The coach reflects on the 1-1 draw with SL Benfica

Following the 1-1 draw between Sporting Clube de Portugal and SL Benfica, Rui Borges attended the post-match press conference to answer questions from journalists.

His reaction to the game
"The ambition, courage and commitment of this team are incredible. We knew we were up against great opponents, who were playing at home, where it is very difficult to play them. It was important to have an emotional balance, and we had that. We scored early, which forced us to play a lower block too soon, but that was natural. Even so, we controlled the game. In the second half, SL Benfica changed things up and tried to push us back even further. We managed to nullify everything except for the goal, which involved two slips by our players. We lacked more calmness with the ball in order to make better decisions, but that's natural. As much as we say there is no anxiety, there will always be nerves and everyone deals with it in their own way.

Feeling closer to the title
"I feel like it's up to us, and that's great. There's one game left and I know the team we're going to face. We have to be serious because we haven't been crowned champions yet. I think there will be an incredible atmosphere, as the fans have been fantastic."

Conrad Harder's introduction
"SL Benfica were leaving themselves exposed more and taking more risks. Harder gave us the ability to accelerate, as did Viktor, who didn't have many chances. It wasn't working with Trincão and Pote, so we adjusted with Harder."

The benefits of the draw
"It wasn't a pleasant result. It only will be if we win the last game, because without that it's worth nothing. It's natural for the players to express happiness, but they know there's still one game left and we haven't won anything yet. It was a difficult draw and we have to value what we did here. In the next game we have to be as serious and committed as we were today, if not more so."

Vitória SC
"Some of the fans there felt hurt because I left in the middle of the season, and that's natural. Vitória SC still need points and they have a great coach who is doing an excellent job. I know the quality of that team. I'm calm because the game is at home and the title depends on us, but we have a very difficult game to win."

The fairness of the result
"I could say it was fair because SL Benfica grew in the second half, even without many opportunities. Given the competitiveness of both sides, it ended up being fair."

Stopping euphoria
"We have to stop the euphoria and focus on what we have to do. It depends on us. It's natural for the fans to have a positive feeling and to push us as they have done so far."

Morten Hjulmand missing the next game due to yellow cards
"We've lost so many players and we've always been able to find solutions. We got here by ourselves. Morten is a very important player, but whoever plays will provide a fantastic performance. Morten gave everything today, and in the next game he'll give something different."

What he asked of the team at halftime
"I tried to adjust one or two behaviours so that we were closer to SL Benfica's players. And I wanted the same attitude as in the first half. A member of the coaching staff said that it is difficult to kill an attitude, and they had that from start to finish."

Direct play
"It was the opponent's merit. Emotionally, it was a difficult game for both sides. Even with a low block, we performed fantastically. We were well organised, well aware of the individual tasks for the collective to function. There were no great goal opportunities apart from the one that we conceded, which was a good play by Pavlidis in which two of our players slipped."

How he experienced the game
"I was super calm. These are the games that make me less stressed. It was a calm week, even knowing everything that surrounded the game. I'm very positive. It's a football match. I really want us to be two-time champions, so I'm not relieved. I have a difficult game to think about. Regardless, I'm immensely proud of this team and our trajectory. The passion is spectacular and today, leaving the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, I said that football is fantastic. There are things that can't be explained."

Sporting CP draw away to rivals SL Benfica

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 1-1 away to title rivals SL Benfica on Liga Portugal Matchday 33, taking the title race to the final weekend of the season.

Support for the team was shown at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as on the bus route to the Estádio da Luz, and thousands of fans cheered loudly for them throughout the 90 minutes.

Coach Rui Borges made two changes, bringing in Ousmane Diomande and Morten Hjulmand in place of Jeremiah St. Juste and Hidemasa Morita.

The start of the game could not have been better, as Sporting CP opened the scoring after just four minutes: Pedro Gonçalves played through Viktor Gyökeres on the left and he, surrounded by several defenders, worked well to set up Francisco Trincão for the finish.

SL Benfica responded with a shot from Di María that went close, but it was Sporting CP who were enjoying the better of the play. From a free kick, Trincão sent the ball dangerously in the area, but the defence cleared it for a corner. On the next move, Maxi Araújo headed close.

Control of the game evened out and, on 28 minutes, it was Rui Silva's turn to shine, with a great intervention in a one-on-one with Kerem Aktürkoğlu. Shortly after, Di María tried to score again, but lashed his effort over the bar.

Half an hour in, a good counterattack by Quaresma found Trincão, who in turn looked for Gyökeres before the defenders cleared the ball for a corner. Then, Geny Catamo, on 35 minutes, forced a save from Trubin.

Sporting CP, who were the better team in the first half, enjoyed a further opportunity for Gyökeres, saved by Trubin, and when Gonçalves scored on the rebound it was disallowed for a foul.

As expected, SL Benfica came back out for the second half with the intention of taking control of the game. Although they did this without creating any great chances, they had more possession of the ball and started to get closer to the Sporting CP area. Pavlidis shot wide off a corner and Kerem Aktürkoğlu missed the target with a long shot, in two opportunities for the home side.

In response, Rui Borges introduced Zeno Debast for Morita in the 57th minute.

SL Benfica managed to equalise in the 63rd minute through Kerem Aktürkoğlu, taking the score to 1-1.

Geovany Quenda replaced Gonçalves in another substitution, and two close opportunities occurred during the next spell, as Trincão shot wide from distance and, immediately afterwards, Pavlidis hit the post.

On 81 minutes it was the turn of Araújo, Quaresma and Trincão to be withdrawn, making way for Matheus Reis, Jeremiah St. Juste and Conrad Harder.

In the 84th minute, Gyökeres ran up the field before having a shot saved by Trubin. Whilst Sporting CP were on top of the game, they could not change the scoreline, and the game ended 1-1.

Sporting CP now have the chance to win the title for the second time in a row next weekend, when they host Vitória SC at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Eduardo Quaresma (Jeremiah St. Juste, 81'), Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Geny Catamo, Morten Hjulmand [C], Zeno Debast (Hidemasa Morita, 57'), Maxi Araújo (Matheus Reis, 81'), Francisco Trincão (Conrad Harder, 81'), Pedro Gonçalves (Geovany Quenda, 71') and Viktor Gyökeres.

The coach previews the game against SL Benfica

Sporting Clube de Portugal have a huge Saturday game against neighbours and title rivals SL Benfica on Saturday, which could be decisive in the Liga Portugal title chase. Ahead of the game, coach Rui Borges talked about the expectations and his side's focus.

The implications of the derby
“Above all, we are where we want to be and where a club like Sporting CP have to be, which is in finals and trying to win trophies. We have to be happy with that for now. We can play around with two possible results, but we aren't focused on that. We're focused on what we have to do to win -and nothing more. It's like any other game, even though we know how important this one is. We are not shying away from that importance, and we know that it is a game that could win the title for both teams. We have to think about that, but more about what we can do to counteract the opposition and win -despite the difficulties that we will encounter."

Nerves in the game against Gil Vicente FC
“These are different games. Gil Vicente FC played a more defensive strategy, defended very well and caused us a lot of problems. More than the low block, what caused the most concern was conceding a goal so early and when we were playing well. That is normal, especially at this time of year when games are more decisive. Even so, despite this concern, I look more at what the team managed to do before the end. Only a great team could come away with a win, and that is what they did. It was a normal week. I look at the group and I feel the same way. We're focused on what we can control, are very motivated, courageous, ambitious and with a huge desire for the game to get underway."

Playing on the counterattack against SL Benfica
“In terms of counterattacks and expectations, if we look at both teams, SL Benfica have almost always won in recent games on the counterattack or on the fast break. People talk more about Sporting CP doing it, but our opponents have also scored most of their goals in transitions, because they are strong and have above-average quality, just like us. It will be a completely different game. The uneasiness in the game against Gil has no relevance to this game. Everything is different in this game, even the atmosphere and the pressure on each player. My job is to focus on what we can do as a team -with and without the ball- against SL Benfica's strengths in possession, with organised play and in transitions, and to always try to be prepared to nullify those moments in the best way possible."

A third Clássico of the season with him in charge
“These are different games. In the first Clássico, the team had just changed coaches, and that changes the game. The opposition perhaps didn’t know how we were going to play either. Then there was a final, in which they were lucky in the penalty shootout. This one could decide who becomes champions, and it will shake up a lot of things.”

Playing away
“The difference has to do with the resilience that the group have had. Throughout the season, they have managed to overcome the obstacles that have appeared along the way, showing great ambition and courage to get through everything. That is why we have to be able to deal with the atmosphere in the stadium, as it's part of our DNA. The team have to be prepared for this and I think that the side that are more focused, balanced and disciplined for longer will be the team closest to winning. We know that we are two great teams, with great players, but any moment in which there is a distraction could make one team overpower the other. Therefore, we have to be as focused as possible on our ambition to win the game and be champions."

Talk of a draw being sufficient
“We are very focused on winning. We just want to win so we can become champions. A draw would mean we have to win the last game, which will also be against a great team in Vitória SC. We are not going to settle, we are going to do everything we can to try to win the game against a team that also want to win and that have a lot of quality. Above all, we want it to be a great show and in the end, that Sporting CP are the winners.”

Pedro Gonçalves' possibility of being a starter
“Everybody is in the equation to play, and they have to be prepared, especially because I never give a starting XI away in training. They all have to be prepared to play or not to play, and Pote is the same. He has responded well and has improved in terms of his fitness. Everyone knows he’s not at 100 percent, and he knows that too, but he’s an important player because of everything he gives to the team, what he transmits to the team. He has grown, he has responded and worked towards the goal on a daily basis, and I think he is prepared, like everyone else, to respond -whether that's for 30, 60 or 90 minutes.”

His feeling about the game
“I'm calm. These games don't stress me out. I'm very focused, I've always been very confident and I have a lot of faith. I believe this is the most important game of my career, because of what it can do for us. We could become champions, and it's the first time I've been in this situation.”

Being more prepared than for the first Clássico on December 29th
“At the time, I could have said that I wouldn’t accept coming because it was two days before the big game, but I never said anything like that to the president. I always said that I wanted to come here, and everything remains the same. There is a lot of confidence, the feeling that we have the capacity and competence is exactly the same and it has been like that since I started at Mirandela. We have grown as a coaching team, of course, and that is why we are here, but everything remains the same. Nothing that people say about me, whether positive or negative, affects me. We are doing a good job, we are making decisions and now we need to have the capacity to win.”

Support from Sporting CP fans
“The fans have been fantastic in their support and in the feeling they have given us as a team. They have shown us a lot of affection. They were very important in the game against Gil and will continue to be very important tomorrow -from the departure from the Academia to the arrival at the Estádio da Luz.”

Violence between fans before the game
“We always look at these things with sadness. It’s a football match and there’s always passion, but passion can never go over the limit. There are limits to everything. The passion and rivalry that exists is good, but should never be excessive. Respect must always be there. That’s why it’s sad. I hope they focus more on supporting us, like our fans have done, showing us the affection they have for us and for what the team have done over the years.”

Ruben Amorim's words of praise
“I don’t look at the legacy he left behind. I came to a club where there was a great coach, who won a lot and who worked hard to make it happen. I didn’t send it to him, but I sent Carlos [Fernandes] a message congratulating Manchester United on reaching the Europa League final. Ruben is rooting for us, we’re happy about that, and we’re rooting for him too. I admire him for his journey from the bottom up, his character and personality, his ability and competence. He will always be someone we will look up to with admiration."

The team get ready for the game against SL Benfica

Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to work at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo in Alcochete this Wednesday.

On the agenda is Saturday's trip across Lisbon to take on SL Benfica, in a duel that could be decisive for the outcome of the Liga Portugal title.

In the session, B team defender João Muniz was part of the group, working under the orders of Rui Borges.

On Thursday, a further training session is scheduled for the morning, behind closed doors.

The coach previews the game against SL Benfica

Sporting Clube de Portugal have a huge Saturday game against neighbours and title rivals SL Benfica on Saturday, which could be decisive in the Liga Portugal title chase. Ahead of the game, coach Rui Borges talked about the expectations and his side's focus.

The implications of the derby
“Above all, we are where we want to be and where a club like Sporting CP have to be, which is in finals and trying to win trophies. We have to be happy with that for now. We can play around with two possible results, but we aren't focused on that. We're focused on what we have to do to win -and nothing more. It's like any other game, even though we know how important this one is. We are not shying away from that importance, and we know that it is a game that could win the title for both teams. We have to think about that, but more about what we can do to counteract the opposition and win -despite the difficulties that we will encounter."

Nerves in the game against Gil Vicente FC
“These are different games. Gil Vicente FC played a more defensive strategy, defended very well and caused us a lot of problems. More than the low block, what caused the most concern was conceding a goal so early and when we were playing well. That is normal, especially at this time of year when games are more decisive. Even so, despite this concern, I look more at what the team managed to do before the end. Only a great team could come away with a win, and that is what they did. It was a normal week. I look at the group and I feel the same way. We're focused on what we can control, are very motivated, courageous, ambitious and with a huge desire for the game to get underway."

Playing on the counterattack against SL Benfica
“In terms of counterattacks and expectations, if we look at both teams, SL Benfica have almost always won in recent games on the counterattack or on the fast break. People talk more about Sporting CP doing it, but our opponents have also scored most of their goals in transitions, because they are strong and have above-average quality, just like us. It will be a completely different game. The uneasiness in the game against Gil has no relevance to this game. Everything is different in this game, even the atmosphere and the pressure on each player. My job is to focus on what we can do as a team -with and without the ball- against SL Benfica's strengths in possession, with organised play and in transitions, and to always try to be prepared to nullify those moments in the best way possible."

A third Clássico of the season with him in charge
“These are different games. In the first Clássico, the team had just changed coaches, and that changes the game. The opposition perhaps didn’t know how we were going to play either. Then there was a final, in which they were lucky in the penalty shootout. This one could decide who becomes champions, and it will shake up a lot of things.”

Playing away
“The difference has to do with the resilience that the group have had. Throughout the season, they have managed to overcome the obstacles that have appeared along the way, showing great ambition and courage to get through everything. That is why we have to be able to deal with the atmosphere in the stadium, as it's part of our DNA. The team have to be prepared for this and I think that the side that are more focused, balanced and disciplined for longer will be the team closest to winning. We know that we are two great teams, with great players, but any moment in which there is a distraction could make one team overpower the other. Therefore, we have to be as focused as possible on our ambition to win the game and be champions."

Talk of a draw being sufficient
“We are very focused on winning. We just want to win so we can become champions. A draw would mean we have to win the last game, which will also be against a great team in Vitória SC. We are not going to settle, we are going to do everything we can to try to win the game against a team that also want to win and that have a lot of quality. Above all, we want it to be a great show and in the end, that Sporting CP are the winners.”

Pedro Gonçalves' possibility of being a starter
“Everybody is in the equation to play, and they have to be prepared, especially because I never give a starting XI away in training. They all have to be prepared to play or not to play, and Pote is the same. He has responded well and has improved in terms of his fitness. Everyone knows he’s not at 100 percent, and he knows that too, but he’s an important player because of everything he gives to the team, what he transmits to the team. He has grown, he has responded and worked towards the goal on a daily basis, and I think he is prepared, like everyone else, to respond -whether that's for 30, 60 or 90 minutes.”

His feeling about the game
“I'm calm. These games don't stress me out. I'm very focused, I've always been very confident and I have a lot of faith. I believe this is the most important game of my career, because of what it can do for us. We could become champions, and it's the first time I've been in this situation.”

Being more prepared than for the first Clássico on December 29th
“At the time, I could have said that I wouldn’t accept coming because it was two days before the big game, but I never said anything like that to the president. I always said that I wanted to come here, and everything remains the same. There is a lot of confidence, the feeling that we have the capacity and competence is exactly the same and it has been like that since I started at Mirandela. We have grown as a coaching team, of course, and that is why we are here, but everything remains the same. Nothing that people say about me, whether positive or negative, affects me. We are doing a good job, we are making decisions and now we need to have the capacity to win.”

Support from Sporting CP fans
“The fans have been fantastic in their support and in the feeling they have given us as a team. They have shown us a lot of affection. They were very important in the game against Gil and will continue to be very important tomorrow -from the departure from the Academia to the arrival at the Estádio da Luz.”

Violence between fans before the game
“We always look at these things with sadness. It’s a football match and there’s always passion, but passion can never go over the limit. There are limits to everything. The passion and rivalry that exists is good, but should never be excessive. Respect must always be there. That’s why it’s sad. I hope they focus more on supporting us, like our fans have done, showing us the affection they have for us and for what the team have done over the years.”

Ruben Amorim's words of praise
“I don’t look at the legacy he left behind. I came to a club where there was a great coach, who won a lot and who worked hard to make it happen. I didn’t send it to him, but I sent Carlos [Fernandes] a message congratulating Manchester United on reaching the Europa League final. Ruben is rooting for us, we’re happy about that, and we’re rooting for him too. I admire him for his journey from the bottom up, his character and personality, his ability and competence. He will always be someone we will look up to with admiration."

The coach reviews the win over Gil Vicente FC

After a very important victory over Gil Vicente FC, Sporting CP coach Rui Borges analysed the game in his post-match press conference.

Reviewing the game
“It was a game in which we lacked inspiration in general. We conceded the goal from the only chance in which Gil Vicente FC came close to scoring, which left us feeling a bit uneasy. Throughout the first half, we made poor decisions and moved the ball around very slowly… We were tense, and at halftime we tried to adjust one or two behaviours. In the second half, we managed to get Gil Vicente to play in the final third almost the entire time. It was a difficult game against a team defending with 11 players behind the ball. The substitutions helped to calm the game down, with Morten [Hjulmand] and Zeno [Debast] coming in. We kept trying, and it was a game in which we had to keep going."

Difficulties in getting shots off
“There was a team against us defending in the box with 11 players, that’s the justification for a lack of shots. We’re not always going to score five goals and shoot a lot. If the opposing team were as competitive throughout the season as they were today, they would certainly have more points in the league. We won, and that was the objective. I think the substitutions gave us some energy. Making changes early or late on is a question of opinion. I think I made changes at the right time because we won the game. The belief of the entire Sporting CP family has been incredible. Emotionally, the team are very strong.”

Possible scenarios in the derby
“We have to work hard and focus on the game and what we can control. It’s a game like any other, as decisive as today’s was, and perhaps the last game will be too, depending on the result at the Estádio da Luz. We all feel that we were uninspired, but that’s natural; the team aren’t always going to be at their best. I want to highlight the spirit and competitive attitude that the team had until the end of the game, as that’s why we won.”

The pressure for the Clássico
“The pressure has been there since I came here. I arrived days before a derby. I’m very calm in that sense. The title may be at stake, but since I have been a coach, the big games are the ones in which I feel less pressure, because the players are motivated by themselves.”

The emotional moment in the 2-1 win
“I ended up celebrating with the group, because I think I deserved it. It was an outpouring of emotions. Sometimes we try to remain calm, but we aren’t always like that. The way the fans have got behind us also provides emotions that affect us, and the 2-1 victory was an explosion of all that, with Edu and the stadium. The energy that you feel in the Sporting CP family is indescribable. I’m happy for Edu, who is a special player here, but I would be happy if someone else scored too.”

The possibility of becoming league champions
“I don’t have any burden to do that. My happiness comes from coaching Sporting CP. I really value where I came from, because I worked hard to get here. It’s not a burden, it’s happiness about being at Sporting CP. I’m fighting for trophies, and that happiness is much greater than the pressure.”

Difficulties playing inside and ‘activating’ Gyökeres in the game
“They defended in front of the box, which is difficult for Viktor and any other striker to overcome. There were always two competitive and fast defenders in front of him, covering 2-on-1, who created this difficulty. They created these difficulties for us. We had a lot of interior play and ‘one-twos’, but the space was so limited that we made more mistakes. Inspiration is not always at its peak.”

Sporting CP strike in stoppage time to stay top of the table

Two late goals earned Sporting Clube de Portugal a 2-1 turnaround against Gil Vicente FC, on the antepenultimate matchday of the Liga Portugal season. Maxi Araújo and Eduardo Quaresma were the scorers for a Sporting CP side who remain in the driving seat in the standings, heading into next weekend's huge derby against SL Benfica.

To face a Gil Vicente FC in 14th place and coming off two wins – and needing just one point to mathematically guarantee their survival, Rui Borges made just two changes to his starting XI. Jeremiah St. Juste came into the centre of the defensive trio, replacing the suspended Ousmane Diomande, and Hidemasa Morita started for the first time since March 15th, in place of Morten Hjulmand.

Before the game, there was a minute's silence in memory of José Carlos, a former captain of Sporting CP who was also one of the 'Heroes of 1964.'

The first chance came almost immediately, as Francisco Trincão shot went slightly wide. Sporting CP continually entered the Gil Vicente area successively, but without the required accuracy to open the scoring.

At the other end, the visitors made a transition, for the first time, after the quarter hour. Zeno Debast had to make a sliding tackle to prevent the danger in the area.

Sporting CP went behind in the 25th minute, as a penalty was called against St. Juste. The club's former academy player, Félix Correia, converted the spot kick to make it 0-1.

Despite their constant efforts to equalise, Sporting CP continued to lack the final ball to provide the breakthrough, and went into halftime trailing.

In the second period, Pedro Gonçalves opened up the chances with a strike still narrowly wide of the post. With the game becoming increasingly tense and with no changes on the scoreboard, after the hour mark, Rui Borges took a risk and made three substitutions at once, bringing on Hjulmand, Geovany Quenda and Conrad Harder for St. Juste, Morita and ‘Pote’.

Increasingly, Sporting CP were camped out in the opponent's half, and often in the Gil Vicente area, but neither the numerous crosses nor the many attempted combinations reached their intended recipient.

However, their persistence would bear fruit in the 81st minute, when they finally found an equaliser. A blocked shot by Harder fell to Maxi Araújo in the area, and the Uruguayan fired home as the packed stands at Alvalade erupted.

Sporting CP went all out, and first of all had Trincão denied a great goal when his shot hit the post.

The game moved into stoppage time, and finally the turnaround was compleded by Eduardo Quaresma. Following a corner, the ball ended up on the edge of the area, where he took a perfect shot that left goalkeeper Andrew Ventura rooted to the spot.

A hard fought 2-1 win made it 15 consecutive games unbeaten, heading into the most anticipated and decisive derby in living memory.

At the Estádio da Luz on Saturday (6pm), the game away to Benfica could see either side clinch the title. Sporting CP would win the league in the event of victory in the derby, whilst a draw would keep them in first place, despite the equal points – as a result of the 1-0 victory in the first encounter this season.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Eduardo Quaresma, Jeremiah St. Juste (Morten Hjulmand, 63’), Gonçalo Inácio [C], Geny Catamo (Biel Teixeira, 83’), Zeno Debast, Hidemasa Morita (Geovany Quenda, 63’), Maxi Araújo, Francisco Trincão (Matheus Reis, 90+5’), Pedro Gonçalves (Conrad Harder, 63’) and Viktor Gyökeres.

Sporting CP host Gil Vicente FC on Sunday (8:30pm)

Back at the Estádio José Alvalade, Sporting Clube de Portugal face Gil Vicente FC this Sunday in the antepenultimate matchday of the Liga Portugal season.

On the eve of the match, coach Rui Borges gave a press conference to look at the vital game for the team's title challenge.

Focusing exclusively on Gil Vicente FC
“We always look only at the next game. There’s no point in looking to the future or the past. We’re focusing on Gil Vicente FC, a team who have won their last two games without conceding a goal, are motivated and have almost guaranteed their place in the top flight for next season. They’re coming into the game calm, scoring more goals away from home and haven’t lost in their last three road games. We have to be alert, serious and focused, which is what we’ve been doing in the last few games. We’ve grown at every level and now we want to keep that up -and always demand a little more.”

Morten Hjulmand being one yellow card away from a suspension
“Morten and Matheus [Reis] have been talked about a lot during this week, because they will be ‘in the running’ for the derby and are called up for this game. That’s all I can say. They are in the squad and available. I’m not going to say which team I will field, because I’ve never said that. It’s a decision that’s up to us, as a coaching staff. We’re going to try to compete and win the game, regardless of who plays. We’re talking about Sporting CP players, who are aware of what they can and cannot do and who they are.”

A draw guaranteeing Gil Vicente FC's survival
“Above all, I believe that Gil Vicente FC will come here to play the game calmly. Their coach [César Peixoto] has said several times that he likes attractive football, so they are a team who like to play and have the ball. They are certain to stay up. They need a point to achieve that mathematically, but they have practically achieved it already. I think they are a team that come into this one without that pressure and we have to look at what Gil Vicente FC have been like before. Defensively they have been more cohesive and we have to find a way to overcome that barrier, regardless of whether it is a medium, low or high block.

Not yet looking to the derby
“In the coach’s mind, there’s only Gil Vicente FC, and in the players’ minds I believe that is the case as weel. That’s the response they’ve given. It’s all up to us, and the most important game is the one against Gil Vicente FC. If we’re focused on the future, it’s going to cost us dearly. At the moment, every game is decisive.”

Possible options for the game
“I will think about tomorrow’s game and, above all, about the confidence I have in the group. There are players who are returning, like Morita and ‘Pote’, who are important and are only getting better at the moment. They are players I trust and who we also need. Of course, we look at everything and it is important to look at all the factors that exist in a game. There is internal communication and we will make the best decision for tomorrow’s game. I'm completely calm, because we will play with 11 players. Back in the first game we played in Barcelos, we had Zeno [Debast] and [Alexandre] Brito in midfield and we won.

The importance of goal difference in a possible title tiebreaker
“It could be decisive, but in my mind it’s about winning, because that way we won’t need the goal difference. It would only depend on us.”

The “good energy” at the club
“The team are focused, are thinking about Gil Vicente FC, are motivated and have great energy. This is felt in the game, along with the energy that our fans have given us. I never tire of saying that they have been fantastic. Tomorrow, Alvalade will be sold out and I hope that the support will be the same as it has been up to now.”

The coach expresses his thoughts on the 0-5 win

At the end of the impressive 0-5 victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal away to Boavista FC, coach Rui Borges gave a press conference to answer questions from journalists.

The fans at Bessa
"It wasn't just here. It started yesterday when we left Alvalade, when we arrived at the hotel, when we left the hotel and when we arrived at Bessa. The task becomes easier when we are surrounded by people who believe in us. It makes the atmosphere different and leads to challenges becoming achievements. They have made us feel that they believe in us, like we believe in ourselves. With that confidence, everything is different, and you can see it on the pitch. There are no words to describe what the fans have given us. I have no doubt that they will continue to give that to us."

Ousmane Diomande's yellow card
"It happens in games. I'm thinking about Gil Vicente FC, so it's not worth thinking any further ahead. We have to be completely committed and focused on the next game."

Viktor Gyökeres
"He's a competitive animal -in a good way. He gives a lot to the team, not just his goals. He is committed to defensive tasks and reactions, which makes me happy. He knows he gives a lot to the team, but he also knows what the team give him to be successful in scoring goals."

A perfect night
"It was a perfect night because of the fans, who were fantastic. It's impossible not to get goosebumps. I believe the players felt it as much as -or more than- I did. The night was perfect in that sense. In terms of the game, the team have been growing and becoming more consistent. They understand better when we have to step up or not. It was a very good night all around."

Pedro Gonçalves
"The way we handle him is down to Pedro and what we feel. He was out for five months, not one. He didn't have a whole week to recover from the 45 minutes he played in Paços de Ferreira. We have to be careful with the physical side of things. We want him with us and we don't want to lose him for any other reason. He is aware of the demands and the time he can give us. He is honest and understands his body, which means a lot."

The team win 0-5 against Boavista in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal's visit to Boavista FC ended in a 0-5 victory on Matchday 31 of the Liga Portugal season. Viktor Gyökeres scored four times, with Maxi Araújo adding another, as the team claimed another comprehensive win.

Coach Rui Borges made three changes to the starting lineup, with Eduardo Quaresma, Geny Catamo and Maxi Araújo coming in to replace Jeremiah St Juste, Iván Fresneda and Matheus Reis. On the bench, Hidemasa Morita was back after more than a month out through injury.

After observing a minute's silence in memory of Pope Francis, the travelling mass of Sporting CP fans made plenty of noise throughout the game.

The team created the first dangerous move after just two minutes, when Francisco Trincão's shot was met by a good save from Tomáš Vaclík.

It didn't take long for the scoring to be opened, however: After just six minutes, Maxi Araújo regained possession and worked his way down the left, before assisting for Gyökeres in the penalty area to make it 0-1.

Boavista FC responded through Reisinho, who headed against the crossbar, but it was Sporting CP who continued to threaten. Gyökeres forced Tomáš Vaclík to work again, and the goalkeeper made another intervention in the 16th minute, this time fromTrincão.

A Gyökeres free kick and a chance for Pedro Gonçalves both went wide, and on 33 minutes Trincão crossed for the former to head slightly off target.

Sporting CP's momentum dropped a little towards the final minutes of the first half, although they were still in control of the game, and their second goal arrived in stoppage time.

Morten Hjulmand recovered the ball and passed it to Trincão, who picked out Gyökeres on the run. The striker smashed the ball hard into the back of the net for his 50th goal for the club in 2024/25.

For the second half, Geovany Quenda replaced Gonçalves and reached 50 games for the main team, becoming the youngest player of all time to achieve the milestone. The 17-year-old started well and had a shot in the 48th minute, but Vaclík saved.

Two minutes later, it was 0-3, again from Gyökeres: Another great collective play and another assist from Trincão saw the striker appearing on the right and shooting between the goalkeeper's legs for the hat-trick.

Sporting CP were unstoppable and made it 0-4 just seven minutes later, when Gyökeres was sent through at pace. When Vaclík saved his shot, Maxi Araújo fired in the rebound.

Boavista FC managed little more than a header from Róbert Boženík that went wide, and the game took on a much slower pace with Sporting CP's significant advantage.

Ousmane Diomande shot wide, Geny Catamo gave Vaclík more work and, in the 68th minute, Rui Borges brought on Hidemasa Morita and Matheus Reis in place of Morten Hjulmand and Maxi Araújo. The Japanese midfielder was involved straight away with a great pass to Gyökeres, but this time it was the goalkeeper who got the better of the striker.

Before the end, late substitute Conrad Harder set up Gyökeres, who grabbed his fourth goal of the game and 38th in Liga Portugal to cap the contest.

A 0-5 win keeps Sporting CP in a strong position at the top of the table, and their next game will be against Gil Vicente FC at 8:30 pm on Sunday, May 4th, at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande (Jeremiah St. Juste, 90'), Gonçalo Inácio, Geny Catamo (Conrad Harder, 77'), Morten Hjulmand [C] (Hidemasa Morita, 68'), Zeno Debast, Maxi Araújo (Matheus Reis, 68'), Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves (Geovany Quenda, 45') and Viktor Gyökeres.