Sales already underway

Tickets for Liga NOS matchday 20, which sees Sporting host Académica, are on sale as follows:

STAND A

Central – 20€ for Members and 30€ for fans
Lateral – 15€ for Members and 25€ for fans
Goal End – 10€ for Members and 20€ for fans
Under-23/Senior – 10€ for Members

STAND B

Central – 15€ for Members and 20€ for fans
Lateral – 10€ for Members and 15€ for fans
Goal End – 7€ for Members and 12€ for fans
Under-23/ Senior – 7€ for Members
Anti-Crisis – 5€ for Members
Under-11 – 3,5€ for Members

SALES POINTS

ESTÁDIO JOSÉ ALVALADE TICKET OFFICES

- 25th to 29th of January: 10h to 20h

- 30th of January: from 10h until half-time

OFFICIAL WEBSITE
- Payment methods: Multibanco, VISA and Mastercard
- Multibanco option only available up until 24 hours before kick off
- PDF ticket: delivered to your email address (can be printed in black and white on A4)

STADIUM REGULATIONS

- Entry prohibited to children under the age of 3

- Children over the age of 3 (inclusive) require a ticket

- Under-11 Member ticket: age of 3 (inclusive) up to the age of 11 and valid for any sector of the stand

- Under-23 Member ticket: age of 11 (inclusive) up to the age of 23 and with different prices for stand A and B

- Senior Member ticket: from the age of 65 (inclusive) with different prices for stand A and B

- Non-renewed Special Seats have preference up to 72 hours before kick off

- Fan tickets purchase on matchday subject to a €3 tax

- Match included in all 2015/2016 Gamebox packages

- Member fee applicable: December 2015
 

FAMILY TICKET

- Available for all sectors in North Goal End - Stand A and B

- Family of 3 (Member + Adult + Under-11): 21€

- Family of 4 (Member + Adult + Under-23 + Under-11): 25€

- Additional tickets for Family of 4 (maximum of 2): Adult (10€) and Under-23 (5€)

- Members with a Gamebox can make use of this promotion (replacing their normal seats)

- Category B Members can only purchase this product for North Goal End - Stand B

ANTI-CRISIS TICKET

- Sector A9 + A11 (limited to 723 seats) special price of 5€

- Exclusive for Members with fees up to date

Jorge Jesus on his side's showing in Paços de Ferreira

Speaking with the press at the final whistle on Saturday night, Jorge Jesus highlighted the quality of his side's performance in securing an expectedly tough three points.

“The match was as we expected it to be. We thought it would be hard and it was. We only came away winners tonight because we played really well against a well disciplined team. We were winning at half-time and I thought we really started to dominate in the last fifteen minutes of the first-half. In the second-half we tried to do pretty much the same thing and we scored a second. Paços pulled one back, but we responded and steadied the ship. You only win here if you play quality football", said Jesus, adding that he was unaware of Benfica's result at kick off: "I didn't know and I didn't want to know. When I go to play all I think about is my team. That is what we all did and we don't take decisions based on what our rivals are doing."

The Sporting boss went on to highlight the performances of the in-form Slimani, Adrien and João Mário: "Slimani had a good game and he is coming along really well in terms of individual technical quality. I have worked a lot with him individually and he believes in himself. He is a great character to work with. He always believes we can win and he really has a champion's mentality. As for Adrien, I took him off because he was holding his thigh a bit, but it looks like it was just a knock. He hardly trained at all this week, but I used him and he carried the team forward in the first-half. He is having a great season. João Mário has adapted really well to oru playing style. He isn't a player who covers a lot of ground, but he plays like Bryan Ruiz and that allows us to use two players who can defend and attack really well. That gives a lot of freedom to players around him and makes it hard to mark us up."

Bruno César on his side's 3-1 win in Paços de Ferreira

After scoring twice in Setúbal on his debut, Bruno César was once again on the scoresheet this weekend, this time in the 3-1 win against Paços de Ferreira.

“We knew it would be a hard game. We started well and pressed hard. We were dominating and thankfully I was able to score. Starting so strong and playing well set us up well for the rest of the game. Paços have really good players and we knew we had to start strong", said the Brazilian at the final whistle, adding a word on the Liga NOS title chase: "We aren't thinking about what our opponents are doing. We want to win each game as it comes, step by step. Everything is in our hands. We have a really good squad and we started the second half of the season with a two-point lead. Now we have to keep our feet on the ground."

To finish, César reflected on what has been a speedy integration into the Alvalade squad: "Through training I adapting to the team. I know how we move now and the help from my teammates has been great."

Goals from Bruno César and Slimani secure top spot

Sporting claimed an important three points against a traditionally difficult Paços de Ferreira this weekend, in what was a solid reply to recent slip ups in the Liga NOS and the League Cup. Bruno César scored in the first-half, while Slimani grabbed two after the break.

Jorge Jesus' side traveled to Mata Real knowing that only a win was certain to maintain the hold on the Liga NOS top spot and it wasn't long before the evening's hosts were on the defensive, with Bruno César, João Mário and Bryan Ruiz leading the early charges in support of Slimani. The Algerian himself came close from the opening exchanges after a pass from Bruno César, but he came up just short of connecting. The first shot of the evening belonged to Adrien, but the Alvalade captain's 10th minute effort was deflected harmlessly away. Next it was Bryan Ruiz to try his luck after Naldo rose highest to a corner, but the Costa Rican nodded wide from point blank range.

Sporting were looking truly terrifying in attack and on 19 minutes it was João Mário's turn to wreak havoc in the Paços 18-yard box with a cross that found Paulo Oliveira, but the defender was unable to find the target. Bryan Ruiz was of course in his usual tantalising form playing off the back of the towering Slimani and in the 26th minute the CONCACAF runner up for Player of the Year blew past three defenders and cut a shot across goal, but Marafona made the save at a stretch to keep the scores blank.

Ten minutes later another chance for Adrien, after the Alvalade skipper wiggled an inch of room in the area, but Marafona was able to make the stop. It was only a matter of time before wave after wave of Sporting attacks broke the hosts and next to it was Slimani who tested the Paços keeper after a pass from William, but again Marafona pulled off a save. However, it was only delaying the inevitable and from the next attack Slimani was this time provider, intelligently picking up a throw in and delaying a cross for Bruno César, leaving the Brazilian with the enviable task of a close-range tap in. Sporting did rest their and a few minutes later João Mário nearly made it two with a fantastic solo run that ended with a shot curled onto the cross bar and away.

Sporting looked full of confidence coming out after the break, moving the ball around midfield and probing forward almost at will. Bruno César whipped a poisonous cross into the box that had the Paço defence scrambling, but Marafona turned away for a corner. Naldo rose highest to the set piece, but he was unable to keep his shot on target. With Adrien and João Mário impervious in the middle, Paços de Ferreira's attempts were pretty much stomped out while still in the build up, while Bryan Ruiz and Slimani kept the chances ticking over in front of goal. Another goal was always looking likely and it was Slimani who obliged with a thoroughly deserved strike after another tireless performance, linking up with a pass into space from João Mário to calmly slot past the keeper.

Paços de Ferreira finally managed their first effort on goal in the second-half after 71 minutes, but Rui Patrício comfortably intervened after being little more than a spectator for most of the evening. The hosts did get their reward for their spirited attempt, when an unusually long throw in was flicked on to the back post and looped over Rui Patrício by Bruno Moreira from the most unlikely of angles.

The goal did absolutely nothing to shake Jesus' side and Slimani was right back down the other end just seconds later to restore the two-goal cushion with a comfortable conversion from a pass by João Mário across the face of goal.

Jorge Jesus includes 19 for Liga NOS matchday 19

Jorge Jesus has included a total fo 19 players in his squad for the trip to Paços de Ferreira, on Liga NOS matchday 19.

Squad list in full:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Marcelo Boeck

Defenders: João Pereira, Ricardo Esgaio, Schelotto, Paulo Oliveira, Ewerton, Naldo and Jefferson

Midfielders: William Carvalho, Adrien, Aquilani, João Mário and Bruno César

Forwards: Gelson Martins, Bryan Ruiz, Fredy Montero, Teo Gutiérrez and Slimani

P. Ferreira-Sporting CP will kick off at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio Capital do Móvel, Paços de Ferreira.

Costa Rican forward bettered only by Chicharito Hernandez

Bryan Ruiz has finished runner-up in the election for CONCACAF Player of the Year, missing out only to the Mexican Javier Chicharito Hernandez, who curiously will face the Costa Rican in Sporting's coming Europa League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen.

PSV's Andrés Guardado finished in third in voting that also included Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Oribe Peralta (America), Rodolph Austin (Brondby), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca), Jesús Corona (FC Porto) and Cyle Larin (Orlando City).

Bryan Ruiz was also named for the CONCACAF Best XI, in a group which also includes Tim Howard, Chicharito, Joel Campbell, Hector Moreno and Andrés Guardado.

Artur Soares Dias for Liga NOS matchday 19

Artur Soares Dias, 36, from the Porto Football Association, has been named for Sporting's trip to Paços de Ferreira, on Liga NOS matchday 19.

Rui Licínio and Bruno Rodrigues will act as linesmen.

This will be Dias' third match in charge of Sporting this season, following the trip to Boavista (matchday 6, 0-0) and the hosting of Belenenses (matchday 11, 1-0).

P. Ferreira-Sporting will kick off on Saturday at 20h45, in Estádio Capital do Móvel, Paços de Ferreira.

Jorge Jesus on his side's current form head of visit to Paços de Ferreira

Jorge Jesus sat down with the press this Friday afternoon to share his thoughts in the build up to Liga NOS matchday 19, which will see Sporting travel to Paços de Ferreira.

“Playing in Mata Real is never easy, it is always complicated here. We will be facing a good team who are set up well and who are having a good season. We are in first and we want to defend that. We are starting the second half of the season now and we want to win. We are capable of doing that, but we have to be humble about it and recognise that Paços are a good team", opened the Sporting coach, before revealing that while Gelson Martins and Adrien did not train during the week, they could still feature.

“We are in first and our two main rivals are behind us, one by five points and the other by two. We don't know how the second half of the season will go, but we know that we only few two and lost one in the first half. We won 86% of the points that we could have", added Jesus, before answering to a question about his team having conceded the least number of goals in the league: "It is a safety net for us and I hope that carries on. We have confidence in our defence and the numbers show that we are on the right track. The whole team is responsible for defending and we have been organising ourselves well."

The Alvalade boss went on to speak about William's current form, as well as the January transfer market: "William was out for three months. He is looking to find his way and we are happy with what he has been doing. Maybe he hasn't shown what he is capable of yet, but he helps out in defence as well. This is a tough time for a lot of teams, Sporting included, because players are moving around. However we are used to being connected with a lot of players. Some names are being brought up that everybody knows we don't have the capacity to bring in. We know who we want and we already have them."

P. Ferreira-Sporting will get underway at 20h45 on Saturday, in Estádio Capital do Móvel, Paços de Ferreira.

Statement on the introduction of goal-line technology

Sporting Clube de Portugal would like to share its congratulations in light of the official announcement today by Gianni Infantino, UEFA General Secretary, regarding the decision to use goal-line technology in the 2016 European Championships, as well as in the Champions League as of the 2016/17 season.

This is an historic decision in world football and will assist referees, clubs and the millions of people who love football. At the same time, it shows that it is worth fighting for the ideals of true sportsmanship.

Coming on the back of the decision by the International Board on the experimental use of video technology, world football continues to take strides into a more modern and credible future.

Tickets for the Europa League second-leg

Tickets for the Europa League second-leg between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Sporting Clube de Portugal, on the 25th of February, will go on sale at the Estádio José Alvalade ticket offices as follows:

WEDNESDAY, 27TH OF JANUARY (10H TO 20H) | Club Members with a Gamebox 2015/2016 and December 2015 fees paid

THURSDAY, 28TH OF JANUARY (10H TO 14H) | Club Members without a Gamebox and December 2015 fees paid

THURSDAY, 28TH OF JANUARY (FROM 14H) | General public

In line with indications from UEFA and the opposition club, the first tickets sold will cost 15€. After these have sold out, 22€ tickets will go on sale.