Rúben Amorim reacts after the victory in the derby

Rúben Amorim felt that his side were good for their derby win against SL Benfica in Liga NOS, in which they struck late in stoppage time to claim the three points.

“The game was evenly matched, but we were always the team that was closest to scoring and we were rewarded at the end - because we pushed until the end. We were the team that looked for the victory most, and we were worthy winners", he said in his post-match press conference.

He also spoke about the ambition of the Sporting CP players, saying that it is not necessary for them to believe they are title favourites.

“We cannot have any ambition beyond winning the next game. We aren't in the second half of the season yet, and we have a very young team, but if there is one thing these players have, it is ambition -and that can be seen on the pitch".

The coach then explained his decision to include Matheus Nunes -the eventual hero in the game- in his starting lineup. He had been true to his word from the previous day: even if João Palhinha was available, he would not bring him in because during the week he had worked with another player in mind.

“Because of his performances in training and games, Matheus deserved to play", stated Amorim.

"Obviously Palhinha would play if he were fit. That does not mean that Matheus would have stayed on the bench. I didn't say anything to Palhinha because he understood the situation. As he [Palhinha] is an important player, due to what he gives to the group spirit, the quality he has and how he organises the midfield, it was important for him to be in the game in some capacity, but it was not essential at the beginning, because we had prepared the game differently”.

“I believe that tactics and technique are important, but group spirit is very important too. The players are very attentive and there are details that they see. I would never say that I wouldn't change things and then change them: I would prefer to lose a game than to lose the trust of my players. I don't lie to my wife and I don't lie to my players. That's my rule. I believe that group spirit sometimes turns things around. I try to be straight with them".

Matheus Nunes's injury time header earns victory over SL Benfica

In a game seemingly destined to end in a stalemate, Sporting Clube de Portugal struck late against SL Benfica to win the derby 1-0, and remain outright leaders in Liga NOS.

Rúben Amorim made two changes to his starting eleven, fielding a lineup of Antonio Adán, Pedro Porro, Luís Neto, Zouhair Feddal, Sebastián Coates, Nuno Mendes, Matheus Nunes, João Mário, Pedro Gonçalves, Tiago Tomás and Nuno Santos.

SL Benfica also employed a strategy of three at the back at the Estádio José Alvalade, and after 11 minutes would have to bring on Gabriel for the injured Jardel.

The first half saw few chances for either side, but Sporting CP grew in attack after 15 minutes of play, and showed a little more attacking ambition against a more defensive SL Benfica.

Benfica did enjoy an opportunity for Pizzi that went wide, but Sporting CP also came close in the opening stanza: Pedro Porro had his shot on target deflected over by Grimaldo, whilst five minutes later Neto was left alone at the back post of a corner but missed his header.

The first half in the derby ended goalless.

In the second half, SL Benfica came out with a more threatening strategy. Adán had to parry a shot from Darwin for a corner, but Sporting CP responded well and, following a set piece sequence, a scramble in the box saw Odysseas grab the ball.

Looking for more, in the 60th minute, Rúben Amorim shuffled the pack and took João Mário and Nuno Santos off to make way for João Palhinha and Jovane Cabral. SL Benfica also adjusted their team shortly afterwards, replacing Cervi with Taarabt.

15 minutes later, Amorim turned to Bruno Tabata, who came on for Tiago Tomás.

Sporting CP came close when a Pedro Gonçalves ball hit Gilberto and required a save from Odysseas, and inside the final 10 minutes João Palhinha sent a shot wide.

In the 92nd minute, with time running out, the goal finally arrived: Jovane Cabral broke down the left and crossed to the other side of the area, with Porro sending it into the six-yard-box. Odysseas deflected away with a punch, but the ball fell at the mercy of Matheus Nunes, who nodded the ball into the net with nerves of steel, claiming all three points for Sporting CP.

Sporting CP hold a four-point lead at the top of the Liga NOS table over nearest rivals FC Porto, who won earlier in the day against Rio Ave. They are 9 clear of SL Benfica after the first derby of the year.

The Sporting CP coach previews the derby against SL Benfica (Monday, 9:30pm local time)

Monday is derby day at the Estádio José Alvalade. In a press conference ahead of Sporting CP's match against SL Benfica, coach Rúben Amorim noted the special nature of the fixture, but also emphasised that it is just as important as every other game.

"It is important for the growth of the team, because winning always helps us. We have not played SL Benfica this season. It's a game with a different weight to it, however there are still just three points in play. The team have been responding well in these types of games, which is positive in terms of having a good season. We have our strategy for the game and the team will be prepared", guaranteed the coach in discussion with the media.

Sporting CP lead Liga NOS with 39 points, 4 more than FC Porto in second place. When asked to talk about the possibility of increasing the advantage over SL Benfica from 6 to 9 points, Amorim warned that "nothing will be decided tomorrow" in the title picture.

"There are many games, we are not yet in the second half of the season and a victory for us does not take SL Benfica out of the race - nor give the title to Sporting CP. What it can give us is more confidence. It's nothing more than that: Three points. With that being said, it is of course a special game."

Regarding the extra pressure that a derby brings, Amorim stressed that he expects Sporting CP players to feel the "responsibility of victory". "I hope that my players are under pressure. We want to win and we have to win. Obviously we are in a better spot in the table, but I hope that our players are under pressure -because we have the responsibility of taking victory. We want to keep going with this advantage", he stated.

João Palhinha is a confirmed absence for this Monday's derby and, although the coach admits he is a significant loss, he also said that there will be a solution within the squad.

"We are not concerned, but of course he is an important player. He has some very specific characteristics that we don't find in the squad, but we will go about things another way. Whoever plays in that position will have other characteristics, which will give the game another style, perhaps. It's a shame that João Palhinha is out, but we have players to face his absence."

Rúben Amorim also took the opportunity to analyse SL Benfica's tactical setup. "There are things that remain the same in Jorge Jesus' style of play, and we have scouts who have worked with him, as well as Sebastián Coates, with whom I shared ideas about various aspects of the game. However, the characteristics of the players is what changes completely how a team play. We are prepared for everything and now it will also depend on the inspiration of both our players and the opponents", concluded the Sporting CP coach.

The countdown to the game against SL Benfica is underway

The Sporting Clube de Portugal squad returned after a day off for morning training on Friday, in preparation for one of the biggest fixtures of the season. The team take on title rivals SL Benfica on Liga NOS Matchday 16 in one of Portugal's most prestigious derbies, which kicks off at 9:30pm on Monday at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Rúben Amorim oversaw the session, which featured a high intensity.

Os Leões will have another training session on Saturday at 10am, at the Academia Sporting in Alcochete.

A 0-2 victory keeps the team 4 points clear at the top

In a dominant display, Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Boavista FC 0-2 on Tuesday night on Matchday 15 of the Liga NOS season. Goals from Nuno Santos and Pedro Porro helped the team to three more points at the top of the table.

Luís Neto, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Santos and Andraž Šporar were brought into the first XI, in changes from the Taça da Liga final against SC Braga this past weekend. Sporting CP controlled things from the opening whistle, as Boavista FC held back and appeared more concerned with not conceding than with scoring.

Chances on goal were slow to appear, but the first provided a goal for Os Leões. Midway through the first half, Nuno Mendes crossed perfectly for Nuno Santos in the heart of the area, and he struck low into the net. At first ruled out for an alleged offside, the referee Fábio Veríssimo eventually gave the goal after consulting VAR. It was Nuno Santos' sixth goal in 2020/2021 - his fifth in Liga NOS.

From there, the chances continued. Almost immediately, Nuno Mendes came close to making it 0-2, but the first-time shot went just wide. Then, Zouhair Feddal headed off-target from a corner. On 33 minutes, Šporar also missed a chance, and before the break Jovane Cabral had his effort cleared away by Jackson Porozo.

Just before the halftime whistle, João Mário was unable to finish after rounding the goalkeeper, and the game remained 0-1.

There was no change in the frequency of the chances in the second half. On 53 minutes, a tremendous move initiated by Matheus Nunes was continued by João Mário, who served up a pass to Nuno Santos. A spectacular feint and delivery Šporar was only denied a goal by a deflection of the striker's shot.

After another opportunity - this time with João Mário shooting over - Rúben Amorim took off Jovane Cabral and brought in Daniel Bragança. He would later swap Šporar and Nuno Santos for Tiago Tomás and João Palhinha.

Sporting CP finally extended their advantage through one of the goals of the matchday, as Pedro Porro slammed in a shot from distance. The Spaniard continued a run of form that also saw him on-target in the Taça da Liga final.

The second goal brought more security to the visitors, who left Bessa with only one negative point: A yellow card for João Palhinha in the 79th minute that leaves the midfielder unavailable for the next game, against SL Benfica.

Before the end, Adán made a stop from a header by Rami, Palhinha shot over and late substitute Bruno Tabata tested Léo Jardim.

With this result, Sporting CP remain leaders of Liga NOS with a 4-point lead over nearest rivals FC Porto.

The coach wants his side to turn their attention to Boavista FC

With Sporting CP back in action on Tuesday against Boavista FC, Rúben Amorim looked ahead to the game in his pre-match press conference.

This meeting is the team's first game since winning the Taça da Liga, but the coach says that the weekend achievement is "already in the past".

“It was a very good trophy win, which had a very important feeling about it that day, but which now doesn't have any bearing on us. This achievement is part of the past and tomorrow we will have a very difficult game against a team that, despite their position in the table, are led by a great coach and are full of good players”, he warned.

"We have to forget about the Taça da Liga and focus on this game. We have to be prepared and I know that we are".

Boavista FC have a series of absentees in defence for this match, but Amorim is sure that they will prove to be challenging opponents.

“The players missing in defence is not the reason Boavista FC might lose the game. There are other alternatives, like Javi Garcia and Rami, who are World Cup winners."

“We are going to look at Boavista FC as a whole. They will certainly play against Sporting CP without the responsibility they had in other games and will put all their quality on the pitch. They have nothing to lose, so we have to be prepared for that”, he said.

Still top of the Liga NOS table, Sporting have experienced some minor stumbles as of late, but Amorim emphasized that their position is not down to luck.

“We have flaws in certain points in our play, but we have managed to win. I can't remember a game in which the opponents were clearly superior to us. It is a mix of everything: Competence, good fortune at times, the quality of the entire team and the spirit that has been helping in the most difficult moments”.

Amorim is waiting to see what his sanction will be for his sending off - along with SC Braga coach Carlos Carvalhal - in the Taça da Liga final, but believes the appeal will be successful.

“Our expulsion was a mistake. I don't expect any punishment, let alone a heavy suspension".

The defender expressed the feeling in the squad following the Taça da Liga triumph

After Sporting CP's Taça da Liga win against SC Braga, Luís Neto gave the post-match press conference and talked about earning his first trophy for the Club.

“This trophy is worth a lot because of how much we believe, both in the club and in the project. It's important to feel that this team, although young, are capable of winning trophies. We fought hard in a Final Four in which the four best teams in the league were present, and we won both games”, he began by saying.

“Despite our inexperience and not having many players who are used to big decisions, we showed that we are capable and that we have a group that will work through to May to honor the club", he said, before revealing a conversation he had with Gonçalo Inácio before the beginning of the final.

“I told him that if we won, it would be a trophy that was 'Made in Sporting CP. At the end of the game I spoke with Matheus Nunes, who told me that he was used to winning things in regional football and was suddenly winning a Taça da Liga. We are enabling these players to have a future in which they will earn the pleasure of winning silverware for Sporting CP. When the coach came along, this became a little bit more real - or the message was transmitted differently”, added Neto.

“The coach completely deserves this, for everything he has done for the squad. For example, last year there were many people questioning if Sporting CP were going to be able to fight for trophies due to the large number of young players at the club. When they talk about Matheus Nunes, Daniel Bragança, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Luís Maximiano or Jovane Cabral next, they will be talking about players with a trophy to their name. That gives them another responsibility”.

Finally, Neto stressed that although this objective has been achieved, it is necessary to keep grounded, because there is much to achieve before the end of the season.

“We know what we have been able to do. The coach often tells us that Sporting CP are capable of beating any team in the league. That is what we have demonstrated and what we want to do in all of the remaining matches, starting with our game against Boavista FC. We have two days to recover. Now it's time to celebrate and enjoy ourselves, but knowing that tomorrow we will prepare for a difficult game, as usual. It's very important to keep following this path, and that is what we will try to do”, he concluded.

Sporting CP best SC Braga 1-0 to lift the league cup

Sporting Clube de Portugal are Taça da Liga winners for 2020/21. The team won their third such cup this Saturday, besting SC Braga 1-0 in Leira under soaking wet conditions and against spirited opposition.

Rúben Amorim made two changes to his starting lineup for the final, bringing in Nuno Mendes and Jovane Cabral after they were not part of the first XI against FC Porto in the semifinal.

'Os Leõe' opted for a more direct strategy in the opening half, due to the difficulties in playing the ball along the ground and the extensive puddles  on the pitch. However, they were not able to register clear chances in the initial half hour.

They found themselves without their coach in the dugout, as Amorim was sent to the stands for dissent, leaving Emanuel Ferro to oversee the tactical decisions.

Whilst the sending off was a setback, what happened next was the key moment of the game: On 41 minutes, Pedro Porro took advantage of a lapse in attention from the SC Braga defense to go through down the right channel. He fired a venomous shot into the net, racing off to celebrate one of the biggest goals of his career.

Soon after Porro had made it 1-0, Pedro Gonçalves came close to scoring the second goal, but this time the SC Braga goalkeeper was able to bat the ball away and deny Sporting a more ample advantage going into half time.

Leading the way at the break, Sporting CP made a switch to bring on Nuno Santos for Jovane Cabral. Whilst this was an attacking switch, it was SC Braga who threatened most in the opening moments in search of an equaliser.

That did not mean that 'Os Leões' sat back, however, and they provided the first real danger just past the hour mark. Pedro Gonçalves again struck a strong drive that Matheus was required to tip out for a corner.

Rúben Amorim previews Sporting CP's Taça da Liga final against SC Braga

Sporting Clube de Portugal face SC Braga in the Taça da Liga final this Saturday in Leiria, and coach Rúben Amorim gave his thoughts in a pre-match press conference to preview the game.

"We are two teams that know each other well, because we have already faced each other in the league", he told journalists.

"Maybe there is a difference in the centre backs SC Braga have, but the ideas that our teams possess have not changed depending on the players. The coaches have changed and the teams remain strong. It will be a very competitive game, just like the game at Alvalade".

"An early goal could transform the game completely. We can take information from the most recent game, but no more than that. It might be a completely different story", added Amorim, who talked up the late goals his team have scored recently -such as against FC Porto in the semifinal.

"The merit has to go to the players. They believe in themselves until the last moment, because the game is played until the referee blows the final whistle. We always aim to win. The credit goes to the players and to the coaching staff, who help the team to believe until the end".

Curiously enough, Amorim was the winner of the 2019/2020 Taça da Liga when coaching SC Braga. However, he says that the situation has many differentiating caveats.

"Now I'm at Sporting CP and the pressure is completely different. I have a very young group who are inexperienced in these circumstances. Experience, in this final, is not on the side of the bigger club - and this is not very normal".

"Our team is very young and has a lot of ambition to win this game. I am more concerned with my players than with me. I want them to win more than I do. They need it because they give everything until the last minute. Last year I was worried about me, with it being the beginning of my career, but now I am more concerned with my players".

Finally, the coach answered a question about Jovane Cabral and possible 'second-half players', who can come on and make an impact.

 "I don't think there are second half players. I think we should always have players on the bench who can change the game. One day it could be Jovane, another day it could be somebody else", he stated. "All players want to be starters. When they have 10 or 20 minutes, they show a lot of ambition and give their all. It is a great strength of our team".

Tiago Tomás is excited about the Taça da Liga final

Tiago Tomás joined coach Ruben Amorim at the Artur Agostinho Auditorium for the pre-match press conference for the Taça da Liga final, and guaranteed that Sporting CP will show plenty of desire in the clash with SC Braga.

"We are motivated, as we always are for any game. With this being a final, then we are even more up for it. We are confident, we know the quality we have and we know the work we will do tomorrow", he stated, adding that the game "has the extra importance of us representing Sporting CP and playing in a final".

Asked if a penalty shoot-out, something narrowly avoided against FC Porto in the semifinal, was an aspect that the team had practiced, Tomás admitted that there had been a rehearsal of spot kicks. However, he also said that the objective is not to reach that point.

"We practiced them because it could happen, and we will have to be prepared for everything the game asks of us. But we want to win inside the 90 minutes", he explained.

For Tomás, the opportunity to play in a first final is something he is relishing -and which he can scarcely believe.

"When I joined Sporting CP seven years ago, this was all a dream. Now it is a reality and there is no time for me to be dazzled by the bright lights. I have to continue working as I have done, keep focused and give my best, as always".

"We are all doing our best to show that we can be options for the game tomorrow. Jovane [Cabral] came in [against FC Porto], scored two goals and we are very happy for him. It is a positive competitiveness that we have amongst the strikers. I hope that I can score a goal tomorrow, so that I can say I have scored in all competitions", said the forward, who has found the net in Liga NOS, the Taça de Portugal and the Europa League.