The coach looks at his side's performance against FC Arouca

After the 1-2 victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal against FC Arouca, Rúben Amorim, coach of Os Leões, talked in a press conference to analyse the game.

"We deserved to score more goals in the first half. We could have done that, and then the game would have become easier. We didn't, so we went into the second half and they drew level off a transition, but we were able to react. From there, we closed up the game, in order to not suffer from more counterattacks. It was a fair victory. We didn't play as well as in other games, but the important thing was to win," he stressed.

Asked about the decision to bring Ricardo Esgaio, Daniel Bragança and Nuno Santos into the starting eleven, Amorim said that changes were made "with our offensive game more in mind."

"It was important to bring in new players and they are all prepared. We tried to play using the characteristics of our players and I opted for two full-backs next to the centre backs, because they are faster," he pointed out, adding that: "In midfield we wanted to take advantage of [Daniel] Bragança's good form. FC Arouca played higher up than we expected, but we ended up winning."

"With the pressure from FC Arouca we had several transitions where we could have done better, and in the end fatigue started to take over, but we held our advantage," said the coach, before highlighting the defensive work done by the team.

"We didn't give them many chances. The evolution of the team happens at the back, and it takes time. We didn't have a great game, but we controlled things and in the future we will improve," concluded Amorim.

The coach's review of the win over CS Marítimo

Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim was satisfied with the result for his side against CS Marítimo (1-0) on Friday, considering it to have been a deserved win.

“There was clearly help from supporters. Like the team, the fans understood that the team were giving their all, that it was necessary to be patient and wait for the best moment to attack. We dominated the game from start to finish. At the beginning we could have been more incisive, when we won space, but we dominated and didn't give CS Marítimo a chance. The game had many stops and starts, but the players tried to implement what we had trained."

“Despite the stress of the game, the players went into the spaces where they should have gone, they didn't get carried away by emotion, and it ended up being a fair result”.
The coach admitted that it is necessary to finish off chances better, saying that “We have to score more goals, but we are also conceding less, apart from the game against AFC Ajax. We have to improve our finishing, but I want to emphasise the control that we had.

Sporting CP no longer share possession so much; we control more and are more on top of the opposition. Last year, around this time, we had a harder time setting up. We would have opportunities once or twice,” he continued, insisting that he was not worried about the winning goal only having come from the penalty spot.

“It depends how you look at it. I look at spirit a lot. This victory gave the fans a lot. We can look at it as two 1-0 victories from penalty kicks, but I look at it as complete dominance. There were no shots from the opposition and we had complete control of the game."

Amorim insisted that the victory, achieved in the final minutes of the match, was not down to luck.

“I think it's more a case of luck when we don't dominate the game, don't do much to deserve it, and end up scoring. Today we completely dominated the game. For example, in last season's game against CD Santa Clara, in which we scored more or less at the same time, it was more good fortune than today. What happened today was justice. One team wanted to play, the other didn't. Today, football was fair."

Pedro Porro scores a late penalty in a 1-0 home win

For the second weekend in a row, Sporting Clube de Portugal claimed victory in Liga Portugal action thanks to a Pedro Porro penalty, as the right back converted a late spot kick against CS Marítimo.

For the home encounter, coach Rúben Amorim opted for a starting XI consisting of Antonio Adán, Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates, Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Vinagre, Pablo Sarabia, Paulinho and Nuno Santos.

The visiting team tried to stifle Sporting CP from the start, preventing them from building up play, but after ten minutes alternatives had already been found, leading to a series of chances involving Nuno Santos.

In the first, it was Sáenz who cut Santos off, then it was Paulo Victor who made a great save to put the ball out for a corner. CS Marítimo also tried to surprise Adán, through Xadas, but shortly after the goalkeeper sent the shot away, Santos hit the woodwork at the other end.

In front of a supportive 18,741 fans at the Estádio José Alvalade, Santos again enjoyed a chance in the 35th minute, when Pablo Sarabia played the ball in. The winger took Paulo Victor out of the equation, but didn't have the best angle to finish off, and China was able to keep his attempt out.

It was 0-0 at halftime, with everything open for a second half which started almost exactly like the first: Sporting CP camped out in the CS Marítimo area and Nuno Santos looked for a goal, with Paulo Victor denying him again.

João Palhinha forced a stop from the goalkeeper, and with no breakthrough on the hour Amorim made his first substitution in the team, sending on Tiago Tomás and Rúben Vinagre and moving Nuno Santos further back.

Sporting CP continued to press and chase a goal from open play, whilst CS Marítimo could only muster one moment of danger from a set piece.

In the 70th minute, Daniel Bragança and Jovane Cabral replaced Matheus Nunes and Pablo Sarabia, providing fresh blood in attack for the final minutes of the match.
Pedro Porro, set up by Jovane Cabral, struck the post again in the 76th minute, and it didn't appear as if Sporting CP's persistence was going to pay off. Five minutes later, Ricardo Esgaio and Bruno Tabata stepped in for Luís Neto and João Palhinha in a brave gamble by the coach.

Considerable timewasting by the visitors meant that some eight minutes of stoppage time were added on, and it was in the dying moments of the game that Sporting CP finally found the net: Paulo Victor fouled Jovane Cabral inside the area,  the referee had no doubt about awarding a penalty and sending off the goalkeeper. Edgar Costa stood between Pedro Porro and a winning goal, and it was the Sporting CP player who kept his cool to slot in his spot kick.

With three points picked up, the team will now shift their focus to the Champions League, and a game against Borussia Dortmund next Tuesday.

The coach reflects on the 1-1 draw with FC Porto

Following the 1-1 draw (1-1) against FC Porto, Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim analysed O Clássico and explained that the result was more unfair on his side.

"The opposite has happened before and there have been games that ended in a draw. This time around, we had more chances. That is neither here nor there, however, as we didn't control the game how we should have controlled against a mature team, but we could have killed the game off in the first half. There weren't any great opportunities for FC Porto in the second half either. After their goal, we looked for the win again, but it was very stop-start," he began by saying in his press conference at the Auditório Artur Agostinho.

"All unavailable players are missed, but those absent today were well replaced. I believed that I should bring on those who are fresher from the bench. We lacked some depth in the squad, but that is normal and part of our project. If it weren't, we would be buying players all the time and would neglect our commitment to youth. We were the better side and, compared to the Clássicos last season, there was an evolution."

Regarding the large number of fouls and cards shown to both sides, the coach stated "there are games for all tastes."

"Both coaches like intensity and our teams are aggressive. I've seen many Clássicos and derbies like that. It was very tactical, but there were good moments. There was individual quality from both sides and it ended up being entertaining. There are those who like very beautiful football with a lot of goals, and there are others who like the competition of these games."

Asked about Pablo Sarabia, the new signing who made his debut in the second half, Amorim said that "You could tell that he was off the pace, and making your debut always brings an extra nervousness. He lost some balls that he will not lose in the future. He has a lot of quality, he is very humble and he has absorbed a lot of information."

Finally, the coach underlines that Sporting CP's focus is to go game by game.

"Last year, despite the different calendar, we won in Braga, drew here with FC Porto and drew in Famalicão, just like this year. We have to win the next game, instead of thinking about the points that we have dropped. Our next game is against AFC Ajax, then we'll think about GD Estoril Praia. We don't have to think about anything else," he said.

Sporting CP and FC Porto play out a 1-1 draw

Sporting Clube de Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Porto in the first 'Clássico' of the Liga Portugal season, as Nuno Santos' first half opener was cancelled out by the visitors in the second period.

Coach Rúben Amorim had several players unavailable, and as such made a series of changes to his starting lineup. Luís Neto, Pedro Porro, Rúben Vinagre and Nuno Santos were brought in, replacing Ricardo Esgaio (on the bench), Gonçalo Inácio and Pedro Gonçalves (injured) and Nuno Mendes (who has left the club for Paris Saint-Germain). Also called into the squad were Geny Catamo, Tiago Ferreira and Gonçalo Esteves from the B team.

Amidst a great atmosphere at the Estádio José Alvalade, things began in tense fashion between Sporting CP and FC Porto. Proof of this was the number of yellow cards shown by referee Nuno Almeida in the first quarter of an hour: two for each side.

Sporting CP had the most of the ball and played a very high press, beginning to take control of the game before opening the scoring after 18 minutes; Matheus Nunes found Pedro Porro on the right and the latter, with a precise cross, set up Nuno Santos, whose shot took a subtle deflection on the way in. The stadium erupted, celebrating the goal that made it 1-0 to the home team.

In response, FC Porto had their only opportunity of any danger in the first half, with Corona heading wide. In the opposite area, Sebastián Coates, in the 26th minute, had a header go narrowly wide, and Nuno Santos was twice denied by Diogo Costa before half time.

Sporting CP continued to improve at the start of the second half, and once again caused problems when Pedro Porro sent a direct free kick into the side netting.

Around half an hour from the end, Amorim made his first change, taking Jovane Cabral off to bring on debuting star Pablo Sarabia -to a great ovation from the Sportinguistas. Zouhair Feddal and Rúben Vinagre replaced Matheus Reis and Ricardo Esgaio, respectively, shortly after.

However, FC Porto managed to equalise in the 71st minute, through Luis Díaz, in the first dangerous attempt on Antonio Adán's goal.

The reaction didn't take long and Sporting CP swiftly came close to taking the lead again, before Diogo Costa kept out Paulinho's header.

In the final minutes, and after Bruno Tabata replaced Pedro Porro, FC Porto were reduced to ten men when Toni Martínez saw two yellow cards in quick succession.

Whilst Sporting CP sought a winning goal, O Clássico ended in a draw. The team will be back in action on Wednesday, hosting AFC Ajax on the first matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates [C], Zouhair Feddal (Matheus Reis, 69'), Pedro Porro (Bruno Tabata, 82'), João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Vinagre (Ricardo Esgaio, 69'), Jovane Cabral (Pablo Sarabia, 61'), Nuno Santos and Paulinho.

The Sporting CP coach reviews the 1-1 draw with FC Famalicão

Rúben Amorim reflected on Sporting CP's 1-1 draw with FC Famalicão (1-1) in his post-match press conference, lamenting that his side “did not manage to impose our game."

“FC Famalicão dropped back a lot and took some depth away from us, whilst we put the ball where they wanted it and where we shouldn't have. We played a lot of balls inside and they made transitions there. The fact that the block was lower and we were making passes inside, without the defense being too high, meant that there was space between the lines that created a lot of problems for us, but the defensive problems came more from the offensive side, when we had the ball. Even so, we had opportunities, and FC Famalicão also had transitions. Obviously we believed we could win until the end, but it wasn't to be. Now it's about moving forward,” the coach began by saying.

After praising Antonio Adán, whom he said “had a great performance,” Amorim also spoke about João Palhinha and the yellow card that the midfielder saw in the 14th minute: “This always affects Palhinha a lot, and he then has to be careful because he picks up yellows easily, but nevertheless he had a good game."
The Sporting CP boss also took responsibility for the draw.

“When the whole team doesn't understand where we have to attack, it's the coach's fault and not so much the players' fault. Maybe they didn't get the information in the best way, but, even so, we were the team that always had the most of the ball. Then, with our transitions, when we don't make good decisions we make things more complicated."

“In football, everything changes very quickly. Now we have the international break, and when we return we will be very motivated for the game against FC Porto. It's a very long season. We have to look on the bright side: Last year we also drew here and, therefore, we are on the right path,” he concluded.

Sporting CP draw 1-1 away

Sporting Clube de Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw at home to FC Famalicão on Liga Portugal Matchday 4, dropping their first points of the season.

Rúben Amorim made three changes to his starting XI, fielding Antonio Adán, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates, Zouhair Feddal, Ricardo Esgaio, Matheus Nunes, João Palhinha, Nunes Mendes, Pedro Gonçalves, Paulinho and Jovane Cabral.

With three victories to start the season, Sporting CP were looking for a fourth win against a side that they had yet to beat since FC Famalicão's return to the top flight.

A good opportunity to score presented itself after two minutes through Jovane Cabral, but he, Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho were all thwarted in their early attempts. The first half also saw the home side enjoy chances, with Antonio Adán called into action twice.

The score remained 0-0 at halftime, and Amorim decided to make his first substitutions, bringing Nuno Santos and Pedro Porro on for Cabral and Ricardo Esgaio. They combined soon thereafter, the full-back crossing for the winger to shoot against the post.

Sporting CP found themselves chasing the game when, after Adán blocked a shot, Gonçalo Inácio tried to take the ball out of Ivo Rodrigues' reach and it ended up going in off Nuno Mendes, handing FC Famalicão the lead.

Amorim made further changes, with Matheus Nunes and Zouhair Feddal making way for Daniel Bragança and Tiago Tomás. The equaliser came ten minutes later, when following a corner, Gonçalo Inácio's ball found João Palhinha at the back post to score.

Sporting CP attempted to find a winner, but shots from Paulinho, Tiago Tomás and Pedro Gonçalves were kept out by goalkeeper Luiz Júnior, whilst Sebastián Coates saw a header deflected away.

Adán made a late save of his own from André Ricardo, as FC Famalicão and Sporting CP shared the points.

Following the international break, the team have a big game against FC Porto at the Estádio José Alvalade, with both teams level on points in the table.

A perfect start to the season continues with Os Leões winning 1-2 away from home

In their first away game of the Liga Portugal season, Sporting Clube de Portugal overcame tough opposition in the form of SC Braga with a 1-2 win. Jovane Cabral struck in the first half, with Pedro Gonçalves scoring in the second period.

The fixture was a rematch of the recent Supertaça, won 2-1 by Sporting CP in Aveiro. Coach Rúben Amorim fielded the same starting lineup that had defeated FC Vizela 3-0 on Matchday 1, and also included recent signing Manuel Ugarte -who debuted in stoppage time- and a recovered Pedro Porro in his squad.

Os Leões were looking to extend a run of four consecutive victories over SC Braga, although the opening moments did not feature an abundance of attacking. It was not until the 16th minute that there was a clear chance, when Jovane Cabral sent a direct free kick goal-wards and keeper Matheus had to push the ball away.

Shortly thereafter, Zouhair Feddal tried his luck with a header, which Matheus easily parried clear, and after half an hour of action it was Sebastián Coates' turn to head dangerously -albeit unsuccessfully.

Five minutes before the break, a goal finally arrived. After a cross from Rúben Vinagre, Ricardo Esgaio, from the right, sent the ball on towards the far post, where Jovane Cabral was in the right place to head home and make it 0-1.

Just before the end of the first half, there was still time for a great save by Antonio Adán from Fábio Martins' shot, enabling Sporting CP to carry the advantage into the break.

Immediately after the second half began, Gonçalo Inácio was close to doubling the lead when, off a free-kick from Jovane Cabral, he headed wide.

However, the second goal would come a few moments later. A brilliant move by Sporting CP, which began with a Rúben Vinagre throw-in and involved some seven players, ended with Jovane Cabral setting up Pedro Gonçalves. The latter did the rest, scoring his third goal in the league in just two games.

Amorim shuffled his side half an hour from the end, taking Cabral and Vinagre off in order to bring Nuno Santos and Matheus Reis into the fold.

SC Braga's threats were minimal, such as Fábio Martins' shot in the 73rd minute, but a sending off for substitute Matheus Reis on 80 minutes meant things got nervous before the end. Adán made a magnificent intervention that prevented Iuri Medeiros from pulling a goal back for the home side, but could not keep out an Abel Ruiz effort late on. SC Braga made it 1-2, but there was no turnaround in the scoreline and Sporting CP claimed another win.

Up next is a meeting with Belenenses SAD at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Zouhair Feddal, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha (Manuel Ugarte, 90+2'), Matheus Nunes, Rúben Vinagre (Matheus Reis, 61'), Jovane Cabral (Nuno Santos, 61'), Pedro Gonçalves (Pedro Porro, 83') e Paulinho (Tiago Tomás, 83').

The midfielder is part of the best XI voted on by his peers

Pedro Gonçalves has become the sixth Sporting Clube de Portugal player named in the 2020/21 Liga NOS Team Of The Year, voted on by coaches and captains of top flight teams in Portugal.

In his debut season with the club, Gonçalves had an immediate and decisive impact, scoring a total of 23 goals. He was Liga NOS' top scorer in the campaign, and also provided a further 2 assists.

A constant presence in the starting XI, he played 32 league games -in which he was named Man Of The Match on eight occasions.

As a result of his remarkable season at the Estádio José Alvalade, Gonçalves has taken another step forward in his career with a first callup for the Portuguese national team, and is part of the squad selected by coach Fernando Santos for this summer's Euro 2020 tournament.

Twice the winner of the Player Of The Month award in Liga NOS, and three times Midfielder of the Month, 'Pote' joins Antonio Adán, Pedro Porro, Sebastián Coates, Nuno Mendes and João Palhinha in being part of the Team Of The Year.