The coach talks about the Sunday derby against SL Benfica

Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim previewed the derby against SL Benfica on the Liga Portugal Matchday 30 in his pre-match press conference, as the season reaches a decisive point.

He said that he did not expect an easy contest, but was confident that his side will take the win.

“Our focus is on winning the next game, as we have always said. We don't have to do the maths for second place if we win, but even if we don't think about that, it's the objective, knowing that Benfica can do at Alvalade what we did at the Estádio da Luz [where Sporting CP won 1-3] and that they come here motivated from the last game. It's going to be a derby, a great game and we have an obligation to win it, just like they do -because that's part of the culture of both clubs," he began by saying.

"We have seen a very strong SL Benfica, especially in the Champions League, and in Liga Portugal they have had some mishaps. I don't know what to expect, but there are players who can be decisive. I expect a SL Benfica with great quality. We enjoy these games."

“Our team grows with these games and we have an obligation to win,” underlined Amorim, adding that "My prediction is to bet on Sporting CP. A derby is always 50-50, but I would bet on my team to win the game."

“I think that we are favourites due to the natural growth of the team. We are more dominant, are in a better position than SL Benfica and come from a good run in the league. Sporting CP are in good form. When I was young, it was said that the worst team won the derby, but I don't believe that. I believe that Sporting CP will win. I have great conviction in our players. Last season I didn't have the certainty that I have now, because of the way we played. I know that we can always drop points, but I am fully convinced that we can beat SL Benfica."

Asked about the title challenge, Amorim responded that “The only way to be champions is to win every game. Motivation is high, and the players have been fighting with this season and next season in mind. It's a great motivation because, by guaranteeing Champions League football, we can plan for next season with greater certainty. This is essential for us. We fight for our lives, for the project and so as not to take steps back."

A 1-3 derby win against SL Benfica makes a statement in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal emerged victorious in their derby with SL Benfica on Liga Portugal Matchday 13, winning 1-3 thanks to goals from Pablo Sarabia, Paulinho and Matheus Nunes.

The reigning league champions had some early adversity to overcome, with captain Sebastián Coates unavailable for the encounter with their cross-town rivals. Zouhair Feddal, Pedro Porro, Matheus Reis and Manuel Ugarte came into the starting lineup, with Ricardo Esgaio, Nuno Santos and João Palhinha dropping out.

In the stands, thousands of Sportinguistas filled the away section, and made themselves heard long before kickoff.

The first 45 minutes turned out to be a true masterclass by Rúben Amorim's side. Despite the two yellow cards shown to Zouhair Feddal and Paulinho a few seconds after the game got underway, it was Sporting CP who began better, with shots from Pedro Porro and Pablo Sarabia.

The opening goal came in the eighth minute, when an excellent move ended with a fantastic cross from Pedro Gonçalves to Pablo Sarabia, who struck first time past a static Odysseas to make it 0-1.

SL Benfica tried to attack with intensity, but the visitors soaked up the pressure and controlled the midfield. Grimaldo's header, saved by Antonio Adán, was the first and only shot by the home team in the first half.

Sporting CP then enjoyed several scoring opportunities. First, Gonçalves missed the target when in an excellent position -with the flag later raised for offside. Then, in the 37th minute, a counterattack concluded with an attempt that came back off the post.

A goal for Paulinho, disallowed by VAR for offside, took the game into the interval, with Sporting CP having had less possession (65% to 35%), but much more shots (1-6) and more corners (1-3), as well as taking the lead.

Zouhair Feddal made way for Ricardo Esgaio at the start of the second half and SL Benfica turned up the heat upon the restart, and hit the post through Darwin's header. Shortly thereafter, João Mário went through on Adán, but the Spanish keeper calmly sent the ball away.

On the counterattack that followed, Sporting CP took the score to 0-2. Matheus Nunes covered plenty of ground with the ball and set up Paulinho perfectly, with the striker providing a classy finish.

A Rafa Silva chance off the post was SL Benfica's response, but on 68 minutes the win was put beyond all doubt: Another tremendous sprint by Matheus Nunes sent him through to close in on Odysseas, beating him with a shot.

A Pizzi goal prevented a Sporting CP clean sheet, but the 1-3 result gave Os Leões the win, the league lead and a 12th consecutive victory in all competitions. They will now visit AFC Ajax for the sixth and final matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Luís Neto [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Zouhair Feddal (Ricardo Esgaio, 55'), Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte (Daniel Bragança, 90+2'), Matheus Nunes, Matheus Reis, Pedro Gonçalves (Nuno Santos, 90+2'), Pablo Sarabia (Pablo Sarabia, 83') and Paulinho.

Rúben Amorim reacts after the victory in the derby

Rúben Amorim felt that his side were good for their derby win against SL Benfica in Liga NOS, in which they struck late in stoppage time to claim the three points.

“The game was evenly matched, but we were always the team that was closest to scoring and we were rewarded at the end - because we pushed until the end. We were the team that looked for the victory most, and we were worthy winners", he said in his post-match press conference.

He also spoke about the ambition of the Sporting CP players, saying that it is not necessary for them to believe they are title favourites.

“We cannot have any ambition beyond winning the next game. We aren't in the second half of the season yet, and we have a very young team, but if there is one thing these players have, it is ambition -and that can be seen on the pitch".

The coach then explained his decision to include Matheus Nunes -the eventual hero in the game- in his starting lineup. He had been true to his word from the previous day: even if João Palhinha was available, he would not bring him in because during the week he had worked with another player in mind.

“Because of his performances in training and games, Matheus deserved to play", stated Amorim.

"Obviously Palhinha would play if he were fit. That does not mean that Matheus would have stayed on the bench. I didn't say anything to Palhinha because he understood the situation. As he [Palhinha] is an important player, due to what he gives to the group spirit, the quality he has and how he organises the midfield, it was important for him to be in the game in some capacity, but it was not essential at the beginning, because we had prepared the game differently”.

“I believe that tactics and technique are important, but group spirit is very important too. The players are very attentive and there are details that they see. I would never say that I wouldn't change things and then change them: I would prefer to lose a game than to lose the trust of my players. I don't lie to my wife and I don't lie to my players. That's my rule. I believe that group spirit sometimes turns things around. I try to be straight with them".

Matheus Nunes's injury time header earns victory over SL Benfica

In a game seemingly destined to end in a stalemate, Sporting Clube de Portugal struck late against SL Benfica to win the derby 1-0, and remain outright leaders in Liga NOS.

Rúben Amorim made two changes to his starting eleven, fielding a lineup of Antonio Adán, Pedro Porro, Luís Neto, Zouhair Feddal, Sebastián Coates, Nuno Mendes, Matheus Nunes, João Mário, Pedro Gonçalves, Tiago Tomás and Nuno Santos.

SL Benfica also employed a strategy of three at the back at the Estádio José Alvalade, and after 11 minutes would have to bring on Gabriel for the injured Jardel.

The first half saw few chances for either side, but Sporting CP grew in attack after 15 minutes of play, and showed a little more attacking ambition against a more defensive SL Benfica.

Benfica did enjoy an opportunity for Pizzi that went wide, but Sporting CP also came close in the opening stanza: Pedro Porro had his shot on target deflected over by Grimaldo, whilst five minutes later Neto was left alone at the back post of a corner but missed his header.

The first half in the derby ended goalless.

In the second half, SL Benfica came out with a more threatening strategy. Adán had to parry a shot from Darwin for a corner, but Sporting CP responded well and, following a set piece sequence, a scramble in the box saw Odysseas grab the ball.

Looking for more, in the 60th minute, Rúben Amorim shuffled the pack and took João Mário and Nuno Santos off to make way for João Palhinha and Jovane Cabral. SL Benfica also adjusted their team shortly afterwards, replacing Cervi with Taarabt.

15 minutes later, Amorim turned to Bruno Tabata, who came on for Tiago Tomás.

Sporting CP came close when a Pedro Gonçalves ball hit Gilberto and required a save from Odysseas, and inside the final 10 minutes João Palhinha sent a shot wide.

In the 92nd minute, with time running out, the goal finally arrived: Jovane Cabral broke down the left and crossed to the other side of the area, with Porro sending it into the six-yard-box. Odysseas deflected away with a punch, but the ball fell at the mercy of Matheus Nunes, who nodded the ball into the net with nerves of steel, claiming all three points for Sporting CP.

Sporting CP hold a four-point lead at the top of the Liga NOS table over nearest rivals FC Porto, who won earlier in the day against Rio Ave. They are 9 clear of SL Benfica after the first derby of the year.

The Sporting CP coach previews the derby against SL Benfica (Monday, 9:30pm local time)

Monday is derby day at the Estádio José Alvalade. In a press conference ahead of Sporting CP's match against SL Benfica, coach Rúben Amorim noted the special nature of the fixture, but also emphasised that it is just as important as every other game.

"It is important for the growth of the team, because winning always helps us. We have not played SL Benfica this season. It's a game with a different weight to it, however there are still just three points in play. The team have been responding well in these types of games, which is positive in terms of having a good season. We have our strategy for the game and the team will be prepared", guaranteed the coach in discussion with the media.

Sporting CP lead Liga NOS with 39 points, 4 more than FC Porto in second place. When asked to talk about the possibility of increasing the advantage over SL Benfica from 6 to 9 points, Amorim warned that "nothing will be decided tomorrow" in the title picture.

"There are many games, we are not yet in the second half of the season and a victory for us does not take SL Benfica out of the race - nor give the title to Sporting CP. What it can give us is more confidence. It's nothing more than that: Three points. With that being said, it is of course a special game."

Regarding the extra pressure that a derby brings, Amorim stressed that he expects Sporting CP players to feel the "responsibility of victory". "I hope that my players are under pressure. We want to win and we have to win. Obviously we are in a better spot in the table, but I hope that our players are under pressure -because we have the responsibility of taking victory. We want to keep going with this advantage", he stated.

João Palhinha is a confirmed absence for this Monday's derby and, although the coach admits he is a significant loss, he also said that there will be a solution within the squad.

"We are not concerned, but of course he is an important player. He has some very specific characteristics that we don't find in the squad, but we will go about things another way. Whoever plays in that position will have other characteristics, which will give the game another style, perhaps. It's a shame that João Palhinha is out, but we have players to face his absence."

Rúben Amorim also took the opportunity to analyse SL Benfica's tactical setup. "There are things that remain the same in Jorge Jesus' style of play, and we have scouts who have worked with him, as well as Sebastián Coates, with whom I shared ideas about various aspects of the game. However, the characteristics of the players is what changes completely how a team play. We are prepared for everything and now it will also depend on the inspiration of both our players and the opponents", concluded the Sporting CP coach.