Bruno Fernandes, with a penalty, and Montero, with a free kick, gave the Lions the 3 points against Maritimo

The first 12 minutes of the sixth round of the NOS League, which opposed Sporting CP and Marítimo, were played exclusively in one half of the pitch of the José Alvalade Stadium: the defensive midfield of the islanders. This was due to the good start of José Peseiro's pupils, who showed their opponent's the intention to play in the first zone of construction, with high pressure. From thiscame the first yellow card of the match, raised to Zainadine, for having been unable to control the ball in conditions, leaving it to the mercy of Fredy Montero.

It was clear that coach Claudio Braga was worried about stopping the lions' from playing on the wings, but the 'capping' on one side 'uncovered' the other as Sporting CP found space between the lines. In fact, that was the gateway for the first goal. Jovane's high cross gave Raphinha a chance to take the lead, but he sufered a penalty. Called to take the lead, Bruno Fernandes finished with class (12 ').

Petrovic and Gudelj, who, this evening, Jose Peseiro attributed the role of 'thinkers', had little ball from the 1-0 onwards as Sporting CP backed up the lines and sought mostly rapid transitions. This is a chapter in which Raphinha was in prominence, in association with Bruno Fernandes and Fredy Montero. At minute 35 ', Raphinha took the corner the short way, at the right side of the attack, which would give the 2-0. 'El Avioncito', at the face of the goal, put an end to the rebounds and celebrated the first goal of the 2018/19 season. Just over half-time, Acuna took away Maritimo's first goal with a great stop right in front of the goal.

There was less show in what was left of the game. Marítimo knew how to save the ball better, however, lacked criteria in the last third of the terrain - even in the spaces granted by Sporting CP. The attempts of Rodrigo Pinho and Correa, mid-distance, were the best replicas of the visitors. Peseiro even launched Misic, Diaby and Carlos Mané, who returned to the competition after 15 months away due to injury. 35.238 spectators cheered.

The three points added allowed the team to reach a total of 13 in the league table, the same of Sp. Braga (with one match short), thus becoming one point away from Benfica and two from the leader FC Porto. Next Sunday, Sporting CP travels to the Algarve to face Portimonense (8pm).

League Cup holders debuted in the league with a win

Still going through a growth phase, all wins are worth gold. After returning from the national team, Sporting CP beat Marítimo in the opening day of the League Cup (3-1) and began defending the trophy convincingly. The goals of Raphinha and Bruno Fernandes (to double) were worth three points, but not only. After an early season with suffered triumphs, winning with reassurance is to take a solid step to strengthen the new game model.



With few changes to the team and a strong competitive attitude from the beginning, the lions noticeably faced this match as if it were the championship. Moreover, Jose Peseiro did not shy away from the usual choices. Bruno Gaspar earned his first start as well as Jovane, who has had a direct impact on the team's results. Still, it was Raphinha again claiming to be the main unbalance to the opposite team during the first half. After just two minutes, he almost opened the scoring after a cross from Jefferson, which was the announcement of an exhibition full of positive actions. Sporting CP was able to find spaces between the lines of Marítimo (Jovane and Raphinha searched for inland areas frequently), but missed many attack with crosses to which no one answered. Marítimo, with a defensive position that did not show security, gained another life when the ball reached the men in the front. Barrera and Correa, on the flanks, and Danny, above all, tried to annoy the green and white defense, but with no great success. With Battaglia more positional at the head of the defense, Acuña was ahead on the pitch and the first goal was a recovery from the Argentine in the offensive midfield - Montero, with the usual calm, isolated Raphinha 1-0. Later, near the break, the roles were reversed and the Brazilian discovered the Colombian in the vicinity of the area. Bad reception, wasted bid.



The lions entered the second half passing the ball slowly, without approaching Charles's goal. Everything changed from one moment to the next: on the left, Jefferson found Jovane in the area and the kid - once again - won a penalty. Bruno Fernandes quietly put the 2-0 on the scoreboard. Cláudio Braga's group, which had already threatened, reached the attack and restored the minimum difference soon after. Danny (at 35 years old, maintains the usual technical quality and game vision) released Correa and the Argentine did not pardon in the face of Salin. It was a busy phase in Alvalade, as the 3-1 would soon appear. Montero made his second assist - so often discreet, almost always useful in the collective operation - offering the double to Bruno Fernandes. In the final stretch of the match, José Peseiro wanted to add pressure in the central zone, throwing Wendel (for Bruno Fernandes, who dropped to the left) and Gudelj. With few minutes playing with the lion on his chest, the last green and white reinforcement appeared as a judicious average and with ease to unfold the attack - otherwise, Montero could have scored after the Serbian pass, but shot over the goal by Charles. With the time passing, Marítimo stopped attacking and who was close to another goal was Sporting CP, namely by Bruno Fernandes. Already in extra time, Lucas Áfrico violently fouled Wendel and received an immediate red. An avoidable bid, when everyone was preparing for the end. If there were any doubts that one of the objectives of Sporting CP was to defend the title in the League Cup, Alvalade's night killed them completely.

Paulo Oliveira on Saturday's draw against Marítimo

Sporting CP centreback Paulo Oliveira was the player chosen to speak with radio journalists at the final whistle this Saturday, after his side's draw in Madeira.

"We always try and win the three points, but today we just couldn't do it in a stadium where it is always hard to play. We played well, but set pieces put us in a tough spot. We came from behind and we scored a third goal, but all we can do now is keep on putting the work in", said Paulo Oliveira in an interview with Sport TV, continuing: "Results reflect what you do on the pitch and once again we couldn't get the win. We did everything we could today and we are all responsible for it. We have to keep our heads up, because this is our job and we still believe in winning the title."

Jorge Jesus highlights his side's improvement in Saturday's draw against Marítimo

Jorge Jesus spoke with the press in a flash interview at the final whistle on Saturday. The Alvalade coach liked what he saw on the pitch, despite a harsh final result.

"It was a good match. Marítimo are a good team, but we were better today than we were against Chaves. We were really close to our usual form. Marítimo were really good from set pieces and that gave them two goals, so we were always chasing the result. We did score a third, but the linesman didn't want to give it. Today I can't point the finger at the players and say they didn't want to win, because they did. Credit to Marítimo, because they played well", opened Jesus, adding: "We have fewer and fewer matches to play and the points gap is growing, which makes it all the more difficult. We have to take each game as it comes and there are still a lot of points to win."

Disallowed goal denies Sporting CP of a deserved three points

Sporting CP were held to a 2-2 draw in Estádio dos Barreiros this weekend, on Liga NOS matchday 18. A disallowed goal for a wrong offside call against Alan Ruiz dictated the final result, after a spirited display which saw Sporting CP come from behind twice.

Jorge Jesus made five changes to his last 11 (Patrício, Schelotto, Zeegelaar, Bruno César and a debut for João Palhinha) and Sporting CP started the encounter well. However, some sloppy passes forced Paulo Oliveira into making a foul and Éber Bessa converted on the resulting free-kick with low shot that wrong footed Rui Patrício.

The early below did little to unsettle Sporting CP and the team from Alvalade continued to pile forward in search of goal, courtesy mostly of some darting runs from Schelotto and Gelson Martins down the right. However, Marítimo largely limited Sporting CP's chances to dead ball situations, but it was precisely from one such incident that the equaliser came, when Bas Dost rose highest to head in from an Adrien Silva cross.

Sporting CP would have been expected to take charge after the equaliser, but it was actually down the other end that the next few opportunities materialised. Dyego Sousa hit Patrício's crossbar in the 31st minute, just before Raúl Silva made the most of yard of space to put Marítimo back into the lead.

The second-half was much of the same, with the hosts relying on the counter-attack. Edgar Costa has two good chances, but Sporting CP grew into the action again after the introduction of Alan Ruiz [on for Zeegelaar]. With Campbell and William Carvalho also on off the bench [for Palhinha and Bryan Ruiz], the team from Alvalade began to up the tempo and Bruno César dragged on a cross back on the hour mark that Gelson did well to control and slot home.

Neither outfit was able to seriously threaten in the dying stages, with the exception of a goal from Alan Ruiz that was wrongly ruled out for offside.

Jesus announces squad for the weekend's trip to Madeira

Jorge Jesus has named hsi squad list for Liga NOS matchday 18 against Marítimo, kicking off on Saturday at 18h15:

1 – Rui Patrício
2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
7 – Joel Campbell
10 – Bryan Ruiz
11 – Bruno César
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
20 – Luc Castaignos
23 – Adrien Silva
26 – Azbe Jug
28 – Bas Dost
31 – Marvin Zeegelaar
34 – Beto Pimparel
35 – Rúben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
66 – João Palhinha
73 – Matheus Pereira
77 – Gelson Martins
99 – Alan Ruiz

Bruno de Carvalho reveals his confidence for the three points this weekend in Madeira

Speaking at the Leões da Madeira Sporting Supporters' Club in a hosted lunch this weekend, president Bruno de Carvalho laid out his expectations for a run of good results, starting in Madeira: "It is great to be with the fans. It is always really special to come to Madeira and I am confident that this will be an important day for us to start the second half of the season. Let's get a turnaround started in Madeira. I was elected by the fans to work and I am not going to start speaking about the elections. I am fully aware of the responsibility we have and of the frustration the fans are feeling right now. We promise to to work as hard as possible and to never turn our back on what has to be done."

Jorge Jesus on the weekend's Liga NOS action

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press this Friday ahead of the weekend's Liga NOS matchday 18 trip to Marítimo (Saturday, at 18h15).

Although a tough challenge, the Sporting CP coach is fully focused on the three points: "The match will be difficult for a few reasons. Firstly, because we are a bit behind in the league and we cannot drop any more points. On top of that, Marítimo are really strong at home. However, we are ready and we know we cannot let more points slip away", opened Jesus, continuing: "I wouldn't say that everything is lost right now, but we have to take on our responsibilities. As a coach, I am responsible for results, but this will not be a season to forget. Every coach goes through bad spells and this isn't the first time it has happened to me. The only way to get out of it is if we all show a bit of confidence, especially the players. We had a superb season last year and we created some big expectations, but obviously the book stops with me. I trust my players to get out of the situation we are in."

To finish, Jesus spoke about president Bruno de Carvalho's visit to the dressing room after the first loss in Chaves: "Presidents go into the dressing room before and after the match, which is completely normal. I couldn't be there and the president usually speaks to me at the end of the match. I wasn't there, so he spoke with the team captains (Adrien Silva and William Carvalho). The president is the head of the club and he has every right to do that, because the coach wasn't there. Our relationship honestly couldn't be better."

Adrien on Sporting's I Liga 2016/17 debut

Adrien Silva spoke briefly with the press this Saturday evening after his side's win against Marítimo.

"It was an intense match, but we did well. At this stage of the season I thought it was a good pace and we made sure Marítimo couldn't do anything on the counter-attack", said the Sporting skipper, before answering a question on transfer rumours regarding João Mãrio: "Goodbye? No. He played today and he played well. You could see he is happy by the way he played and I don't think this was his last match."

Jorge Jesus satisfied with opening day win

“It was a hard match. It was 36 degrees at kick-off, which is really hot for a team that plays pressing football like we do. Some of the lads felt that and it impacted on how we plated", opened Jesus in his post-match press conference this Saturday, going on to analysis the match itself in greater depth: "Marítimo are a really well managed team and they caused some issues down the wing. (after the break) we took charge and Marítimo fell off a bit. William helped the pace a bit and that was important, but we won and that is what matters."

“No team starts the season in their best form. That comes step by step and the lads will develop with time", finished the Alalade boss.