Jorge Jesus sets the stage the weekend's Liga NOS action, with Alvalade's youngsters expected to against feature

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Jorge Jesus reaffirmed his confidence in Alvalade's young blood, while stressing the importance of giving the latest batch of Sporting CP talent time to mature.

"Playing for Sporting CP is one thing, playing for Moreirense is another [reference to the return of Daniel Podence and Francisco Geraldes]. We have to be careful with the lads. Gelson Martins had João Mário as an example and when we needed him he stepped up. In relation to Daniel Podence, if anyone believes in him then it is me", opened Jesus.

Nacional are one of the sides who took points of Sporting CP earlier in the season, but the Alvalade is more focused on playing some good football rather than avenging the reverse fixture: "Just like Tondela, Nacional are fighting to stay in this division. Every match is a final for them and that is how they will play tomorrow. Unfortunately for us, they took points off us earlier in the season. We have been playing well recently and hopefully we will get the result and play quality football."

Jorge Jesus finished with a word of praise for Bas Dost, Sporting CP's medical team's work with Adrien and the Alvalade skipper's stand-in, Bryan Ruiz: "We want Bas Dost to finish as the league's top scorer. He can win an individual title, but it will reflect well on the whole team who have helped him. Over the whole season Adrien Silva has been out for four months, but we hope he will be back after the international break and that is down to our medical team. For now I made the right choice with Bryan Ruiz. He played really well against Tondela."

Jokanovic's side looking to find form and escape the relegation zone

It hasn't exactly been a typical season for Nacional. The Madeira based team are generally comfortable in the middle of the table and have even on occasions pushed for a place on the European stage. However and despite currently sitting in 17th, with only Tondela to the rear, Jokanovic's Nacional are on the up and have lost only two in the last seven.

The arrival of Adriano Facchini, Filipe Gonçalves, Zequinha and Aristeguieta have brought in some extra depth to the squad and a recent 7-0 loss to FC Porto was a harsh reflection of the work Nacional have been putting in. Despite the improvement in form, Nacional have let in the second most goals in the league (29).

Down the other end of the pitch, Nacional can boast an impressive average of 12.1 efforts on goal (Sporting CP has an average of 12.7), although only 3.2 are on target.

Looking at Jokanovic's strengths and weaknesses ahead of Saturday's fixture, Nacional have only won once in league encounters in Alvalade (42, in 2005), making Sporting CP the understandable favourite to take away the three points.

The 48 year old Serbian actually players for Nacional, before going on to manage the youth team and senior team on two occasions before his current spell.

The experienced 34 year old made name for himself during four seasons with Gil Vicente. He has let in 13 goals in seven games, but that tally is reduced to 8 if we discount the seven against FC Porto.

Bas Dost speaks with Sporting TV after netting four against Tondela

Liga NOS top scorer Bas Dost spoke with Sporting TV after bagging four goals against Tondela this weekend.

"It was a great feeling. I wasn't totally happy, because I had a chance to score five, but I was really happy the next day. I am really happy with the four goals and the result. I had some great passes to finish. Daniel Podence did a good job as a second striker and it is important to be the top scorer in the league", said the Dutchman, adding a word on the race for the European Golden Boot: "I don't think about it that much. Our priority is the league. A lot of family and friends have mentioned it and I didn't think I could score four goals. Five will have to wait until next time and with this team, it is possible."

To finish, Bas Dost saved a word for the fans: "We play away in small stadiums a lot of the time, but we always have fans there. It gives us extra strength and it is like playing at home. I couldn't even hear the Tondela fans. Now I want to score against Nacional."

Jorge Jesus pleased with his young talent in Saturday's demolition of Tondela

Proud of his young players. That is how Jorge Jesus summarised his post-match press conference this Saturday, after watching Daniel Podence and Matheus Pereira pick apart Tondela and assist the goal hungry Bas Dost in a 4-1 win.

"Daniel Podence did will for the first goal and it is a great example of what these lads can bring to the team. It was important for us to go in at half-time in the lead. It settled the younger players and helped us relax in the second-half. What we are doing is important for the future, accepting the risk of having so many young players out on the pitch at the same time. Gelson has already made a name for himself and I liked what Matheus Pereira, Podence and Palhinha showed", said the Sporting CP coach.

Commenting on Bas Dost's unstoppable form in front of goal, Jesus added: "He is a really humble player and he have the second penalty to Joel Campbell. It is risky to take three penalties on one match and we put all three the same way, which we have to work on. If Bas Dost finishes at the league's top scorer, then it reflects on the whole team as well as him indivudally."

Bas Dost nets four with striking masterclass supported by Matheus and Podence

Bas Dost was the star of the show in Saturday night, dispatching Tondela with four goals on Liga NOS matchday 25, with the help of some brilliant ball control from Daniel Podence and Matheus Pereira.

With Daniel Podence making his first senior start and Zeegelaar and Matheus Pereira down a new-look left wing, Sporting CP focused much of their attacking attention out wide. The trio of Podence, Martins and Pereira were a constant source of danger for the Tondela back line, as the three youngsters forced depth against a defence more accustomed to man marking. However, it was actually the hosts who created the first chance, when Jailson fired a shot towards goal following a corner.

Bryan Ruiz responded after 10 minutes with a shot that pulled a save out of Cláudio Ramos and from then on Sporting CP controlled the action. Short link-up passing down the flanks defined the Alvalade approach, while Tondela looked to do damage through the pace of Murillo down the left, countered by Paulo Oliveira dropping in behind Schelotto whenever the the Argentinean probed forward. Despite the one-way traffic, Tondela created another pair of chances, both from dead-ball situations through Pedro Nuno (22’ and 30’). 

As the clock ticked over Matheus Pereira found his feet and Podence began turning the screw with some fantastic dribbling skills. On 34 minutes Zeegelaar triggered a break down the left, Podence darted into the box and pulled a cross back a cross goal and who else but Bas Dost to slot home a half volley to open the scoring.

The game opened up after the break and Matheus Pereira began to show what he can really do, finding Bas Dost with a wire-guided cross that the Dutchman came close to converting on with a diving header. Trailing and in desperate need of points, Tondela pushed forward and managed to pull level three minutes before the hour, when Murillo rounded off an excellent team move. 

Just a minute after letting one in, Sporting CP struck. Of course it was Bas Dost who did the business, keeping is calm under pressure to slot home after Matheus Pereira did well to go around a couple of defenders. Not to be outdone by his fellow Sporting Academy graduates, Gelson began testing luck and was able to win a penalty after breaking into the box. Up stepped Dost and dispatched from 12 yards, before doing the same again six minutes later after being pushed in the back in the 6-yard box.

Jesus names squad for Liga NOS matchday 25

1 – Rui Patrício
34 – Beto Pimparel
2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
4 – Jefferson
7 – Joel Campbell
10 – Bryan Ruiz
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
18 – Francisco Geraldes
20 – Luc Castaignos
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
35 – Ruben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
56 – Daniel Podence
66 – João Palhinha
73 – Matheus Pereira
77 – Gelson Martins

Jorge Jesus looking to prepare the 2017/2018 campaign with an introduction of even more starlets

Speaking with the press ahead of Liga NOS matchday 25, which will see Sporting CP travel to Tondela, Jorge Jesus highlighted the importance of a strong run in to the end of the season, as preparation for coming campaign get underway.

"Wins bring confidence and points. We have to get as close a we can to our rivals, although we know it won't be easy. João Palhinha has been given an opportunity and this weekend we will do the same with some of the others like Daniel Podence", said Jesus, going on to answer a question in relation to the possible introduction of Francisco Geraldes in the middle of the park: "Bruno César and Alan Ruiz have been really important. Francisco [Geraldes] doesn't have the characteristics to play as an attacking midfielder, he is more like João Mário. He doesn't have the athletic or individual characteristics to play as a defensive midfielder, but I think he will adapt better to playing off a forward. Our young players have a lot of individual quality, but for most of the game you don't touch the ball so tactical understanding comes into it as well."

Speaking in greater depth about the weekend's opposition, Jesus affirmed that Sporting CP's recent run of improving form has little influence: "Tondela want the points, to avoid relegation. They are learning how to play under a new coach, but I think Pepa [current coach] are both good examples of the quality of young Portuguese coaches. We have gone four matches without losing, but we are used to doing better than that. We know that the smaller clubs work that little bit harder against the big clubs, but we are ready and we can't let Tondela be more intensive than us."

Sales for Liga NOS matchday 25 get underway on Wednesday the 8th of March

Tickets of Liga NOS matchday 25, between Clube Desportivo de Tondela and Sporting Clube de Portugal will go on sale on Wednesday the 8th of March from 10h00 to 20h00, at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices.

Tickets are for the east stand and are priced at 20€ each.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20h30 on Saturday the 11th of Match, in Tondela's Estádio João Cardoso.

Jorge Jesus reflects on a dominating opening, frustrated by the final result

Speaking with the press at the final whistle on Sunday, Jorge Jesus conceded that the second-half did not live up to expectations after his side controlled the opening stages.

"We were better in the first-half and a bit closer to where we want to be. We had a great 35 minutes, we scored and we looked good down the wings, but this isn't the result we wanted. We were really strong in attack, but we couldn't keep it up in the second-half", opened the Alvalade coach, going on to reflect on his second-half substitution of Alan Ruiz and Bruno César (both suspended for the next game for accumulating yellow cards: "When Alan Ruiz and Bruno César we improved in defence, but lost a bit of quality in terms of moving the ball around. I was a bit concerned that the lads couldn't be as aggressive as I would like them to be, because of the yellow cards. Bryan Ruiz is good with the ball in the middle and João Palhinha is more defensive, but I wanted to avoid the game being divided up. Vitória de Guimarães ended up scoring, despite not creating too many problems for us."

Speaking in greater depth about Vitória de Guimarães, Jesuse finished: "We knew we would be playing against a team that have only missed out a few times away from home and that they would force us to defend at times. We knew about how they playing going forward and Hernâni gives them options. With Ricardo Esgaio himself being quick, I thought he would be able to stop him. Sometimes he did, sometimes he didn't, but I think he did everything we asked of him."

Squad list for Liga NOS matchday 24

Jorge Jesus has released his squad list for Sunday's hosting of Vitória de Guimarães (20h30):

1 – Rui Patrício
26 – Azbe Jug
34 – Beto Pimparel

2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
4 – Jefferson Moreira
7 – Joel Campbell
10 – Bryan Ruiz
11 – Bruno César
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
20 – Luc Castaignos
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
35 – Rúben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
56 – Daniel Podence
66 – João Palhinha
77 – Gelson Martins
99 – Alan Ruiz