A 1-0 win over Aberdeen FC sees the Lions through to the Playoffs

Sporting Clube de Portugal made their way through to the Playoffs for the UEFA Europa League with a victory over Aberdeen FC, besting the Scottish side 1-0 in a single-leg Third Qualifying Round at the Estádio José Alvalade.

The Lions started well in what was their first official game of the 2020/2021 season, and were rewarded with a goal after just 8 minutes: after Wendel recovered the ball in the midfield, Vietto played to Tiago Tomás and the young striker took his opening opportunity to score.

The early goal allowed Sporting CP to settle in against an Aberdeen side who had already played eight official games. They controlled the pace of the contest and enjoyed several more chances to increase their advantage.

On 26 minutes a shot from outside the area from Matheus Nunes whistled wide, and in the 40th minute it was Jovane Cabral’s turn to go close, shooting from a Nuno Mendes corner and forcing Aberdeen FC goalkeeper Joe Lewis into a save.

Having gone into halftime 1-0 in front, after the restart the game slowed down and Sporting CP created fewer opportunities. They did have isolated looks on goal through Tiago Tomás, the closest of which saw him put Pedro Porro’s cross just over the crossbar.

Aberdeen began to take risks in search of an equaliser, and provided a scare with an effort by Hedges in the 87th minute, but it went wide and Sporting CP made their way safely through to the next round of the UEFA Europa League.

Next up is the Playoff, once again across a single leg, at the Estádio José Alvalade on October 1st. The opponents will be Austrian side LASK, with a place in the Group Stage at stake.

Emanuel Ferro spoke in a pre-match press conference

As usual in UEFA Europa League pre-match press conferences, assistant coach Emanuel Ferro addressed the media this Wednesday before the game against Aberdeen.

“Aberdeen are coming here looking to go through to the next stage, and they know that our objective is the same”, he said on Wednesday night. “We are going to be playing at our home stadium; w, want to impose our game and have a good performance in order to achieve a good result”.

“We are working on this, and we are very convinced that the work we did during the course of preseason -and for this specific game- will bring us a strong result”.

Ferro added that “The preseason is done and we feel completely prepared for the first official game of the season, which will be very important for us. Being a knockout game, we have to have a solid performance, and that is what we have been working on”.

Asked about Amorim being unable to coach the team this week, he said that “We didn't have the leader of our coaching staff present, which makes a difference, but new technologies reduce that impact. Rúben was always present in our preparation for this game, and we know that we are ready for tomorrow. It is the players who make the team play as they do”.

The first team trained in the Algarve on Tuesday before their first European encounter

The Sporting CP first team are set for their first fixture of the season this Thursday, when they meet Aberdeen FC in the UEFA Europa League's Third Qualifying Round. The game is set for 8pm local time at the Estádio José Alvalade, and is of vital importance as the squad look to progress to the competition proper.

To prepare for the encounter with the Scottish side, the group trained on Tuesday in Lagos in the Algarve, where they have been based over the past few days following the postponement of their first Primeira Liga game against Gil Vicente.

An intense, demanding session was run by the coaching staff, putting the players through their paces with fitness and tactical work.

Wednesday's training session will be open to the media for the first 15 minutes, and at 7pm a press conference will be held at the Artur Agostinho auditorium of the Estádio José Alvalade.

The Scottish team will be the opposition in the Third Qualifying Round

Aberdeen FC will be Sporting Clube de Portugal's opponents in their first UEFA Europa League appearance of the season, with a place in the Playoff of the competition at stake.

The Scottish side beat Viking FK 0-2 away from home in Norway on Thursday night, with goals in either half from Ross McCrorie and Ryan Hedges.

The Third Qualifying Round  of the UEFA Europa League sees Sporting CP play a single fixture against Aberdeen, at the Estadio José Alvalade on September 24th.

Should they make it through to the Playoff, their opponents for that stage have already been decided in a draw which took place on Friday: awaiting them will be LASK from Austria or FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda from Slovakia on October 1st.

The winners will earn a place in the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League.

The club captain talks about the upcoming game against Gil Vicente FC

Just two days out from Sporting CP's opening game of the Primeira Liga season, club captain Sebastián Coates spoke about the meeting with Gil Vicente FC and the latest events in Alvalade.

The positive tests for COVID-19 by several players saw the cancellation of the Cinco Violinos Trophy game against SSC Napoli last week, and has led to a change of plans for the past few days. The group have returned to the Algarve for the second time this summer as a result.

"It has been an atypical week, but we have great players in the squad. We know that we have to win this game, and we are going to go out there with that ambition of wanting to start the season in the best way possible," said Coates.

"Having a training camp here in the Algarve has meant that we are isolated from what has happened to some of our teammates. Whether the game [against Gil Vicente FC] takes place or not isn't down to us. We have to prepare as best we can to try to win the match, which is the most important thing."

The Uruguayan added: "It isn't easy, because of everything that has been happening with some of our teammates and how we are worried for our family. However, we have to be focused."

A good start is the objective for Sporting CP in the league, with a busy schedule ahead. "It's important for everybody to start well. Then we have the Europa League coming up, and a tie that is going to be tough."

"We have a strong group. The players who have come in have been well received, and they are going to contribute a lot to us improving," continued Coates. "Those who have been here for a longer time have to explain to them what Sporting CP are all about, and try to make the group strong and united to face every game. It is going to be a long year."

For the time being, the upcoming fixtures will take place behind closed doors -and the team miss the supporters cheering them on.

"We are used to being there with the fans, hearing their chants and feeling their support. You miss them and I hope they can come back as soon as possible, obeying the measures the government feel are best for everybody."

The players extend their deals with the Sporting CP first team

The Sporting CP squad for 2020/21 continues to take shape in the run-up to the opening Liga NOS matchday. This Thursday the Club confirmed the renewal of two of their promising young talents. Joelson Fernandes and Daniel Bragança both extended their deals to stay in Lisbon, with buyout clauses reflecting their great potential.

Fernandes, still just 17 years old, has been at Alvalade since 2014. He expressed his pleasure with the agreement, which sees his release clause rise to 60 million euros.

“I’m very happy to renew my contract. I want to thank Sporting CP for this moment, and for what they’ve done for me. I want to continue wearing this shirt for many more years,” said the teenager, who remembers his debut for the first team fondly.”

“On the day that I was called up for the squad, I could barely sleep. I was just thinking about how I was going to go out onto the pitch at the Estádio José Alvalade for the first time,” he explained, adding that he hopes to serve as an example for others coming through.

“I can only tell players to continue working, and that this is the best place for us to be. Everybody can get to where I am, and Sporting CP are here to help us.”

Bragança, 21-years-old and with a new buyout clause of 45 million euros, has been at the Club since the age of seven, and considers it to be his home.

“I am very proud of my journey to get this far,” he told the Club’s media channel.

“All the effort that I made to get here was worth it. I’m very happy and very proud to renew my contract. This is a very important chapter in my life, and I am going to aim to grow even more and establish myself. I want to show my worth."

“I am going to continue to give everything for the Club, so that we grow as a team and win trophies,” he concluded.

Tuesday's session at the Academia Sporting features some new faces

The Sporting Clube de Portugal first team were joined by a select group of the club's B team players for their Tuesday training session, as they ready themselves for the 2020/2021 season.

A double session is scheduled for Wednesday, which includes an afternoon workout alongside fellow top flight side CS Marítimo.

Rúben Amorim runs his players through a Monday session to prepare for the season

It was back to work for the Sporting Clube de Portugal first team on Monday morning, as Rúben Amorim's men began another week of preseason training at the Academia Sporting facilities.

The workout featured the typical energy and intensity present this summer, ahead of a big season for Os Leões.

Luiz Phellype undertook rehabilitation work under the watchful eye of the club medical staff.

The next session for the squad will take place behind closed doors on Tuesday morning, at 10am local time.

The team win 3-1 in preparation game for the 2020/2021 season

Sporting Clube de Portugal took another preseason victory in a Friday friendly against Real Valladolid CF, beating the Spanish team 2-1 at the Complexo Desportivo do FC Alverca. The goals for Rúben Amorim's side were scored by Zouhair Feddal and Jovane Cabral.

Seven minutes in, Sporting CP enjoyed their first chance, which ended with a tame shot by Cabral. Ten minutes later, Valladolid's Sekou Gassama headed into the hands of goalkeeper Antonio Adán.

An appeal for a penalty for handball, resulting from a cross in by Antunes, was waved off on the half hour. Shortly after, Pedro Porro -playing against his former club- had an opportunity saved by opposition keeper Roberto.

The best Sporting CP chance of the opening stanza came in the 41st minute, when Porro played through to Tiago Tomás with an excellent pass and the young Portuguese striker fired a shot on goal - again kept out by Roberto.

With the score at 0-0 going into half time, after the restart Sporting CP came out strong, and in the first minute Porro set up Cabral for a shot that he put wide off a deflection. Nuno Santos also kept Roberto busy during the initial passages of play, Cabral shot into the face of the opposition goalkeeper, and Tomás would hit the woodwork, all in the space of 10 minutes.

Whilst Sporting CP were the only side providing an attacking threat, a handball by Feddal and subsequent conversion by Gassama handed Valladolid the lead from the penalty spot.

Having previously introduced Luciano Vietto for his first minutes of preseason action, Amorím brought on João Palhinha to replace Matheus Nunes in the aftermath of the goal.

Feddal made amends for his conceded penalty with the equaliser, scored on 72 minutes as he headed in a Wendel cross.

Two chances had Nuno Santos hit the post and Palhinha shot wide, before - ten minutes from the final whistle - Cabral was brought down, Miguel Rubio was sent off, and Tiago Martins converted the penalty.

Sporting CP could have made it 3-1 had a Vietto goal not been ruled out for offside, but nevertheless had another positive preseason result to prepare for the upcoming season.

Lineup: Sporting CP: Antonio Adán (GR), Pedro Porro, Luís Neto (Gonzalo Plata, 80 '), Sebastián Coates (C), Zouhair Feddal (Cristián Borja, 80'), Vitorino Antunes (Luciano Vietto, 59 '), Matheus Nunes (João Palhinha, 66 '), Wendel, Tiago Tomás, Nuno Santos and Jovane Cabral

The pair spoke to Sporting TV after beating Real Valladolid

Following the 2-1 friendly win over Real Valladolid, Sporting CP players João Palhinha and Tiago Tomás expressed their pleasure with the result, the display and the evolution of the team.

"It's an honour to be here. The growth that the team have undergone, and the intensity we provided in the game, should be noted. I think that we had an excellent game," said Palhinha to Sporting TV after the final whistle.

"At this point, the most important thing is to pick up pace, so that when the competition returns we are ready to achieve our objectives."

"We always want to win, be it in preseason or not. That's the spirit of a big club. We are doing a good job. I've represented Sporting CP for many years, and playing here always feels special. I feel very happy about that," he added.

Tomás, who carried over his good form from the preseason camp in the Algarve, was pleased with the attitude shown by the team.

"We have a mentality of wanting to win, and it can't be any other way," he explained. "When we are at a disadvantage, we have to run ten times more to turn things around. Sporting CP are that way, and Sporting CP always have to win."

As for his position on the pitch, the versatile player insisted he is ready for anything.

"At youth level I played in all three positions up top, and it's up to the coach to decide in which I can help the team the most. I don't have any preference; whatever the coach tells me, I do."