Jorge Jesus on Sporting's comeback against Sp. Braga

"This isn't a special moment. It is a moment in which we won another three points after being 2-0 behind. Without really understanding why, we were losing at half-time. We were the best side for the whole 45 minutes. João Mário had a chance one-on-one with the goalkeeper and so did Slimani, Paulo Oliveira hit the post...Sp. Braga scored two goals created by individual quality, from two brilliant bits of skill from Rafa, but they didn't really deserve it", opened Jorge Jesus in a flash interview at the final whistle on Sunday night, after inspiring his side to a battling 3-2 comeback.

Asked what he said to his players at the break, the Alvalade boss said: “We spoke and I told them that they had the quality to turn it around. We had the fans with us, even when we were losing 2-0, which really helped in the second-half. I don't know if there were 40 thousand or 450 thousand people in the stadium today, but they were really important. It was a great game with some great refereeing. We haven't won anything yet, but today we put in another performance that shows why we are in the top places in the league. We won against a really good side today."

Adrien on his side's 3-2 win against Braga on Sunday night

Adrien Silva highlighted his team's attitude and quality in fighting back from 2-0 down against Sp. Braga this Sunday.

“I don't know if it was the kind of result that champions get, but it was a great win for a team that showed character after being down 2-0 at half-time. In the first-half we had three clear opportunities to score, but we didn't give up", said the Alvalade skipper before touching on Jorge Jesus' talk at half-time: "He told us to believe in our work and in our ability. We showed a great attitude and that converted into goals in the second-half. The fans were even with us when we were losing and they gave us the strength to turn the result around."

Sporting come back from 2-0 down at half-time

Sporting pulled off one of the most memorable comebacks since the inauguration of the new Estádio José Alvalade in 2003 this Sunday. Trailing 2-0 at half-time on what was an afternoon of absolutely torrential rain in the Portuguese capital, Jorge Jesus' side rallied in the second-half to ensure that the gap at the top of Liga NOS stays at a minimum of four points.

The visitors made their intentions for the afternoon clear in the opening exchanges, with Braga's pace and creativity looking likely to cause problems. After just a minute of action, Wilson drove a shot goalwards after a corner and five minutes later Pedro Santos had Rui Patrício twitching with a curved effort. Jorge Jesus' side weathered the early storm and were soon down the other end, with João Mário denied by Kritciuk after the Portuguese international had broken free of his marker in the area.

After two efforts that finished up the wrong side of the crossbar from Bruno César, it was Slimani's turn to break through on goal in front of the isolated Kritciuk, but the Braga keeper held his ground well to comfortably deny the Algerian's chip. Seven minutes later, João Mário curved a corner out to the onrushing Paulo Oliveira, but his header crashed against the post and Kritciuk somehow clawed the loose ball off the line. Despite the on-way traffic, it was actually Braga who took the lead, when Wilson Eduardo made the most of some scrappy play in the area to find the bottom corner. To add insult to injury, Rafa charged through the middle four minutes later and made it 2-0.

Jorge Jesus rang the changes at half-time, bringing off William Carvalho and introducing Gelson Martins down the right. After three minutes of action Bryan Ruiz was somehow denied by the Braga keeper, a minute before Rui Patrício made a fine stop from Pedro Santos. Back down the other end, Sporting finally found the back of the net when Adrien converted on a penalty after a clear handball from André Pinto.

The goal broke Braga's resistance and Slimani could have completed the comeback almost immediately with golden opportunities in the 59th and 65th minute. Kritciuk made another brilliant stop in the 71st minute from a low shot by Gelson Martins, but the Braga keeper could do little to keep Montero out five minutes later after the Colombian latched onto a shot by Jefferson.

Sp. Braga could have won it themselves in the dying stages, but Rui Patrício was on hand to deny Rafa, before Slimani sealed the result with a 90th minute header after a wire-guided cross from Bryan Ruiz.

Jorge Jesus ahead of Sunday's hosting of Sp. Braga

Sporting will host Sp. Braga at 16h00 this Sunday, on Liga NOS matchday 16. On the back of wins against FC Porto (2-0) and V. Setúbal (6-0), Jorge Jesus sees this as his side's best spell of the season.

“We will be taking on an excellent team. One of the best in Portugal in fact and they have already beaten us. It is a club that is making a name for themselves both on and off the pitch. They have their own objectives and a team with a lot of quality that will make life difficult for us tomorrow. It will be one the same level as the game against FC Porto here, for example", opened the Sporting coach in a pre-match press conference on Saturday evening, adding: "We are ready for those difficulties. We will try to play at the level we have been at, to defend first place with a win. Obviously Braga will have other intentions, but we are feeling confident. The fans will be with us again and that will help us get over this hurdle."

There is little doubt that Sporting are currently on-song, with two convincing Liga NOS wins. For Jorge Jesus, this is certainly his team's best form of the campaign so far: "Over the course of the season, teams go through different periods. It is only natural that Sporting go through a strong spell now and I have already said that we will be stronger in the second half of the season. These last two games are our best form of the season so far. This is the last game of the first half of the season and, whatever the result, Sporting will be in first at the start of the second half of the season. It has been a brilliant season so far, spectacular in every way, from the quality of how we have been playing to the points we have."

Asked about the possible debut of Marvin Zeegelaar and Bruno César's stellar performace against V. Setúbal, Jesus explained: “Bruno César, as well as being more of a forward player, already knows me and those are two positive things. His relationship with the team makes it easier. He has been working with us for a month and that made it easier for him to come on and play with the quality he showed. Marvin has been with us for a week. He is a defensive player and that makes it a bit tricker if you are looking to attack, but with time he will fit in, like Schelotto."

After brushing off temptation to add to a war of words with Rui Vitória, Jorge Jesus commented on Julen Lopetegui's exit from FC Porto: "No coach likes to see a colleague in that position, but that is not my decision to make. I hope that he gets back into work as quickly as possible, because every coach always want to be involved."

Bruno de Carvalho on the SAD shareholder and CCD holder meetings this week

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD and club president Bruno de Carvalho proved satisfied with the result of the two General Assemblies held this week (SAD shareholders and Compulsory Convertible Debenture (CCD) holders).

“The General Assembly was quick, but it wasn't an easy day. Everything was unanimously approved by all banks and even the smallest debenture holder. These is still the opportunity to ask for conversation up until Friday, but we are happy because everything was unanimously approved and I believe that the banks will comply with the rest of the agreement", said Bruno de Carvalho at the end of the meetings.

In parallel, the Sporting president also shared his thoughts on Sunday's hosting of Sp. Braga: "I hope we don't make the mistakes we did last time, which actually was a good match with two good teams. Every match is important and we have to look at them all in the same way. That is the only way we will get to May with the objectives we want."

Mobile Club Store next to Gate 4 in Estádio José Alvalade

The Mobile Club Store will again be in action for Sporting's 16h00 hosting of Sp. Braga on Sunday. The store will be open next to Gate 4 (next to CUF), while the Official Club Store at the stadium will be open until 20h00.

Sporting-Sp. Braga, will kick off at 16h00 on Sunday the 10th of January, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Sporting-Sp. Braga at 16h00 on Sunday

Sporting Clube de Portugal will host Sporting Clube de Braga at 16h00 on Sunday the 10th of December.

More than 35,000 fans have already secured their seat for what is the last game of the first half of the season. Ticket offices will open from 10h00 to 20h00 on Friday the 9th of January, with non-renews Special Seats also on sale.

The Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices will also be open from 14h30 on matchday.

Jorge Sousa named for Liga NOS matchday 17

Jorge Sousa, 40, from the Porto Football, has been named to take charge of Sporting's Liga NOS matchday 17 hosting of Sp. Braga.

Bertino Miranda and Álvaro Mesquita will act as linesmen.

This will be Sousa's third time in charge of a Sporting match this season, following the Super Cup (1-0 against Benfica) and the Portuguese Cup fourth round (2-1 against Benfica).

In total, the Porto Football Association official has refereed 15 matches in Liga NOS, II Liga, the Portuguese Cup, League Cup, Super Cup, Champions League and Europa League so far this season.

Sporting-Sp. Braga will get underway at 16h00 on Sunday the 10th of January, in Estádio José Alvalade.

Bruno César on his dream debut in Setúbal

Bruno César made a dream start to his Sporting career this Wednesday night with two goals and an assist for Slimani. Speaking at the final whistle, the Brazilian preferred to focus on the collective performance: "I played well, just like the whole team did. Our objective was to win, to play well and to stay at the top of the league. I am happy to have helped the team. It was a good debut for me, but the most important thing was the win."

Although his side now extend their lead to four points at the top of Liga NOS, César played down thoughts of silverware come May: "I don't think we are the big favourites. We in first and we always go for the win, but we will take each match as it comes. We are focused, but we will keep our feet firmly planted on the ground. Nothing is won yet."

Jorge Jesus on his side's 6-0 win in Setúbal

It was mission accomplished for Jorge Jesus in Setúbal this Wednesday night. Speaking in a flash interview at the final whistle, the Alvalade boss reaffirmed his intentions of staying on top of the Liga NOS pile.

“We played well. The difference in goals gave us more confidence. We played against a good team and it isn't by chance that Vitória were in third with one more goal scored than us even. We wanted the three points and if by a decent margin then even better, but it still just means three points", said the Sporting coach, adding: "This isn't the best we have played. We have had harder games than this and showed the same quality. We played really well and nobody can take that away from what the team did today. We wanted to defend first place and that meant winning here today. We came here expecting a hard game and sometimes things end up being easier than you think, which is what happened, but let me say that Vitória were not as good as usual today because we covered the space well."

Jorge Jesus finished with a word on Bruno César's debut, as well his current outlook on the Liga NOS table: "He (Bruno César) is a player who is good enough for a big team and I saw that. thankfully we got him. We have played 16 matches and their are still a lot to go. This team doesn't have the experience of being in first or of winning the league like FC Porto and Benfica do. We are finding out way. You don't create a mentality in six months, it takes years, but fortunately things are happening quicker than I expected."