Os Leões best GD Estoril Praia at home in Liga Portugal

A 3-0 win for Sporting Clube de Portugal against GD Estoril Praia kept up the pressure at the top on Matchday 23 of the Liga Portugal season. Pedro Gonçalves, Matheus Reis and Pablo Sarabia scored the goals for Os Leões at the Estádio José Alvalade.

On a cold afternoon, albeit with clear skies and many families present in the stands, Sporting CP made three changes to the starting lineup that had faced Manchester City in midweek: Luís Neto - captaining the side in the absence of Sebastián Coates -, Zouhair Feddal and Manuel Ugarte were all brought in.

Paulinho provided the first dangerous move of the game in the seventh minute, when he stole the ball from a defender and moved towards goal. Soon after, Pedro Gonçalves' shot from long distance brought with it another close call.

Gonçalves' next opportunity, hit wide, came before the first move of any note for the visitors. Successfully stifling that chance, Sporting CP went forward again, as Pedro Porro struck over the crossbar.

Paulinho also threatened with a header and, in the 35th minute, a penalty kick was appealed for in the GD Estoril Praia area, for a handball by a defender, blocking Pablo Sarabia's shot. Referee Hélder Malheiro, however, ordered play to continue.

Finally, the deadlock was broken five minutes before the break. From outside the area, Sarabia had his shot blocked by Daniel Figueira, the ball falling to Gonçalves with the goal at his mercy. The goalscoring instinct of the No. 28 shirt did not let him down, and he made it 1-0 to Sporting CP.

There was still time for Matheus Nunes, after a great individual move, to shoot into the side netting, and for Sarabia to give Figueira work to do with a direct free-kick, but the first half ended 1-0 to Sporting CP.

During the break, more than 100 players from the Petizes, Traquinas, Benjamins and Infantis levels at the Pólo do Estádio Universitário de Lisboa (EUL) and at the Academias de Formação Sporting (AFS) took to the pitch as a prize for the excellent marks they had achieved at school.

The second half started with a slow pace, and on the hour mark coach Rúben Amorim put on Daniel Bragança in place of Matheus Nunes. Soon after, a counterattack ended with Porro hitting the ball towards the far post, with Paulinho arriving slightly late to the effort.

In the 64th minute, the referee sent off Raul Silva for a hard foul on Porro, leaving GD Estoril Praia down to ten men. Sporting CP became even more dominant and threatened when Sarabia received the ball in the area and shot -a defender intercepting the attempt.

With 20 minutes to go, Islam Slimani came on for Manuel Ugarte. Sporting CP made it 2-0 through an excellent counterattack that involved him, as Porro played to the striker in the midfield, he released to Matheus Reis, and a backheeled one-two with Paulinho ended with Reis putting the ball into the net.

Paulinho, Bragança and Reis all kept goalkeeper Figueira busy, before finally Sarabia found the space he needed to strike, scoring a magnificent goal that capped the 3-0 victory for Os Leões.

The team now travel to Madeira, where next Saturday they face CS Marítimo in Liga Portugal.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GR], Luís Neto [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro (Gonçalo Esteves, 82'), Manuel Ugarte (Islam Slimani, 70'), Matheus Nunes (Daniel Bragança, 60') , Matheus Reis (Nuno Santos, 82'), Pablo Sarabia, Pedro Gonçalves and Paulinho (Marcus Edwards, 82').

The coach gives a press conference before the home game against GD Estoril Praia

Back to Liga Portugal this weekend, Sporting Clube de Portugal play GD Estoril Praia at the Estádio José Alvalade this Sunday, off the back of a tough defeat in the Champions League at the hands of Manchester City.

Coach Rúben Amorim gave a press conference before the league contest.

"We always have the same objective: to win the game. We are going to play against a team that knows what they are doing, who are well organised and who started the season very well. Then there was a 'normalisation,' so to speak, but they have a quality coach and have solutions," he began by saying.

"What we want is to do what we have done very often, which is to come off a Champions League game and realise that the league is very important for us. Our priority is to make that connection."

Sporting CP will be without the suspended Bruno Tabata, João Palhinha, Sebastián Coates and Ricardo Esgaio after the ill-tempered finale to the game against FC Porto, and will be up against a side that hasn't lost for three matchdays.

"We have enough quality players to face GD Estoril Praia. We are going to bring Dário [Essugo] back, for example, and that always opens up space for us to continue with our project, which is very important for us. GD Estoril Praia have always been a team that defend very well, and against us they have switched between a line of five and six at the back. They are strong in transition," he highlighted, adding: "We are sure that it will be a very difficult game, where they will be comfortable, because, in addition to the victory they had, playing at the Estádio José Alvalade takes the pressure off them. Therefore, we have to be very intense and we have the obligation and the need to win, which is our goal."

Asked to comment on the praise that Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City coach, gave to Matheus Nunes, Amorim stressed that the young midfielder must keep his focus on working hard.

"I am pleased that other coaches recognise Matheus' ability, and I think he can become much better. We must also remember that at the beginning of the year, when we lost João Mário who had played in his position all year, there were many people who did not agree with the gamble that we took on Matheus Nunes. You have to look at it as being that at the beginning of the season he wasn't the worst and now he's not the best -you have to maintain your level and concentration to continue like this. It was very clear that he was a great talent, but I think that we still have a lot to work on."

Commenting on the return to training following the Champions League loss, Amorim described the feeling in the camp as 'normal,' given the result. "Today was completely different. It was difficult for us, but it's part of being a team that are used to winning."

On Liga Portugal, where the team drew against the leaders last time out, the coach explained that "obviously it was better to win; there is a 6-point difference and FC Porto don't lose many, but we have to play our games and always believe, because as the season goes on, the games become more difficult. Getting into the Champions League is very important for us, as is not letting those behind us in the table get closer whilst, at the same time, trying to move top.

"Our team is always strong in terms of spirit. We can win any game, even when we have players out, but of course we would be stronger if we had everyone available."

Speaking individually about winter reinforcements Islam Slimani and Marcus Edwards, he concluded that "everyone needs to understand the dynamics of the team well. Even the rhythm of training is different and all the details of a change count, but I'm sure that Edwards will be a great player."

"Slimani has had more opportunities, because the games have required that. They are both ready to help, and it depends on what we need in the game, but there is no rush, because our plan is not only for today, but also for the future."

The coach reviews the win over GD Estoril Praia

In the aftermath of Sunday's triumph over GD Estoril Praia (0-1) in Liga Portugal, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim explained that he was satisfied with how the team responded to a week in which they lost their opening Champions League fixture.

“I expected a good attitude from the team, but I didn't know how the players' reaction was going to be," he began his post-match press conference by saying.

“The reaction was excellent. We were focused, everyone knew what they had to do and they did it without much stress, in a very difficult game and after a very difficult defeat. We learned a lot from the game against FC Famalicão, and we didn't rush. In the first half we controlled things, and in the second as well,”, began the coach.

“We remembered the team that we are and if we have to defend lower, that's what we'll do. We were fair winners. It was a very difficult game, but it turned out that we suffered less than expected."

“GD Estoril Praia had fewer chances than expected, because we went after the result, knowing that when a big club are not in front, it's like they are losing. We were clearly the team that had the most chances and that looked for the goal the most,” he pointed out.

Amorim also admitted that the last week was "the most difficult" since his arrival, but also emphasised that his players gave “an excellent response” at the António Coimbra da Mota.
“These are difficult times, but players have to realise that everything changes from one moment to the next. This team has not yet been through moments of adversity. They felt the stress, but it's not the same thing, and it's part of the team's growth ”, he said, rejecting the idea that the result was in jeopardy.

As for Pablo Sarabia's first-team debut, the coach said the Spanish international "will be very important this season" and praised his qualities.

“He is a player with a lot of talent, but he works a lot for the team. You can see some confusion at times about when to press and get the ball. He is looking for his place, but he is an above average player. Like all players, he needs time ”, he said, before explaining why it was Pedro Porro who took the penalty that gave the team victory.

“Everyone wants to score and I trust everyone. It's a bit of a competition between the players, because Nuno Santos missed one last season and was changed, Jovane Cabral also missed and was changed, as well as Pote, who got injured and was changed. Whoever misses is switched out, and now it's Porro's turn,” he clarified.

Finally, the coach sent out a warning about the victory.

"Winning helps you to overcome everything, but in football everything changes from one moment to the next."

“We were coming off a series of victories, we had won the Supertaça and were improving our football, and in one week everything seems to have changed. The players have to be alert, as this win does not put any ghosts to bed. We have to be prepared for everything," he concluded.

The coach talks on the eve of the game against GD Estoril Praia

Sporting Clube de Portugal take on GD Estoril Praia on Sunday (8:30pm) on Matchday 5 of the Liga Portugal season, and Rúben Amorim gave a press conference ahead of the away fixture for his side.

"We foresee many difficulties against a team who have nothing to lose," he told the media.

"They are having an excellent season, will play without responsibility and have assimilated their ideas well since last year, with a good coach. That gets the best out of the players. We are up against a very dangerous team. We played GD Estoril Praia in preseason and we know the team well. We will respond to everything that happens. It will be necessary to pay attention to the wind on dead balls, and every detail will count. I expect a very difficult game, but I know we will be prepared."

After admitting that the loss at home to AFC Ajax in the Champions League "was a very heavy blow," Amorim explained that the work done in recent days has been focused on improving performance.

"This week we looked at GD Estoril Praia, but we also looked at our own team. More than GD Estoril Praia, our preparation was about what we had to do, because that is what gives security to the players. We must show that we are an excellent team."

Asked about the project established for Sporting CP, the coach assured that nothing will change because of the team's involvement in European competition.

"Playing in the UEFA Champions League can't change anything about the project. It would be very dangerous to do that. We have to follow through with what we had thought planned, however much it hurts. I know the club and I know their ideas, and that's the path we will follow," he promised.

"There is nothing better than another game to turn a situation around. I want the team to show the same identity that we have had. I want them to feel confident about the process. I think the team are prepared. They know what they did wrong against AFC Ajax. We used the game in Famalicão to prepare this one, because GD Estoril Praia also sometimes defend with five at the back and a midfielder dropping in."