves shot wide off a beautiful move, then finally made it 1-0 moments later. Cutting inside with a feint, he struck from close to the 'D' with a shot that went in off the post.

Paulinho and Nuno Santos also had good opportunities, but the score remained 1-0 at half-time.

When the two teams came back out for the second half, Villarreal enjoyed a chance in the 51st minute, but Adán covered well to save.

From the hour mark onwards, various substitutions began to be made by both teams. Dário Essugo, Hevertton Santos and Francisco Trincão were first in for Sporting CP, Gonçalo Inácio, Manuel Ugarte and Matheus Nunes coming off. Esgaio moved to the midfield three and Tabata retreated to the middle.

Misplaced passes increased as the match drew to a close, and the pace was clearly slower, but Sporting CP continued to have more of the ball, trying to keep the game under control. They would be caught out, however, from a long pass that Alex Baena latched onto for an unexpected equaliser.

The team will remain in Lagos until July 20th, but before that they will play AS Roma on July 19th.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK] [C], Ricardo Esgaio, Gonçalo Inácio (Hevertton Santos 65'), José Marsà, Matheus Reis, Nuno Santos, Manuel Ugarte (Dário Essugo 65'), Matheus Nunes (Francisco Trincão 65') , Pedro Gonçalves (Renato Veiga 87'), Bruno Tabata and Paulinho (Rodrigo Ribeiro 78').

The winger strengthens Os Leões on loan with an option to buy

Sporting  Clube de Portugal have signed Francisco Trincão on loan From FC Barcelona for the 2022/23 season, with an option to buy the player. The Portuguese international has previously represented SC Braga in Portugal and English side Wolverhampton Wanderers -the latter on a loan deal last season.

The 22-year-old was unveiled on Wednesday, and expressed his satisfaction with the move, saying: "I am very happy to be here, as it is something that I've wanted for a while that has finally come through. I think that it was the right decision, and I am here to perform at my best and help the club to the fullest."

Trincão will be reunited with former teammates Paulinho and Ricardo Esgaio, as well as coach Rúben Amorim, under whom he played at SC Braga.

"The coach being here helped a lot with my decision, but Sporting CP have always been a huge club. The coach, the club, the squad, the fans and everything else surrounding Sporting CP are my main reasons for coming here."

The move is also a return to Portugal, after experiences in Spain and England, and the winger believes that he is a better player than when he left his homeland originally.

"I think that I have grown a lot in recent years, and that is going to help me now. I want to continue to develop and give everything in every training session and game. I will give for Sporting CP to do as well as possible."

Finally, he sent out a message to Sportinguistas, stating that: "They should get behind us and support us, because we are going to do everything for them. We want to give them a lot of joy this season."

Trincão has won a Taça da Liga (2019/2020), a Taça do Rei (2020/2021) and an Under-19s European Championships (2018), in which he was the top goalscorer and assist provider. He has been capped by Portugal at senior level on seven occasions.

The team will hold a training camp in southern Portugal over the coming days

Sporting Clube de Portugal have begun their preseason training camp in Lagos, Algarve, where they will prepare for the 2022/23 season.

After captain Sebastián Coates talked to journalists, the first 15 minutes of the session were opened up to the media and divided the squad into three groups. Coach Rúben Amorim had 30 players with which to work, whilst defender Jeremiah St. Juste continued to undergo treatment.

At the end of training, the squad and coaching staff gathered to send a strong message of support to Daniel Bragança, the midfielder who is now facing a long spell out due to injury.

The captain speaks at the start of the training camp in the Algarve

Before the first training session for Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lagos in the Algarve, captain Sebastián Coates spoke to journalists about the preparation for the new season.

However, first of all he began by sending "a big hug to Daniel Bragança," who is facing a long absence through injury, adding: "The group is all with him and we wish him a good recovery, so that he can come back stronger than ever."

The Uruguayan defender immediately outlined the main objectives for 2022/23, saying that "To prepare for the season, we have brought in new players -and we have to make them adapt to the ideas of the coach and the team as quickly as possible. This group is spectacular. We are all very happy to be part of Sporting CP and we are focused on preparing for what lies ahead."

One of the reinforcements is his fellow countryman, goalkeeper Franco Israel.

"I immediately got in touch with him to clarify all the questions that he had, and it's always good to have a compatriot there when you join a team. The first things he asked were about the club, the group and the work that we do."

Despite being asked about Sporting CP's goals for 2022/2023, the defender preferred to keep the focus on the immediate task at hand: Preparation for the new season.

"Right now, our goal is to prepare for the season so that we are in the best shape possible when the first game comes around. Then our focus is to go game by game, as we always say. Now we want to get in shape for what lies ahead."

Asked to also talk about the edition of O Clássico scheduled for Matchday 3, Coates reinforced the focus on preseason, stating that "Before that we have SC Braga and Rio Ave FC to play. We are only focused on preseason, and after that we will think about the first game.

The Sporting CP squad work out on Friday

Sporting Clube de Portugal trained at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo this Friday, with the session marking the first appearance of new recruit Rochinha.

The summer signing was put through his paces by coach Rúben Amorim, as were the rest of the first team and several youth players. Renato Veiga, Hevertton Santos, Diogo Travassos, Youssef Chermiti , Mateus Fernandes, José Marsà, Dário Essugo, Luís Gomes and Diego Calai were all called up for the session.

Jeremiah St. Juste, who continues to undergo treatment, was the only player absent.

The squad will train again on Saturday morning.