Jorge Jesus' side dominate but miss out on penalties

There are still some final touches to make, but the hard work being put in by Sporting in what has been a busy pre-season campaign is definitely bearing fruit. Well drilled and improving game after game was how Jorge Jesus' side answered to Tuesday's Iberian Trophy encounter with Villarreal, in what was Sporting's best performance so far.

Jorge Jesus rang the largely expected changes for the starting whistle, with João Pereira (captain), Coates, Naldo and Jefferson in defence behind a midfield of Petrovic and Bruno César. Bryan Ruiz and Iuri Medeiros occupied the space out wide, in support of Alan Ruiz and Barcos up front and with Azbe Jug defending the Sporting goal.

The game got off to a largely lukewarm start, before Alan Ruiz's shot in the 21st minute shot at the Villarreal keeper injected a sense of urgency into the action.

The thermometer read 40 degrees in Badajoz and it took its inevitable toll on the players, with the referee showing his sympathetic side with a water break just after the half-hour mark.

João Palhinha was brought on in place of Petrovic, who was forced off with what looked to be a groin strain, just before Sporting had the ball in the back of the net. However, the linesmen interpreted the attack as offside against Coates, although it was actually Hernán Barcos who took the final touch after a cross from Alan Ruiz.

Half-time was a chance for Jesus to mix his side up, bringing on Schelotto, Zeegelaar, Rúben Semedo and Daniel Podence for João Pereira, Coates, Jefferson and Barcos. The substitutions looked to have proved just the trick and Sporting took the game by the scruff of the neck going forward. Chances remained, however, few and far between.

Matheus Pereira did well to pick up a pass from Slimani to drag the ball back across his defender, but his eventual shot on his unfavoured right foot ended up wide. The young midfielder could have finished the game off in the dying stages with a shot poked under the keeper at a tight angle, but the ball was eventually turned away by the post and the game headed for penalties.

First up was Slimani with an effort that lacked pace and was denied by Andrés Fernández, before Jaume Costa put Villarreal ahead. Bruno César levelled the scoreboard and Jug made a save to restore the deadlock, before four penalties straight were netted with some cool finishing (Iuri, Mário González, Matheus and Cantalapiedra). Sporting's last penalty was handed Rúben Semedo and the defender got a well placed shot away, but the Spanish keeper did well to stretch out and give Villarreal an advantage closed out by Suárez from the last spot kick of the night.

Sporting CP will next be in action in Alvalade on Saturday, hosting Wolfsburg in the Five Violins Trophy.

Sporting in Badajoz to face Villarreal

Sporting CP will be back in action on Tuesday, this time against Villarreal in the Nuevo Vivero Stadium, Badajoz, for the Iberian Trophy.

Jorge Jesus has taken 20 players for the trip: Azbe Jug, Stojokovic, Schelotto, Jefferson, Ewerton, Sebastian Coates, João Pereira, Marvin Zeegelaar, Rúben Semedo, Naldo, Petrovic, Bruno César, Bryan Ruiz, Matheus Pereira, Palhinha, Iuri Medeiros, Daniel Podence, Hernan Barcos, Alan Ruiz and Islam Slimani.

Euro 2016 winners Rui Patrício, William Carvalho, João Mário and Adrien Silva are taking a much deserved rest, while Ricardo Esgaio and Carlos Mané are in Rio 2016 for the Olympic Games with Portugal, along with Teo Gutiérrez for Colombia. 

The medical room also has its fair share of casualties who miss out on the trip: Paulo Oliveira (knock to the right hip) Gelson Martins (twisted left ankle), Wallyson (recovering from ankle surgery), Bruno Paulista (knock to the left foot) and Lukas Spalvis (recovering from knee surgery).

Sporting-Villarreal is scheduled to kick off at 19h15GMT and will be broadcast by Sporting TV. 

Tickets for hosting of Wolfsburg on sale on Tuesday

Ticket sales for Saturday the 30th of July's Five Violins Trophy encounter between Sporting and Wolfsburg, in Estádio José Alvalade ,will go on sale at 10h00 on Tuesday the 26th of July.

Prices range from 11€ to 23€ for Club Members and from 17€ to 35€ for other fans. This match is included in the Gamebox package for Club Members with June 2016 membership fees paid.

Lithuanian forward undergoes procedure on right knee

The player Lukas Spalvis under went a surgical procedure on his right knee this weekend, to repair a double rupture suffered early in the week.

The procedure was performed Dr. Pedro Pessoa at the CUF-Descobertas Hospital.

Splavis is expected to be out of action for six months.

Sporting CP gearing up for Iberian Trophy in Badajoz against Villarreal

Jorge Jesus will have his squad back out on the training pitch at 09h00 on Monday morning, with the players taking a much deserved day off after Saturday's presentation match against Lyon in Alvalade.

The squad will then travel to Badajoz in the afternoon, where an encounter against Villarreal awaits in the Iberian Trophy on Tuesday. The 19h15 kick-off will be broadcast by Sporting TV.

Jesus' charges in Iberian Trophy in Badajoz on Tuesday

Sporting TV will transmit a match live for the first time in its history this week.

The match chosen will be Sporting's encounter against Villarreal in the Iberian Trophy, in a 19h15 kick-off in Badajoz.

Rui Patrício on Sporting's 2016/17 Alvalade debut

Rui Patrício returned to Alvalade after his Euro 2016 heroics this Saturday, for Sporting's official presentation match.

"We have to improve a bit. We were better than we have been, but there is still a bit of pre-season work to do", said the Sporting shotstopper, adding a word on his unexpected appearance against Lyon: "I wasn't here for the rest of the pre-season and this is the chance to get some mistakes out of our system. If we have to make mistakes, then it is best to do it now. We want to win everything we are involved in this season and that is what we are setting out to do."

Sporting CP officially presented to the fans for 2016/17 campaign

Alvalade hosted the French side Lyon in the 2016/17 season's official presentation match this Saturday, with the privilege of the kick-off given to five-year old Franciso in representation of the fans.

Jesus fielded his usual defensive four (Schelotto, Coates, Ruben Semedo and Zeegelaar), behind a midfielder composed of Petrovic, Bryan Ruiz, Gelson martins and Bruno César, while Barcos and Alan Ruiz led the attack. Defending the Sporting goal was Azbe Jug.

The game got off to a typically lukewarm start for a pre-season friendly, but the first chance of the evening did fall to Sporting, when Alan Ruiz whipped in a free-kick that eventually ended up with Gelson close to the touchline. The youngster did well to pass his defender and charge into dangerous territory, before releasing Barcos for a shot that hammered off Lyon's lefthand post.

Little by the little Lyon tried to push their way out of defence, but some shooting from range kept the French visitors pegged in, with Schelotto, Alan Ruiz (23) and Bruno César (45) all trying their luck.

The second-half proved to be a typical example of the old football anecdote that you have to take your chances. Although Sporting could have taken the lead through a chipped effort by Alan Ruiz (47’), it was Lyon who took the lead, when Alexandre Lacazette headed in on 53 minutes after a cross by Rafael that Rui Patrício (on for Azbe Jug) could do little to keep out.

A wave of late substitutes sapped any real pace out of both sides in the final stages, with the only incident of note being a header from Naldo finding the inside of the post with twenty minutes on the clock after a cross from Iuri Medeiros (70’).

Jorge Jesus on Sporting's hosting of Lyon on Saturday

Jorge Jesus was in the Alvalade auditorium for his first press conference of the season this Saturday, following the hosting of Lyon.

"We played against the French league runner-up, who are a good side. They scored, just like we could have. We were better than we have been and I would say it was our best performance so far", opened the Alvalade boss, continuing: "Next week the lads who were with Portugal in Euro 2016 will be back in training. Rui Patrício was an exception. He wasn't to play, he told me he was here and that he wanted to play. We are in the market as well, looking at some players.

Asked about transfer rumours flying around in the press, particularly about Van Persie, Jesus played it cool: "Van Persie earns a lot. Of course anybody would be interested in having such a quality player, but we would have to sell the stadium to pay for him."

New Alvalade pitch hosts first game of the new season

Sporting officially unveiled the 2016/17 football squad with a hosting of Lyon this Saturday night, on a brand new Alvalade pitch.

The party got underway at 19h20, when the players first made their appearance in front of 30,000

Rui Patrício, the first player to come out of the dressing room, was given a fantastic ovation, followed by a similar reaction for fellow Portuguese national team heroes Adrien and William Carvalho.