The midfielder signs a new deal through to 2025

Matheus Nunes extended his contract with Sporting Clube de Portugal until 2025 this Tuesday, with a buyout clause of 60 million euros.

Beginning his career at GDU Ericeirense, he moved to GD Estoril Praia at the beginning of the 2018/2019 season, going on to sign for Sporting CP in the winter transfer window to play for the Under-23s. In the 2019/2020 campaign, Rúben Amorim promoted him to the first team.

“It is a source of immense pride," the 22-year-old told Sporting CP media. "I have worked all my life for this moment, with the help of my parents and the people around me. I have never given up; even when there were very difficult moments, like everyone has. I think my persistence will pay off as time goes on."

"It's not just down to me. My teammates also play a role. The opportunity was given to me by the coach, and I took it. This renewal is the result of a number of things happening at the same time, not just because of having played well and lived up to expectations," he added.

Finally, the midfielder explained that he did not believe he could get to this moment so quickly, but was already looking at future goals.

"I want to train, play as many games as possible, help the team achieve their objectives and, if possible, win many trophies with Sporting CP. I will give everything for the fans and for the club."

Goals from Šporar, Tiago Tomás and Pedro Gonçalves

Sporting Clube de Portugal moved up to second in the Liga NOS table with a midweek win over Gil Vicente FC, besting the visitors to the Estádio José Alvalade 3-1 in the rescheduled Matchday 1 fixture.

Rúben Amorim fielded the same starting eleven as in the win over CD Santa Clara: Adán, Neto, Coates, Feddal, Porro, Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Mendes, Nuno Santos and Jovane Cabral. However, the winning goals came from substitutes Šporar and Tiago Tomás.

The first half saw chances for Jovane Cabral, Pedro Gonçalves and Feddal, but none of the trio were able to put them away and the game went into the break 0-0.

Gil Vicente FC surprised Sporting CP at the start of the first half, as Lucas Mineiro turned in Talocha's 52nd minute free kick and put them ahead.

For half an hour, the visitors held out. But it took just a two-minute spell late on in the game for Sporting CP to rally. On 82 minutes, a move on the left that Nuno Santos had tried to finish fell to Šporar at the back post, and he nodded in the equaliser.

 On 82 minutes, second half substitute Daniel Bragança received a cutback from Šporar and set up Tiago Tomás, who only had to push the ball over the line to make it 2 -1.

Before the end of stoppage time, Pedro Gonçalves racked up his third goal in two games to extend the lead, as Os Leões triumphed 3-1. Their next game takes place on Sunday at 8pm, against CD Tondela.

The Sporting CP coach was impressed with his side's Matchday 5 display

Following the victory over CD Santa Clara on Liga NOS Matchday 5, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim, was pleased with the performance his players produced.

"It was one-way traffic in the game. We did very well in the first half, with a good dynamic. We had several opportunities to score and then, at the end of the first half -just as happened against FC Porto- we conceded the goal when we had the game under control. That might affect a young team, but it didn't," he said in his post-match press conference.

"In the second half it was also only Sporting CP who wanted to win the game, although at certain times we did not have the same quality. CD Santa Clara also withdrew their line even further. The players who came on performed well and provided a lot of strength for the team. Everyone deserves congratulations".

"We were very strong on our transitions. CD Santa Clara wanted to come forward and couldn't do it, so only sent long balls upfield for which our defenders were prepared. Matheus Nunes had a great first half, and Palhinha is a player we had been lacking. The way he keeps the game in the opponent's midfield by being the first to react to the loss of possession is very good. Then João Mário came on to replace Matheus and showed his quality. We had more of the ball and that gave the last push for us to take the win".

Sporting CP win 1-2 in the Azores

Sporting Clube de Portugal claimed a 1-2 win in the Azores against CD Santa Clara on Matchday 5 of the Liga NOS season, thanks to a brace from Pedro Gonçalves.

The game was the first of the campaign in which Os Leões were able to play in front of fans, with around 1,000 supporters permitted into the stadium.

Gonçalves opens the scoring

Coach Rúben Amorim opted to field the same starting XI as in O Clássico against FC Porto last week.

The first danger from the team came in the 13th minute, with Pedro Gonçalves setting up Nuno Santos. In a good spot inside the box, he would strike into the body of the SD Santa Clara goalkeeper.

The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes, with Gonçalves scoring his first goal of the season in the league. After beating an opposition player on the left wing, he broke into the box and shot from a narrow angle into the bottom corner.

Sporting CP had CD Santa Clara on the ropes and appeared to be comfortable, but in the 43rd minute the home team managed to equalise through Thiago Santana.

Moments later, in an almost immediate response, Jovane Cabral came very close to giving the advantage back to OS Leões, but fired the ball wide. It was the last chance of note in the first half.

The winning goal arrives late

After the restart the precision of both teams' passing play dropped, and Rúben Amorim decided to bring on strikers Tiago Tomás and Andraž Šporar. João Mário would later be introduced for Matheus Nunes in the midfield after the hour mark.

Šporar had two great opportunities to make it 1-2, but was off target on both occasions.

After 80th minutes the second goal finally arrived. Gonçalves completed his brace after being played through on goal, taking advantage of a risky run off the line by the home goalkeeper.

Off the back of a 1-2 win that keeps them unbeaten in Liga NOS action, Sporting CP play Gil Vicente FC on Wednesday in a rescheduled fixture.

The game will be played on November 22nd

Sporting CP will face SG Sacavenense in their opening fixture of the Taça de Portugal, the country's premier cup competition. The draw for the tournament was made on Thursday.

The team will travel to Sacavém on November 22nd for the fixture, in the Third Round of the cup.

SG Sacavenense are currently top of Série F of the Portuguese league structure, and have reached this stage of the competition thanks to wins in the opening two rounds: Rui Gomes' side opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over SU Sintrense, then bested Ançã FC 3-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time.

The Sporting CP coach responded to controversy in O Clássico

Following the 2-2 draw for Sporting CP against FC Porto, coach Rúben Amorim - who was sent off in the final moments of the first half - spoke in his post-match press conference, offering his thoughts on the game and criticising referee Luís Godinho's decisions.

The result
"It was clear that Sporting CP were the better team, besides for a few minutes in the first half. We should have won this game. We missed a few chances one-on-one with the goalkeeper. At times we had some clear spaces that we weren’t able to make the most of, and that’s just down to inexperience. We have a team of lions here. We drew against FC Porto, but we dropped two points."

His sending off
"There was a lot of ‘dual criteria.’ I accept the blame because I shouldn't have said what I said, but I hear the same things being said every week, and even shortly before I had heard worse from elsewhere. I was disgusted with the difference in criteria. I accept my punishment, but what I didn’t like was the double standard."

"My staff know what to do, so my sending off didn’t have any influence on the game."

The reversed penalty decision
"The referee had an influence on the result. For me, it is an obvious penalty. We have been unlucky with VAR. Last year, there was an incident in Moreira de Cónegos in which Sebastian Coates was pulled down and nothing was given. Now, a player is in the air with an opposition player’s arm on his back. For me, it's a penalty. Obviously I was annoyed because it was a big moment for the team. It was an important moment in the game."

Sérgio Conceição’s comments that Sporting CP should be happier with the draw
"It is better for everyone to look at the game itself, and not at what is said about it. I am very proud of my players. Congratulations to them. We missed out on two points, but I felt that the group were disappointed about that in the dressing room - which is a good sign."

Changes of position during the game
"It was planned. You could see by the result and the way we got into the FC Porto area that everyone knew what to do. We changed positions in training and the players were not lost. Quite the contrary."

The pressure of being a coach
"We have to win the next game, because we are at a club with the highest demands. I feel great pressure because that is how our profession is. I chose to coach Sporting CP and I have to be prepared for that."

Santos and Vietto score against FC Porto as the points are shared

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 2-2 with FC Porto in 'O Clássico' on Saturday night at the Estadio José Alvalade, thanks to goals either side of half time by Nuno Santos and Luciano Vietto. The main talking point of the game, however, would be a decision reversed by referee Luis Godinho that possibly denied the team victory.

The players took to the pitch wearing a replica of Rui Jordão's jersey from the 1979/1980 season, for one of Liga NOS' showcase games. It was FC Porto who created the first dangerous opportunity, in the opening minute, but Antonio Adán would make a good save. Os Leões would have their first chance shortly thereafter, when João Palhinha and Jovane Cabral combined well and Matheus Nunes was unable to convert the one-on-one.

The goal was not long in coming, however. On 9 minutes, a poor clearance of a Pedro Porro cross allowed the ball to fall to Nuno Santos, who struck first time with his left foot to give goalkeeper Marchesín no chance and make it 1-0.

FC Porto would level through Uribe on 25 minutes, as the game sprung into life. Pedro Goncalves and Nuno Santos both enjoyed chances, with the former hitting the ball just wide of goal.

Despite Sporting CP's frequent attacks, it would be the visitors who pulled ahead in the last minute of regular time in the first half, with Corona taking the score to 1-2.

Controversy abounded in stoppage time, when Pedro Gonçalves was knocked down by Zaidu in the area and referee Luís Godinho awarded a penalty, showing a second yellow card to the FC Porto defender. However, after consulting VAR, he reversed the decision -to the dismay of Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim, who was sent off for his protests.

The pace of the game dropped in the second half, as did the number of chances on goal. Nuno Mendes and Pedro Gonçalves were the first to attempt an equaliser, but their shots were both off target. On the defensive side of things, Adán would safely save a free kick on 64 minutes.

Pedro Porro was inches away from levelling the score 15 minutes from time, shooting agonisingly close across the face of goal.

The Clássico saw a return to action for João Mário, who came on for Matheus Nunes to play his first game since coming back to Sporting CP in the summer transfer market.

Sporting CP were the only team to try to score again, and got their reward on 88 minutes. A ball found its way to Gonçalves, who in turn set up Andraž Šporar perfectly. The striker, who had come on in place of Porro, forced a save from Marchesín, but Luciano Vietto -another second half substitute - was on hand to convert the rebound.

With the score at 2-2, Vietto had a late header and João Mário a dangerous free kick in stoppage time, but in the end the points would be shared in Alvalade.

Sporting CP will visit CD Santa Clara on the next matchday of the Liga NOS season.

Sporting CP: António Adán [GK], Pedro Porro (Andraž Šporar, 77 '), Luís Neto (Gonzalo Plata, 62'), Sebastián Coates [C], Zouhair Feddal, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes (João Mário, 77 ') , Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos (Tiago Tomás, 62 ') and Jovane Cabral (Luciano Vietto, 56').

The Sporting CP coach gives his preview of the 'Clássico'

Just over 24 hours removed from this Saturday's 'Clássico' (8:30 pm) against FC Porto, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim spoke to the media about the team's big game against their northern rivals.

Players returning

“We were without Eduardo Quaresma for a while, since he was already out of action due to a positive COVID-19 test that delayed his start to the season. We always make the most of what we have; we had some players away with the national team, but others were training this week. For example, João Mário has just arrived and has adapted well to the group. There were players whose fitness we managed to improve, and others who played one game for Portugal but then did not play in the second game -which helped our preparation for this match. We will definitely be a very competitive side in this match, and we will grow game by game."

Differences between Sporting CP and FC Porto

“We are two teams in different moments. FC Porto have won two titles in three years and we are building a foundation. We are starting out. Now we are building a squad with young talents and some experienced players. A Clássico is a Clássico. Whoever wins the game will be the better side; it's always like that. I see a strong FC Porto. Two weeks ago, away to Boavista, FC Porto won 0-5 and were a solid team. That's what they are. Sporting CP are growing in quality."

João Mário

“João Mário is a player with great quality and a lot of experience. I didn't know him personally before, but he brings a presence to the team, even in training and in the way he communicates with his teammates. He will provide us with good things, but he will have to run a lot as well. He has already realised that, to take anyone's place, he will have to work hard. I am sure he will help us a lot during the season.”

The keys to the game

“What Sporting CP have to do is match the intensity and aggressiveness of FC Porto. This is a very important thing. We have to be very strong in our approach to the game. FC Porto have strengths, but Sporting CP also have ours. We are teams who already know each other well, and we know the characteristics of the FC Porto players. But if I had to mention something that Sporting CP have to do, it is to launch ourselves headfirst into the game. You have to be very strong and intense to want to win. You can't be afraid of anything and have to face the game with a lot of aggression."

"I want to show Sportinguistas and everyone else what I am really worth"

João Palhinha has extended his contract at Sporting Clube de Portugal through to 2025. The midfielder, whose buyout clause has been set at 60 million euros, spoke to Sporting CP media on Wednesday to express his excitement at the new deal.

"I am very happy to sign another contract renewal with one of the clubs that helped make me who I am, and that played a very important role in my growth," he explained.

Palhinha joined the club at a young age from SG Sacavenense. He has played for the B team and on loan at Moreirense FC (in 2015/2016), CF Os Belenenses (in 2016/2017) and SC Braga, where he spent the last two seasons. Now he has returned to Alvalade, looking to have an extended run in the first team.

"I want to offer a different image of myself to the one I left in the past. I want to show Sportinguistas and everyone else what I am really worth. I know that the people in this club believe in me."

Responding to rumours of his possibly considering leaving the club this past summer, Palhinha emphasised that it was this need to show his value that drove him to stay.

"If I had left Sporting CP, as was being speculated so much, then I would perhaps have left in a way that wasn't consistent with the journey I have been on at this club. Leaving the first team with that feeling of not having shown my potential would always leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm facing this new opportunity with the utmost motivation and I want to help the club to achieve its goals," he guaranteed.

Palhinha has already worked with Rúben Amorim, and says that he admires the Sporting CP boss.

"He is a coach who knows the qualities I have. On a personal level I like him very much, because of the empathy I have with him. That's why I say that I have everything on my side to demonstrate my worth - and the team do as well."

"We know that the group has quality, is young and has a lot of potential. We have an excellent squad and I believe we can cause a surprise throughout this season. We can promise that we will provide a lot of work, effort and dedication. As for everything else, things are going to happen naturally, just as they have done up until now. The important thing now is to work in the same way as we have been, to evolve in the aspects that we have to evolve in. As I said, we have everything in place to surprise people this season."

The goalkeeper reflect on his opening months at Sporting CP

Sporting CP's starting goalkeeper in the first four official matches played this season, Antonio Adán has been the most frequently featured of the club's summer signings to date. The Spaniard talked to Sporting CP Media during the international break, giving the lowdown on how things are going since his arrival.

Integrating into the group
"The group have made me very welcome from the start. I was told that this was a young and pleasant group for players. I think that both I and the new players have integrated very well. Due to the circumstances we have had to spend a lot of time together, first in preseason and then because of the COVID-19 isolation. That actually made my integration easier."

The combination of youth and experience
"I believe that the combination of youth with experience is what makes the group a good one. The older players bring experience and the younger players the daring of those who are starting out -in addition to the quality of Sporting CP's academy system. We are creating a strong group, which means good expectations. When I was in other countries I saw that there were always many Portuguese players being signed by other teams. Now that I'm here, I realise that the quality is very high. We have some very good young players that I am sure will reach the highest level."

Internal competition
"The more competition there is within the squad, the better it is for everyone on an individual, collective and club level. It makes everyone evolve and ensures that everyone is at full strength. It allows the team to grow."

The game against Porto
"Both I and the rest of the group have prepared for this game just like we prepared for all the previous games. In the end, it's three more points at stake. Of course, for Sportinguistas this is more important than that, as it is one of Liga NOS' biggest matches. Obviously, after having played in other big games in Spain, I also want to do it in Portugal. However, I think that we are preparing in the same way that we prepared for the previous two games. It's the path we have to follow until the end of the season, preparing each game as if it were a final."

"I understand that for fans there is an added importance in it being a chance to beat a direct rival, but for us it's just three more points. I understand everything that surrounds the game: When we walk down the street, the fans stop us to talk about it, but we have to be calm and remember that it's just another three points."

A possible return for fans
"It is difficult for us, not having them here. Especially for this club, the fans are very important for those of us on the pitch. What I have been told is that they help a lot, and that is very important to us. Fortunately, in specific games, such as Portugal vs. Spain, we have already seen some fans in the stands. On the previous matchdays in the league there were fans in the game between CD Santa Clara and Gil Vicente FC, and that gives us hope that, soon, we will have our fans in the stadium. I hope it will be as soon as possible, because we need them and I personally want to see what the stadium is like with people in the stands. Football is for fans. Football without spectators is missing something."

Rúben Amorim's coaching methods
"I spoke to the coach before coming here, and his ideas transmitted a lot of personality and a way of playing that fits my ideas, because I played like that at Real Betis Balompié. He likes his teams to show personality on the pitch, and I think this is ideal for a club like Sporting CP, who have to dominate the game and go after the three points."

Specific goalkeeping training
"I'm delighted to be working with Tiago Ferreira and Jorge Vital, the club's goalkeeping coaches. At the beginning I was more tired; I was coming from Atletico Madrid, where there were a lot of matches and the training was not that intense. I'm really enjoying it. Vital has many years of experience, and Tiago compliments him in a brilliant way. We have done a great job over the past few weeks."
 
"I have always kept in mind that hard work is the most important thing. Having the opportunity to do specific goalkeeping work for so many days during the week is essential for me. Our position is based on confidence, and being able to work for so much time with two people who are so well prepared makes me much more confident going into a game."