Former Sporting and Real Madrid star reflects on his time with two of Europe's giants

The 2001 World Player of the Year, Luís Figo, was one of the much sought after pundits ahead of this Wednesday's Champions League encounter between Sporting and Real Madrid, having represented both clubs.

Figo opened with a reflection on the Alvalade youth system: "Great players are made there. When I was there the idol was Futre. Next it was me, Simão, Cristiano and Nani. I was there from the age of 12 to 22 and I learnt everything at Sporting."

Figo also spoke about his time with Sporting as a professional: "It was a brilliant team! Balakov, Juskowiak. Then after that Paulo Sousa, Pacheco, Luisinho, Venâncio… I also played with Carlos Manuel, Douglas and even Rijkaard. I have a photograph with him as well. I had coaches like Bobby Robson, Queiroz."

Jorge Jesus takes full strength squad to the Spanish capital

Jorge Jesus has taken a full strength squad to Real Madrid for Champions League Group F matchday 1, with only Azbe Jug missing out.

Squad list in full:

1 - Rui Patrício 
2 - Ezequiel Schelotto
3 - Lazar Markovic
4 - Jefferson Moreira
7 - Joel Campbell
8 - Radosav Petrovic
10 - Bryan Ruiz 
11 - Bruno César
13 - Sebastian Coates
14 - William Carvalho 
15 - Paulo Oliveira
16 - André Felipe
19 - Douglas Teixeira
20 - Luc Castaignos
21 - João Pereira
22 - Elias Trindade
23 - Adrien Silva
25 - Marcelo Meli
28 - Bas Dost
30 - Bruno Paulista
31 - Marvin Zeegelaar
34 - Beto Pimparel
35 - Ruben Semedo
47 - Ricardo Esgaio 
73 - Matheus Pereira
77 - Gelson Martins 
88 - Vladimir Stojkovic
99 - Alan Ruiz

Aurélio Pereira on Cristiano Ronaldo and the secrets of the Sporting Academy

Just two days away from seeing his most famous student, Cristiano Ronaldo, face Sporting in the Champions League, the Sporting youth football legend Aurélio Pereira spoke about the world famous CR7 and the philosophy of the Sporting Academy.

"Knowing Cristiano Ronaldo like I do, he won't go easy on us. You can't take the professionalism out of him. At the beginning he was just an 11-year old lad from Madeira who arrived at the Academy without his parents. In 1997 he cost a lot of money. A day after he got here he was already training with the older lads and he had a capacity that we were not used to seeing. The older players all said that he was something different and he was. On top of his technical quality he had speed and could get away from his marker. He had a bit of skill in the air too", opened Pereira.

Asked to reveal the secrets of the success of the Sporting Academy, the Alvalade legend added: "Talent is one thing, but audacity is another. Players are only human and sometimes you forget that, but Ronaldo had a way of speaking with the rest of the players. On the second day he was completely relaxed with everyone, when anyone else would have packed their bags and went home if faced by the same thing. Youth football is in this club's DNA, it is in our culture. We give our young players creative liberty and we don't format anyone. We are really patient with them and treat them as people."

Alvalade president answers challenge by Marca with a wonder strike

Real Madrid vs. Sporting CP truely got underway on Monday, with president Bruno de Carvalho netting a penalty past the director of the Marca newspaper, Juan Ignacio Gallardo.