Ledman LigaPro comes to a close with a draw in Braga

The Ledman LigaPro season game to a close with a 1-1 draw against Sp. Braga B this weekend, in a match which saw Luís Martins blood several new faces. In the end it was one of the youngsters who decided the result, with Rafael Leão netting on his senior debut in the dying stages.

Jorge Jesus on the last game of the campaign

The last match of the season, the 2017/18 campaign and the coming transfer window were the three main topics covered by Jorge Jesus in this Saturday's pre-match press conference. While keeping the focus on winning the three points on Liga NOS matchday 34, the Alvalade coach also dismissed rumours on his relationship with president Bruno de Carvalho.

"This is the last game of a season that hasn't gone how we wanted it to. Our last game wasn't how we wanted it to be either. We are on the back of two loses and the atmosphere isn't great now, but we want to end this season with a win for the fans. We want to finish on a good note and turn our attention to next season", opened Jesus, who is already looking ahead to a series of preparatory meetings with Bruno de Carvalho: "We have ideas to talk about and we are working on them. What we want next season is one that is like my first here. A team that fights tooth and nail for the title. That is what we are looking to build and that is what we will be talking about."

To finish Jorge Jesus proved puzzled in relation to interest in Adrien, William Carvalho and Rui Patrício: "I honestly don't know anything about what is being said in the press. They are all important players for us, they are Euro 2016 winners and they are central to our project. We have grown in terms of developing our players and losing one of them wouldn't be complete unexpected."

Jorge Jesus looks ahead to the weekend's Liga NOS action

Speaking in his pre-match press conference this Friday, coach Jorge Jesus accepted that last weekend's loss at the hands of Belenenses brought to an end one of the club's objectives for the 2016/17 campaign.

"The team really felt the loss, because we were on the back of a good run of games, with nine wins and two draws. It was a special day with a lot of families at the stadium, even though we are out of the title race. It was hard for us to lose like that, but players and coaches have to learn to live with both wins and loses. We have totalled 33 points in the second half of the season, which is at the same level as the teams at the top of the table. The match against Belenenses has stopped us going for 42 points, which is what we did last season", said Jesus.

Next on his list for analysis was the weekend's visit to 9th place Feirense: "This is one of the last games of the season and the win will be important for us. Feirense is a chance for us to pick up where we left off. It will be a hard game, like they all are in this league. Feirense have had a great season by their standards, built around intensity and good defensive organisation. "

About president Bruno de Carvalho's statement midweek, Jesus is in agreement: "The president said what he said and I have nothing to add. I agree with him and what we have to do now is pick ourselves up for the match against Feirense. The president took the right approach."

Liga NOS matchday 33 tickets on sale on Thursday and Friday

Tickets for Liga NOS matchday 33, between Clube Desportivo Feirense and Sporting Clube de Portugal, will go on sale at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices on Thursday the 11th of May and Friday the 12th of May from 10h00 to 20h00.

Tickets are for the south stand and are priced at €19.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20h30 on Saturday the 13th of May, in Estádio Marcolino Castro.

Jorge Jesus reflects on the weekend's loss to Belenenses

After watching his side let in three goals against Os Belenenses on Sunday, Jorge Jesus was never going to be happy in his post-match press conference. "We let in a penalty at a time when we were dominating. After that we let in two more from set pieces. Belenenses scored whenever they had the chance", opened the Alvalade coach, continuing: "We were slow, especially in the first-half. We just couldn't find the space to create clear opportunities. We have been playing really good football recently, but it just didn't happen for us today. The substitutions [Castaignos, Francisco Geraldes and Joel Campbell] didn't work and we didn't improve. In fact, I would say the changes damaged us a bit in terms of positioning."

With two matches to go and the battle for 2nd in Liga NOS thrown open by the weekend's previous results, Jesus was understandably surprised by what was only a third home loss of the season: "Belenenses were not better than us, but they were fortunate. We came into this on the back of a good run and nobody was expecting today. This kind of match gives us important experience and if we would have scored another goal it would have been a lot easier. We didn't take advantage of FC Porto's draw, but it wasn't because we didn't press. It was down to a lack of quality."

Sporting CP let in three against Belenenses, despite dominating possession

Sporting CP were unbeaten in 10 years in the season's regular match dedicated to the club's female supporters, but Belenenses had other ideas, sinking Sporting CP to an unexpected 3-1 defeat in the 11h45 kick-off.

Bruno de Carvalho and Rui Pedro Soares host event in Alvalade

The Sporting CP and OS Belenenses chiefs Bruno de Carvalho and Rui Pedro Soares were the ideal example of fair play between rival clubs in an event this Saturday. Alvalade and Belenenses skippers Adrien Silva and Tiago Caeiro were also on hand, in an initiative geared around discussing football in general and building up institutional relations between the two Lisbon sides.

Around two dozens youngsters also joined in the occasion, taking photographs in a mix of both sides' kits.

Jorge Jesus on the early kick-off, his possible starting XI and the video assistant referee

The kick-off time was inevitably the focus of questions in this Saturday's pre-match press conference, with Sporting CP hosting cross-town rivals Os Belenenses at 11h45.

"This will be a different match because we are playing in the morning, but the fans have turned out anyway and it will be a sell out. It is Mother's Day as well, so it will be nice occasion. Sporting CP is playing some really attractive football right now and although we are a way off our objectives, the fans are showing they believe in the future. This is a Lisbon derby and although Belenenses aren't doing very well in the league it will be a hard fought game. I remember the game last year, when William Carvalho won it for us with a penalty in the last minute", opened Jorge Jesus in his meeting with the press.

The absence of Gelson Martins, Daniel Podence and Alan Ruiz was largely brushed off by the Alvalade coach, who has other options available: "Results define the team I use. Belenenses will be relaxed and I am sure they are feeling confident, but of course we have done what we have to do on the training pitch. We shifted our training times a bit, but physically nothing really changed. Francisco Geraldes could come in for us, just like João Palhinha and Podence have, if I think that is the best decision. Strategically having a few players out makes a difference, but our overall system will be the same."

Sporting CP announced the signing of André Pinto this week and Jesus was keen to highlight the importance of the new Alvalade acquisition: "Having André with us is important for Sporting CP. He hasn't been working with the first team, so bringing him over earlier means we can help him get into form. He is with us already, thanks to the great relationship that exists between Sporting CP and Sporting de Braga”.

Jorge Jesus finished with a world of praise for the introduction of the video assistant referee for next season's league campaign: "Both Sporting CP and the Portuguese Football Federation deserve to be congratulated for this decision. the video assistant referee is really important for Portuguese football. We have great coaches and clubs in this country, but we don't have the financial resources others do and it is important that we are on the cutting edge of technology. It won't fix everything, but it will certainly help."

Bruno de Carvalho reflects on the introduction of the video-referee

The Portuguese Football Federation and and Portuguese Football League have officially announced that the video assistant referee will be used in national championship matches in 2017/2018.

For president Bruno de Carvalho, the decision is a welcome one following the club's proposal over recent seasons: "Today will go down in history. People are listening to those who have been defending the idea of the video assistant referee for a long time now. We are don't expect this to fix everything, but it will avoid some of the biggers errors, which Sporting CP has consistently been on the receiving end of. Football is changing."

Visiting the Santa Maria Sporting Supporters' Club in the Azores, the Alvalade leader was understandably happy with the announcement: "History is proving us right. Funds are banned and their is a real revolution going on in UEFA and FIFA, with new technology helping to give credibility. Everything that certain people were saying has proven not to be true. Clubs haven't gone bankrupt without funds and the video assistant referee isn't just the idea of a populist. My vision for Sporting CP and football in general was right."

Jorge Jesus' charges look to keep up 100% winning streak

It's official: Sunday's Liga NOS matchday 32 hosting of Clube Futebol Os Belenenses is a complete sell out.

This match is dedicated to the club's female fans (10th time) and Sporting Clube de Portugal have won every single match on these occasions:

2006/2007 | Sporting CP vs Estrela da Amadora | 3-1
2007/2008 | Sporting CP vs Marítimo | 2-1
2008/2009 | Sporting CP vs Paços de Ferreira | 2-0
2009/2010 | Sporting CP vs Vitória de Guimarães | 3-1
2010/2011 | Sporting CP vs Portimonense | 2-1
2011/2012 | Sporting CP vs Vitória de Guimarães | 5-0
2012/2013 | Sporting CP vs Olhanense | 1-0
2013/2014 | Sporting CP vs Vitória de Guimarães | 1-0
2014/2015 | Sporting CP vs Nacional | 2-0
2015/2016 | Sporting CP vs União da Madeira | 2-0

. Gates open at 10h15 (an hour and a half before kick-off)
. We recommend entering the stadium as early as possible, in order to avoid excessive waiting times
. Public transport should be used to reach the stadium
. Children under the age of 3 are prohibited 
. All fans must have a valid ticket
. Member fee applicable: April 2017

This season's Liga NOS fixtures have been attended by an average of 43,253 spectators, smashing every record since 2003.