Squad out on the Sporting Academy training pitch before facing European champions

Just over 24 hours before hosting Real Madrid in Alvalade, Jorge Jesus had his squad out on the training pitch for a session that president Bruno de Carvalho also took part in. A total of 27 players were available, with only Spalvis out through injury.

Jorge Jesus will be as near as he ever will be to full strength tomorrow when his side takes on the Galácticos, with only a win enough for his side to continue dreaming of a place in the Champions League knock-out stages. 

Jorge Jesus back with full squad in preparation for Champions League showdown

Just a few hours after Sporting CP put five past Praiense in the Portuguese Cup 4th round, Jorge Jesus had his squad out on the training pitch early doors in preparation for next week's hosting of Real Madrid.

Jorge Jesus this time had all of his players available, with everybody now back after international duty.

Jorge Jesus pushing the pace in the build up to Famalicão

Without his eight internationals - Rui Patrício, William Carvalho and Gelson Martins (Portugal), Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell (Costa Rica), Coates (Uruguay), Markovic (Serbia) and Bas Dost (Netherlands), and Adrien and Spalvis through injury, unavailable, Jorge Jesus headed another training session this Thursday morning.

Sporting CP will next be in action a week today, taking on Famalicão in the Portuguese Cup 3rd round.

Jesus puts squad through their paces in build up to Portuguese Cup

The inclusion of B team goalkeeper Pedro Silva in the senior team's training session was the main highlight of Wednesday's training session in Alcochete.

With Rui Patrício, William Carvalho and Gelson Martins (Portugal), Coates (Uruguay), Markovic (Serbia) and Bas Dost (Netherlands) all away on international duty and Adrien and Spalvis out through injury, Jorge Jesus had a much reduced squad to work with. Taking advantage of the good weather, the Sporting coach guided the players through a session with the ball, before finishing with a lecture on tactics.

Morning session open to the press for 30 minutes

As is normally the case before UEFA competition matches, this morning's training session was open to the press for 30 minutes.

Just after 9h30 Jorge Jesus led his squad onto the pitch, with 28 players taking part: Rui Patrício, Beto Pimparel and Azbe Jug; Jefferson, Paulo Oliveira, Ricardo Esgaio, Schelotto, Coates, Douglas, João Pereira, Marvin and Rúben Semedo; William, Adrien, Petrovic, Bruno César, Elias, Meli and Bruno Paulista; Alan Ruiz, Matheus Pereira, Gelson Martins, Markovic, Campbell, André, Castaignos, Bas Dost and Bryan Ruiz.

Bruno de Carvalho out to show his support in return to Liga NOS action

Bruno de Carvalho travelled to Alcochete this morning to show his backing to the players ahead of Sporting's hosting of Moreirense on Saturday afternoon (18h15).

Accompanied by the Director of Professional Football, Octávio Machado, and the Club's Support Office Director, André Geraldes, the Sporting president had the pleasure of watching Bas Dost and Markovic work through the session.

Serbian national coach happy to see Marković back in training

Lazar Marković had been in Lisbon for lass than 24 hours, but he already has his boots on and was on the training pitch for Wednesday's afternoon session in Alcochete.

Speaking in an interview with the newspaper O Jogo, the Serbian national coach, Slavoljub Muslin, also proved pleased with Marković's return to the Portuguese capital: "It is good for him to go back to a country where he was happy and where he showed hsi quality. It is also important for him to be with a coach that knows him and that makes him a better player. I think Jorge Jesus will turn him into a real weapon for Sporting.”

First training session back on a pitch that the Brazilian knows better than most

Elias might have only returned from his native Brazil late yesterday afternoon, but the midfielder is already back in training. Elias looked like he had only been away for a couple of years as Jorge Jesus put his squad through a usually tasking session.

The squad was of course much reduced due to the current international break, but the players were in high spirits none the less.

Dutch forward put through his paces at the Sporting Academy

The Dutch forward Luc Castaignos is already in full training at the Sporting Academy with the rest of the squad.

Despite the reduced number of players at the Academy due to the international break, Bas Dost was on hand to partner up with Castaignos in his first session.

Alalade new faces put through their paces at the Academy

Sporting CP were out on the training pitch this week, preparing for the weekend's hosting of FC Porto.

New arrivals André and Douglas were the highlights of the session, working with Jorge Jesus for the first time. The session got underway at 09h00 as usual, with a quick warm up followed by some technical exercises.