Games will be played in February and March

Sporting CP will face Manchester City in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. The draw for the first knockout stage of the competition, which took place in Nyon on Monday, had initially pitted the reigning Portuguese champions against Italian side Juventus, but was subsequently retaken after an administrative mistake was discovered.

The new draw produced a new fixture for Sporting CP, who now meet the Premier League champions and current league leaders. Manchester City were losing finalists in last year's edition of the Champions League.

The first leg of this tie will be played in February, with the return leg in March.

The coach states that Sporting CP deserved their victory against Boavista FC

Following the victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal against Boavista FC, coach Rúben Amorim attended the press conference to analyse the match.

He began by admitting that he "had the feeling" that Sporting CP could have scored more goals, but also that they "could have suffered, and Adán did what he did."

"We created opportunities,with many shots inside the area. We could -and should- have scored more goals. There is some fatigue; not so much physical, but mental fatigue. It's normal, and the players are all getting used to it at a different pace. Even the coach himself is getting acclimated to it. You have to always maintain a lot of energy, but that's what a big club demands. We had an excellent game and there's no doubt about the winner," he told the media.

Of the importance of continuing in first place in Liga Portugal, the coach stated that the team "don't look at the table too much."

"It's good to be in the top places, but it's not significant now. We have to win our games. Winning them all, we will be first. We have to prepare our players for these situations. Today, once again, Porro had to go off at halftime, and it opened up an opportunity for [Gonçalo] Esteves."

Asked about Paulinho's absence due to a positive COVID-19 test, Amorim said that "the team did not suffer in his absence, but we are stronger when he is available. We created opportunities, and had many shots inside the area. We didn't score in the first half, but we scored in the second. Not conceding goals is very important. What matters is that Paulinho doesn't have any symptoms. For me, that's the main thing."

Sporting CP's next game is in Penafiel, in the Taça da Liga, and Amorim explained that rotations could be made.

"We rotated a lot in the Champions League, but that doesn't mean that we will do that for the Taça da Liga. FC Penafiel won today, they have a good team and are very organised, and we can't rotate everyone. There are players who have to rest. It's not because the game is in the Taça da Liga. We're going to switch players because we have to bring fresh people into the games, because the team lives off energy."

The return of Sebastián Coates merited a comment from the coach, who was pleased to have his captain back.

"Coates is very special for us. Just the way he spoke in the dressing room before the game was important. Looking at the players when he's talking, you see that he is very important. He hadn't trained, but he had an excellent game and we really need him."
He also spoke about the young talent, Flávio Nazinho.

"His chances to play depend on Nazinho and the characteristics of the opponent. Everyone knows that the young players are an option. They can play as starters in the Champions League, in the Taça da Liga and in Liga Portugal, or they might not play in any competition. He did very well defensively, and was focused. Offensively, he has already shown a little of what he is. He will start to gain momentum and will manage to play 90 minutes. Whether he is an option depends on him and the opponent, but more on him."

The 2-0 triumph maintains the team's position in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal won their Matchday 14 away game against Boavista FC 2-0 at the Estádio José Alvalade, as Pablo Sarabia and Nuno Santos struck in the second half for the reigning champions.

Rúben Amorim made several changes to the starting XI from the youthful team that took to the pitch against AFC Ajax in Amsterdam in midweek. Antonio Adán, Sebastián Coates, Pedro Porro, Matheus Nunes, Pedro Gonçalves and Pablo Sarabia were brought back in, whilst Flávio Nazinho made his starting debut.

The game kicked off with an animated opening quarter hour, with chances for both sides. In the seventh minute, Pedro Gonçalves crossed and Sebastián Coates -returning from a spell out with Covid-19- forced a save from Alireza Beiranvand. In response, shortly thereafter, Gorré found space and shot, met by an excellent intervention by Antonio Adán.

After a great opportunity for the home team, in which Pedro Porro shot, was called back for offside, Boavista FC started to provide further scares. Jackson Porozo attempted to set up Yusupha, who narrowly missed the ball across to him.

However, from there it was one-way traffic in the first half. Pedro Porro crossed for Nuno Santos from the right, with Beiranvand again making a save. From the corner kick that followed, Gonçalo Inácio headed over, and shortly thereafter a counterattack ended with a shot from Pedro Gonçalves that went inches outside the post.

Around half an hour into the game, Pablo Sarabia sent a cross into the heart of the area, but after a scramble nobody managed to shoot on goal. Matheus Reis also came close, five minutes later.

Sporting CP managed to put the ball into the net in the 43rd minute, when a great move on the left side put Matheus Nunes through. He player to Porro, who scored, before VAR disallowed the goal for offside against Nunes.

After a goalless first half, the opening 15 minutes of the second half turned out to be decisive for the final outcome. Before the goals, however, Manuel Ugarte threatened with a shot that just missed the target.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 53rd minute, as a quick attack saw Gonçalves launch the ball to Nuno Santos, who crossed for Pablo Sarabia to score inside the box. It was his third consecutive league game on the scoresheet, and handed a 1-0 lead to Sporting CP.

Less than ten minutes later, Sarabia returned the favour, picking out Nuno Santos to make it 2-0.

A great opportunity to increase the lead came on 81 minutes, off a counter from which Sarabia laid up the ball to Gonçalves. The latter missed with an imprecise shot, in his last contribution before being replaced by Bruno Tabata.

Before the end, Reis shot wide and Tabata had a strike saved by the Boavista goalkeeper, but Sporting CP would claim the three points and remain Liga Portugal leaders. Next up is a game against FC Penafiel in the Taça da Liga.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis, Pedro Porro (Ricardo Esgaio, 45'), Manuel Ugarte (Daniel Bragança, 67'), Matheus Nunes, Flávio Nazinho (Luís Neto, 75'), Pedro Gonçalves (Bruno Tabata, 85'), Nuno Santos (Tiago Tomás, 67') and Pablo Sarabia.

The coach talks to the press before Sporting CP vs. Boavista FC

Sporting Clube de Portugal host Boavista FC this Saturday in Liga Portugal action, and coach Rúben Amorim is not expecting it to be an easy contest. He spoke in a pre-game press conference on Friday in order to preview the game.

“The team are doing very well. There were players who didn't have that much rhythm and who had a good game against a good team in midweek. The team are confident and prepared for this match, against a coach who always gives us a lot of problems."

"(New Boavista coach) Petit knows what to do to counter our movements, but we also know what to do. We are prepared and we know them well. I know we will have a full house at the stadium and we have to keep up our pace and play well  to keep our fans excited -because they are very important to us."

Winning takes on added importance after the defeat to Ajax in the Champions League.

“We lost the last game and we're in a big hurry to win, because we haven't won for a week," said Amorim. "We have this urgency and it is a very important game for us."

“The team are already used to switching from European to domestic competition. The most important thing is how this game is going to be. This will be different from the game against SL Benfica and AFC Ajax; we cannot let the ball get away from us, nor be hasty."

Amorim confirmed that he will not have João Palhinha, Jovane Cabral, Rúben Vinagre or Paulinho available for the match, although the club captain will return.

"Coates is going to be given the all-clear tomorrow, and if he gets here and tells me he's ready to play, then he's going to play. He's more than a player for us."

The defender puts pen to paper on a one-year extension

Luís Neto has renewed his contract with Sporting Clube de Portugal through to June 2023. The centre back, who joined in 2019/20, will be 35 at the end of the new deal.

Speaking after the signing of the agreement, Neto said that "I feel extremely happy. I was very happy with the willingness shown by the entire structure to keep me here, which matched my desire to continue to be part of this project. It's a good time to be part of Sporting CP and, therefore, I'm very happy to be able to extend this experience and adventure at the club for another year”.

Neto is one of the most experienced players in the squad, and has a firm belief in the project that has been developed.

“Sporting CP have solid principles, an idea and a project that goes hand-in-hand with everybody's view. This structure works very well, although without a doubt we can still improve. I believe that, with what we achieved last year and what we have been doing this year, we can augur a great future for Sporting CP and consolidate this project as much as possible".

“If we stay on the same path, this project can only improve. I'm an integral part of it, and one of the players here to make things go in the best way”, he said.

“This is the idea from the club: To always be able to improve. The idea is clear and I identify a lot with these values".

"Sporting CP has several leaders: The president, Hugo Viana and Rúben Amorim in the backroom; and in the dressing room, of course, we have the older players like Adán, Coates and Feddal. It's up to us to provide support and make sure the young kids can show their potential, teaching them that every day is a day in which we can do better and gain something. I've accepted that since I came here at age 30, and it's a joy to see that we're already at a higher level".

“I know I can continue to help a lot, on and off the pitch. I'm renewing for another year, knowing that I'm a Leão for life", explained the central defender, who in two and a half seasons has played 63 games and is one of the captains of the team.

Leaving a message to the fans, he said that "They will always have a team here to honour Sporting CP's values, whether at home or away. Taking things game-by-game, we will try as hard as possible in all competitions. We know that there are better phases and worse phases, but we are prepared to beat any team and we are not going to make it easy for the others".

“It is a source of pride to be part of this family. I identify a lot with the club and I know that, all together, we can improve even more”, he concluded.

​A 4-2 defeat defeat to Ajax allows several players to debut in the Champions League

A youthful Sporting Clube de Portugal side lost in the team's final Champions League group stage game, played against AFC Ajax in front of an empty Johan Cruijff Arena. The 4-2 result was of little consequence, with Sporting CP already through to the knockout stages of the competition.

Coach Rúben Amorim took the opportunity to give minutes to players who had featured less frequently so far this season, fielding the club's youngest ever Champions League starting lineup.  João Virgínia, Luís Neto, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Reis, Gonçalo Esteves, Daniel Bragança, Manuel Ugarte, Ricardo Esgaio, Nuno Santos, Tiago Tomás and Bruno Tabata had an average age of 23.95 years. Ajax, in contrast, made just two changes from the first game between the two teams.

AFC Ajax took the lead eight minutes into the game, from the penalty spot. Daniel Bragança fouled Sébastien Haller in the area, VAR intervened and Italian referee Davide Massa awarded the penalty, which Haller himself put past João Virgínia.

Sporting CP responded minutes later, as Gonçalo Esteves -the club's youngest ever Champions League starter, at 17 years and 283 days -, set up Bruno Tabata and the latter shot over the crossbar.

Opportunities followed for both sides, with AFC Ajax creating greater danger in the area, but Sporting CP would find an equaliser: Bruno Tabata spotted Nuno Santos on the edge of the area, crossed from the left and the No.11 struck out of the reach of goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.

At the start of the last five minutes of the first-half, João Virgínia made two saves, but was unable to keep out a shot that had fallen at the feet of Ajax's Antony.

With Ajax 2-1 up, the second half started with fewer chances. It was not until 60 minutes that the next goal was scored, and it went to the home team. Nuno Santos slipped up, Perr Schuurs recovered the ball and ran to the edge of the area, and crossed for David Neres to finish.

Amorim soon made two substitutions, with Nuno Santos and Tiago Tomás making way for Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho.

Sporting CP would concede a fourth goal when Steven Berghius received the ball on the right, taking Ricardo Esgaio out of the equation and shooting inside the far post.

The second half subs came back with a good opportunity: A combination between Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho, who shot low for a save by Remko Pasveer.

Pablo Sarabia and Flávio Nazinho were introduced in further changes, and on 78 minutes Sarabia began a goalscoring move, running up the right, laying off to Ricardo Esgaio for him to cross. Paulinho flicked on and Bruno Tabata made it 4-2.

Dário Essugo came on after 82 minutes, breaking Gonçalo Esteves' records for both the youngest ever Sporting CP player to feature in the Champions League and also the youngest Portuguese ever to do it - at 16 years and 268 days old.

A 4-2 defeat closed the Champions League Group Stage, with Sporting CP finishing with a total of three wins and three defeats, second in Group C with nine points, 14 goals scored (a club record) and 12 conceded.

The Sporting CP coach promises a revamped starting XI against Ajax

With a place in the Last 16 of the Champions League already secured, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim admitted in his pre-match press conference that he will use the game against AFC Ajax to field some less frequently used players.

“We are not going to change the way we play, but we are going to play with a few different players," he told the media.

"One of Gonçalo Esteves and Flávio Nazinho will start tomorrow, and João Virgínia will also be in there, because we have a decision to make at the end of the year and we have to watch him play right now,” said the coach.

“Our objective is much bigger than records and consecutive victories. We want to prepare our players for the Round of 16, bring everyone to the same level and give some young players the opportunity to start. We have a long-term project and we make use of every minute available. We know we have to honor the shirt that we wear, but there are certain moments that give us the opportunity to go further with the growth of everyone in our squad," he stressed.

“We are Sporting CP and the pressure on us is the same as always. The result in Alvalade affected us, but that also gave us strength,” he recalled.

“The only way for us to win the competitions we take part in is to prepare everyone and trust in everyone. I think we are going to have a great game tomorrow," he added.

"We have to win and should always be thinking about the future. Players who don't have that many minutes are hungry to play and deserve to play. Sometimes it's easy to say that the group is very united, but that's only because we believe in everyone a lot, and we're giving everyone the opportunity. When I say 'the opportunity,' I'm not taking responsibility away from them. Tomorrow the Sporting CP team will play to win."

The midfielder promises maximum focus against Ajax

Daniel Bragança addressed the media before a training session at the Johan Cruijff Arena, held on the eve of Sporting CP's game against Ajax.

The midfielder made clear his side's ambition for the match, saying that: “It will be a very difficult game because we are up against great teams in our group. There are no easy games in the Champions League, but we will do everything to win."

“We are a great club, and we represent Sporting CP. So we look at each game with the mentality of winning. Tomorrow will be no exception, and that is what we are going to try to do: Win, enjoy ourselves, evolve and grow in this competition," he stressed.

The young talent also spoke about what he considers he has to do to be a more regular starter: “Work harder and take every opportunity to be at my best level. Then it's up to the coach, and to us to prove, every day, that we are prepared to give our best."

The Sporting CP coach gives his verdict on the derby win

At the end of the 1-3 victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal away to SL Benfica, coach Rúben Amorim attended the press conference to analyse the derby.

He began by explaining that the absences of João Palhinha and Sebastián Coates, among others, were well covered.

"We have a small squad, but a very united one. It has advantages and disadvantages, and today things went well. If the result was different, with [Zouhair] Feddal going off, then people would say that we have few central defenders. The players are prepared", he told the media.

"The players were perfect in the way they adapted to what SL Benfica did, playing between the lines with Rafa and up top with Darwin. Gonçalo Inácio had a brilliant game in the middle", he stated.

"We were able to suffer when we had to suffer and we killed when we had to kill. It was an excellent game, but we need to improve. Today, Sporting CP were better than SL Benfica. You could say that the game is worth more than three points, but for me, it's up to me to say that it's only three points. This can change from one moment to another if we're not intense. I don't want to say that it wasn't a great, special game for Sporting CP players, but it's up to me to say that it was only three points", he added.

Amorim considered that Sporting CP "were always comfortable in the game".

"When we scored our first, we managed to control the game. We were the better side because my players understood the game better than the SL Benfica players. We could have scored more goals, but we could also have suffered more. We were superior and deserved the victory".

"I demand maximum commitment and maximum personality. Today, we were inspired. Everything went well for us and we had a great game. What matters is the way we look at the games, our personality and our consistency".

The coach also revealed that João Palhinha and Rúben Vinagre accompanied the team to the Estádio da Luz, and that Jovane Cabral spent the day with the team. In addition, Sebastián Coates "made a video call with his teammates and sent a message to the coach".

"We made Coates proud and if there's anyone we want to make proud, it's Coates. This is for all Sportinguistas, but especially Coates".

Finally, Amorim praised Manuel Ugarte and Paulinho. "Due to the lack of playing time that he [Manuel Ugarte] has had, the personality and quality he showed with the ball surprised me a lot. (...) Paulinho is giving what the fans expected of him now. I've been expecting it since the first day he arrived", he concluded.

A 1-3 derby win against SL Benfica makes a statement in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal emerged victorious in their derby with SL Benfica on Liga Portugal Matchday 13, winning 1-3 thanks to goals from Pablo Sarabia, Paulinho and Matheus Nunes.

The reigning league champions had some early adversity to overcome, with captain Sebastián Coates unavailable for the encounter with their cross-town rivals. Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro, Matheus Reis and Manuel Ugarte came into the starting lineup, with Ricardo Esgaio, Nuno Santos and João Palhinha dropping out.

In the stands, thousands of Sportinguistas filled the away section, and made themselves heard long before kickoff.

The first 45 minutes turned out to be a true masterclass by Rúben Amorim's side. Despite the two yellow cards shown to Zouhair Feddal and Paulinho a few seconds after the game got underway, it was Sporting CP who began better, with shots from Pedro Porro and Pablo Sarabia.

The opening goal came in the eighth minute, when an excellent move ended with a fantastic cross from Pedro Gonçalves to Pablo Sarabia, who struck first time past a static Odysseas to make it 0-1.

SL Benfica tried to attack with intensity, but the visitors soaked up the pressure and controlled the midfield. Grimaldo's header, saved by Antonio Adán, was the first and only shot by the home team in the first half.

Sporting CP then enjoyed several scoring opportunities. First, Gonçalves missed the target when in an excellent position -with the flag later raised for offside. Then, in the 37th minute, a counterattack concluded with an attempt that came back off the post.

A goal for Paulinho, disallowed by VAR for offside, took the game into the interval, with Sporting CP having had less possession (65% to 35%), but much more shots (1-6) and more corners (1-3), as well as taking the lead.

Zouhair Feddal made way for Ricardo Esgaio at the start of the second half and SL Benfica turned up the heat upon the restart, and hit the post through Darwin's header. Shortly thereafter, João Mário went through on Adán, but the Spanish keeper calmly sent the ball away.

On the counterattack that followed, Sporting CP took the score to 0-2. Matheus Nunes covered plenty of ground with the ball and set up Paulinho perfectly, with the striker providing a classy finish.

A Rafa Silva chance off the post was SL Benfica's response, but on 68 minutes the win was put beyond all doubt: Another tremendous sprint by Matheus Nunes sent him through to close in on Odysseas, beating him with a shot.

A Pizzi goal prevented a Sporting CP clean sheet, but the 1-3 result gave Os Leões the win, the league lead and a 12th consecutive victory in all competitions. They will now visit AFC Ajax for the sixth and final matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Luís Neto [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Zouhair Feddal (Ricardo Esgaio, 55'), Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte (Daniel Bragança, 90+2'), Matheus Nunes, Matheus Reis, Pedro Gonçalves (Nuno Santos, 90+2'), Pablo Sarabia (Pablo Sarabia, 83') and Paulinho.