Adrien Silva sets sights on a lengthy Europa League campaign

Alvalade skipper Adrien Silva spoke with the press this Wednesday afternoon, ahead of Sporting’s Europa League hosting of Lokomotiv Moscow.

“It is true that our objective wasn’t to be in the Europa League, but there is no point thinking about that now. This is a prestigious competition and we want to reach the final, but that doesn’t mean that this competition is more important for us because we didn’t qualify for the Champions League. Every game is important when you play for Sporting”, opened Adrien, going on speak more depth about Thursday’s encounter: “We aren’t comparing this game to the one with CSKA. We have looked at Lokomotiv and what matters is that we focus on what we have to do. We can’t relax, or we will be surprised.”

Sporting set out Europa League squad list

Sporting have included a total of 16 players in the Europa League squad list: Goalkeepers: Guilherme Oliveira, Pedro Silva and Stojkovic;
Defenders: Mauro Riquicho, Tobias Figueiredo, Domingos Duarte and Ruben Ribeiro;
Midfielders: Fokobo, Fábio Martins, Francisco Geraldes and Rafael Barbosa;
Forwards: Gelson Martins, Matheus Pereira, Carlos Mané, Daniel Podence and Cristian Ponde.

List A had already been announced, with 22 players included:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício, Marcelo Boeck and Azbe Jug;
Defenders: João Pereira, Ricardo Esgaio, Paulo Oliveira, Naldo, Ewerton, Jefferson and Jonathan Silva;
Midfields: William Carvalho, Bruno Paulista, Aquilani, Adrien, João Mário and André Martins;
Forwards: Carrillo, Bryan Ruiz, Tanaka, Montero, Teo Gutiérrez and Slimani.

Europa League gets underway in Alvalade on the 17th of September

Sporting will begin this year’s Europa League campaign with the hosting of Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow, in a 20h05 kick-off in Estádio José Alvalade, on the 17th of September.

Jorge Jesus’ side will finish the group stages with the reception of Besiktas on the 10th of December, also at 20h05.

Group H fixture list in full:
Matchday 1 (17/9, 20h05): SPORTING-Lokomotiv and Skënderbeu-Besiktas
Matchday 2 (1/10, 18h): Besiktas-SPORTING and Lokomotiv-Skënderbeu
Matchday 3 (22/10, 18h): SPORTING-Skënderbeu and Lokomotiv-Besiktas
Matchday 4 (5/11, 20h05): Skënderbeu-SPORTING and Besiktas-Lokomotiv
Matchday 5 (26/11, 18h): Besiktas-Skënderbeu and Lokomotiv-SPORTING
Matchday 6 (10/12, 20h05): Skënderbeu-Lokomotiv and SPORTING-Besiktas

Sporting drawn in Europa League Group H

Sporting has been given a tasking challenge in Europa League Group H, with encounters with Ricardo Quaresma’s Bresiktas, Lokomotiv Moscow and the Albanian side Skënderbeu awaiting.

Europa League draw in full:

Group A: Ajax, Celtic, Fenerbahce and Molde
Group B: Rubin Kazan, Liverpool, Bordeaux and Sion
Group C: B. Dortmund, PAOK, Krasnodar and Gabala
Group D: Napoli, Club Brugge, Legia Warsaw and Midtjylland
Group E: Villarreal, Viktoria Plzen, Rapid Viena and Dynamo Minsk
Group F: Marseilles, Sp. Braga, Slovan Liberec and Groningen
Group G: Dnipro, Lazio, Saint-Etiénne and Rosenborg
Group H: SPORTING, Besiktas, Lokomotiv Moscow and Skënderbeu
Group I: Basel, Fiorentina, Lech Poznan and Belenenses
Group J: Tottenham, Anderlecht, Monaco and Qarabag
Group K: Schalke 04, Apoel, Sparta Praga and Asteras Tripoli
Group L: Athl. Bilbao, AZ, Augsburg and Partizan Belgrade

Alvalade director of football comments on Group H

Sporting’s director of football, Octávio Machado, was at the Europa League draw this week, which pitted Sporting in Group H alongside Besiktas, Lokomotiv Moscow and Skënderben.

Speaking after the draw, the Alvalade director first reflected in elimination from the Champions League by CSKA Moscow. “We should have been here yesterday, not today. We were the better team and we created chances, but football can be like that. With all due to respect to UEFA, who do their best, we were disadvantaged”, said Octávio Machado, before reflecting on the draw itself: “As for Lokomotiv, it reminds me of what happened. I hope to see Sporting in the Europa League playing with dedication and doing Portuguese football proud.”