Sporting forward in UEFA team for Europa League matchday 3

Sporting youngster Matheus Pereira has been included in UEFA’s Team of the Week for Europa League matchday three, after scoring two goals in Sporting’s 5-1 win over Skënderbeu in Estádio José Alvalade.

Matheus burst onto the scene last weekend with two strikes on his debut, helping sink Vilafranquense in the Portuguese Cup third round.

Europa League Team of the Week: Hitz (Augsburg); Gönül (Fenerbahçe), Lacroix (Sion), Bailly (Villarreal); Toulalan (Monaco), Hofmann (Rapid Vienna), Etxebarria (Athl. Bilbao); Gabbiadini (Napoli), Luís Leal (Belenenses) and Aubameyang (B. Dortmund).

Jorge Jesus happy with his side's display against Skënderbeu

Speaking with the press after his side's comfortable win against Skënderbeu (5-1), Jorge Jesus was evidently happy with the season's first three Europa League points.

“The game wasn't how I thought it would be. I wasn't expecting so many goals. We knew we could win this and that is what we were looking to do, but the lads surprised me with five goals and some good play. Obviously the sending off in the first-half conditions the rest of the match and makes it a bit easier, but we naturally created chances and played some good football", opened Jesus, before speaking in more depth about some individual performances.

“Our first objective was to win, which we did. Our second was to play well, which we did. Our third was to give some of the lads some time on the pitch, which we did. I won't focus just on  Matheus Pereira, who is making the most of his chance. Bruno Paulista also looks good and Gelson as well", added the Alvalade coach, continuing: "Of course this is a win that keeps us in the fight to qualify. We knew we had to win and we will have to do the same thing in Albania so we have something to play for against Lokomotiv and Besiktas."

With the Lisbon derby just around the corner, Jesus doesn't see his side as holding the edge, despite having rested some of his big guns: "A team that plays on Thursday won't be any better rested on Sunday than a team that played on Wednesday. A team that plays on Thursday cannot prepare, because it is only two days until Sunday, while a team that plays on Wednesday has that extra day. I believe in my players and I took a gamble on them, but of course we wouldn't be saying the same thing if it had been a different result. As a coach I have to take chances and that sometimes involves a few risks. A derby is always different and you can't look too much at how the two sides are playing. We will be up against a strong team, but we are strong too and we want to win this one."

Sporting puts five past Skënderbeu for first Europa League win of the season

Sporting claimed a first win in this year’s Europa League campaign on Thursday night, with a 5-1 thrashing of Skënderbeu courtesy of a brace from Matheus Pereira (his first goals in European competition) and goals from Aquilani, Montero and Tobias Figueiredo.

The gulf in class between the two sides was laid bare right from the opening whistle, with Shehi being tested in the visitors’ goal from almost the first kick of the encounter when Montero turned well and put a ball across goal that the Skënderbeu keeper did well to collect. Seconds later, Jonathan Silva tried his luck with his off foot following a corner, but Shehi stood firm.

Some good movement and collective passing had the Albanian visitors struggling and on 14 minutes Mané was picked out by Aquilani at the edge of the box, but the Portuguese international drove his shot straight at the keeper. Two minutes later Montero looked to have done everything right after rounding the keeper, but Vangjeli scrambled back to clear off the line and André Martins failed to capitalise on the rebound.

Jesus’ side continued to press and Carlos Mané could have finally opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a cross from Esgaio, but his header was denied by another save from Shehi. It was never going to be an easy night for the Albanians, but the task was made all the more difficult with the sending off of Salihi on 23 minutes for a second bookable offence for a needless handball.

Despite being a man up, Sporting actually eased up in attack and a long spell of possession ensued, but with few chances on goal. In fact, it wasn’t until the 37th minute that the team from Alvalade finally bagged a deserved opener, when Montero was impeded in the area by Jashanica and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Aquilani to slot away and give his side a more than fair lead. Two minutes later, Montero was again fouled in the area, this time by Vangjeli, and it was the Colombian himself who took the honours this time to make it 2-0.

Half-time did little to take the sting out of the Sporting attack and on 48 minutes the hosts could have went three up, but Shehi pulled off a double stop against Montero and the follow up from Matheus. Snowed under wave after wave of attacking football, Fatigue began to set in for the struggling Skënderbeu and Matheus Pereira obliged with a first European goal of his career with a header in the 64th minute that Shehi was helpless to stop.

Three-nil up, Sporting sensed a heavy scoreline and began to turn the screw in attack. Tobias Figueiredo made it four with a header following a free-kick guided in by Montero, before Jesus introduced Slimani, Gelson Martins and William Carvalho into the action for André Martins, Mané and Aquilani. To round off what was already a memorable night for the young forward, Matheus scored his second brace in a week with a shot across goal to grab Sporting’s 5th.

The Albanians did manage a late consolation goal through Jashanica, fairly applauded by the 20 thousand Sporting fans who had turned out for what was a completely one-sided showing.

Jorge Jesus with the press ahead of hosting of Skënderbeu

Meeting with the press ahead of Thursday’s Europa League hosting of Skënderbeu, Jesus guaranteed that his side is focused purely on the task at hand, before revealing that Matheus Pereira will feature in the starting line-up.

“This is our third match in this competition and we only have one objective: to win so that we can carry on fighting for a place in the next round. It will be a hard game against against a team that is theoretically weaker than the other teams in the group, but I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. I know that I will put out a team out that is strong enough to come away with the win and the fact that their coach has pointed out the quality of our strikers shows that he knows us well. We really do have some quality strikers and I am a lucky coach to be honest, because the way I see it we won’t lose any quality, no matter who plays”, opened the Alvalade boss adding: “We have nothing to hide. Matheus Pereira will be in the starting team and I can’t really say anything else about the rest, because we will still have another training session tomorrow. What I will say is that almost all of the players are fully recovered now, with the exception of Bryan Ruiz, who is the only player who isn’t in full training right now.

Questions about Sunday’s derby were inevitable, but Jorge Jesus played it cool, affirming that he is squarely focused on the task at hand: “All I am thinking about is the match tomorrow. I will put two teams out, one for each game, and both will be capable of winning. Relative to Sunday, all I want to say is that I am happy to see Salvio back. I hope he has recovered well, because he is a great player, professional and friend.”

With Sporting expected to put the Albanian visitors under pressure come kick off tomorrow, Jorge Jesus already has his plan thought out: “We are sure that we will face a well organised team. I don’t know exactly how good they are, but I know they will cause us problems and we are ready for that. When there is one team that falls back in defence it reduces the space a bit and you have to be patient. Tomorrow we will look to show the class needed to tackle the difficulties we will face. It will be us attacking and we will have to find a way to score.”

Matheus Pereira focuses attention on the Europa League ahead of Sunday's derby

Sporting forward Matheus Pereira was the player chosen to speak in this week’s Europa League pre-match press conference, ahead of Thursday’s hosting of Skënderbeu.

“We always take each game as it comes and our only priority is the match against Skënderbeu and winning the three points. We will start thinking about the derby against Benfica on Friday. I am not thinking about if I can earn a place against Benfica tomorrow, I just want to help the team, keep developing and to win the game”, opened the Alvalade youngster.

In parallel, Matheus also spoke about the last couple of weeks with the senior squad, stressing that he continues with his feet firmly planted on the ground: “I have enjoyed it and I feel like I can carry on contributing to what the coach wants, with the help of my teammates. The lads who have gone into the senior team came from the youth system and through the B team, which is a good thing, but the intensity is different and there are some world class players in the squad. Naldo, Jefferson, Bruno Paulista and Ewerton have really helped me, which is normal because we are all Brazilian and it is easier for us to communicate, but the whole squad has been great with me.”

“When I scored my first goal I was really happy and I honestly couldn’t believe it. I want to carry on now”, finished the striker, reflecting on his brace in the Portuguese Cup at the weekend.
Sporting-Skënderbeu will kick off at 18h00 on Thursday, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Clayton Pisani (Malta) for Europa League matchday 3

The Maltese referee Clayton Pisani, 37, has been named by UEFA to take charge of Europa League Group H matchday three against Skënderbeu.

Alan Camilleri and Mitchell Scerri will act as linesmen, with Marco Borg and Philip Farrugia as additional referees. Edward Spiteri will be the fourth referee.

As noted by UEFA, the Hungarian Márton Esterházy will be the match delegate and the Ukrainian Vladimir Petrov the referee observer.

Sporting-Skënderbeu will get underway at 18h00 on the 22nd of October, in Estádio José Alvalade.

William and Matheus on Thursday's Europa League encounter

William Carvalho and Matheus Pereira both put in solid performances in Istanbul this Thursday, in a dominating Sporting showing that deserved the three points.

“We played well. We did really well in the first-half and we knew they would come back at us in the second-half. They created chances, but the fair result would have been a win for us”, said William, going on to add: “We did slip up when it came to finishing, but we have been training hard and goals will come.”

For Matheus Pereira, only the win would have made better on his senior debut. “We didn’t get the result. I am happy to have played and all I am sad about is the result, because we had chances and we deserved it”, said the younger, finishing: “The coach told me to just to what I do with the B team. I know that I have to work hard, because nothing is guaranteed.

Jorge Jesus reflects on draw with Besiktas (1-1)

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press after his side’s draw with Besiktas this Thursday, to reflect on what he saw could have easily been a different result.

“I wouldn’t say we were missing a bit of luck, but we were missing a bit of experience. We had a lot of young lads playing and you can see the difference at certain key moments in this kind of competition. We played really well and it was a brilliant first-half. In the second-half we expected Besiktas to react, but we knew we would carry on creating chances. We didn’t kill the game off, but we were playing against a really good team. The lads deserve a pat on the back for how thy played”, opened the Alvalade boss, adding: “Before the game and looking at the group, I would have said that a draw wouldn’t have been bad, but I am a bit unsatisfied with it now because we could have won.”

Jorge Jesus went on to speak about the individual performances of William and Matheus, who made his senior debut: “William showed his usual quality. He played really well and although he is young he has a lot of experience. I wasn’t expecting him to play as well as he did or for him to play the 90 minutes. Matheus did what he could against a strong team in a hard place to play, but he will develop and I am happy with him.”

Sporting held to draw in Turkey

Sporting were held to a 1-1 draw by Besiktas in the Turkey this Thursday, on Europa League Group H matchday two. Although currently in third in the group standings, the result reignites Sporting’s hopes of securing a place in the next round.

The first-half was completely dominated by the team from Alvalade and the first chance of the evening fell to the debutant Matheus Pereira, before Teo Guitérrez pulled a brilliant stop out of the Besiktas keeper, Zengin.

Jorge Jesus’ side did a superb job of exploiting the host’s weaknesses in what was probably one of the best displays so far this season and the inevitable goal came in the 16th minute through Bryan Ruiz, after a Matheus cross from the right that saw the Cost Rican drive in a powerful right footed shot.
The result could well have sapped the pace of the game, but Sporting kept up the pressure and continued to build chances, with Teo in particular having clear opportunities to extend the lead in the 20th, 32nd and 37th minute.

The second-half was much of the same in the opening exchanges and it wasn’t long before chances again fell on the Besiktas goal, but Teo was unable to capitalise on a tantalising sprint by Carlos Mané. Adrien was introduced for Matheus five minutes before the hour mark, which essentially saw Sporting tie down control of possession but lose speed going forward.

Completely against the run of play, Besiktas pulled level in the 61st minute from their first real opportunity and the harsh blow saw Sporting allow their Turkish opposition to get a foothold for a spell, before rallying in the dying stages and again pushing forward to create some dangerous probes forward. Gelson Martins was introduced late on for Aquilani and the youngter could have sealed the win in added time, but the encounter proved destined for a draw at the final whistle.

The result sees Sporting occupy third place with one point, behind Lokomotiv Moscow (six) and Besiktas (four).

Alvalade boss speaks ahead of Thursday's Europa League encounter

Jorge Jesus met with the press this Wednesday night ahead of his side’s trip to Turkey to take on Instanbul, on Europa League Group H matchday two.

“(Besiktas) are a strong team who are in first in the Turkish league. They are a quality opponent who have players who are known in Europe, like Sosa and Mario Goméz. It will be a hard game, but we believe in ourselves and we will play our type of football, without forgetting that our focus is on the league”, affirmed the Alvalade coach in the Turkish capital, before revealing that he may make some changes to his anticipated starting XI, with a difficult encounter with V. Guimarães just around the corner: “Some players will be used tomorrow who weren’t with us against Boavista, because we have a really important match against V. Guimarães and we won’t have time to do anything but recover. I have to think about both matches, so we will rotate the squad.”

Jesus also spoke about the return of William and Ewerton to his list of available players: “Ewerton is with us here in Turkey, because we didn’t have anyone else available to play at centre-back, but he still isn’t at level that William is. William played against Boavista and we will try and give him as many minutes as possible. He is a great player in his position and the team will benefit from his return.”