Jorge Jesus reflects on 3-0 win in Estádio da Luz

“It was a great match for Sporting, with one team showing that they knew exactly what to do with the ball”, opened Jorge Jesus in a post-match press conference on Sunday, after inspiring his side to a second Lisbon derby win of the season.

Asked if there is anything he would like to say to his opposite number at Benfica, Jesus played it cool: “We knew it would be a hard game against a really good team, but we were better and goals always make it easier. It isn’t normal to win 3-0 here. I am not going to respond to Rui Vitória, because it would be too easy after winning. It was an important three points, but it is down to nothing more than tactics. We did enough to win and it could have been by more. The changes we have been making also paid off in the last 15 minutes, because Benfica wanted to get back into the game but the players didn’t have it in them.”

"It was a good win and the team is growing. You need a lot of confidence, consistency and quality to win 3-0 here. I am satisfied, but no more than I would be against any other team. I was at Benfica for six years and in 14 years I lost one match against Sporting. At Sporting, I have won two out of two.", added Jesus, going on to explain why his side didn’t push the pace at the opening whistle: “I have never encouraged my players with comments about the coach and I have never spoken about Benfica in the dressing room. I explained to the lads that we had to keep calm and that if we did then we would be closer to getting the win. We started slow and confident because the players believe in the work they have been doing in training during the week. We knew everything that Benfica could throw at us in attack or from dead balls.”

Clinical Sporting put three past Benfica in Estádio da Luz

Sporting pulled off a memorable 3-0 win in Estádio da Luz, on I Liga matchday eight. Téo, Slimani and Ruiz were all on target in the first-half for the team from Alvalade, in a match which saw Jorge Jesus’ side boss from start to finish with a performance that ends a win drought away to Benfica that stretched back to 2006.

With Gaitán down the right and Gonçalo Guedes on the left, it was immediately obvious that Benfica would be looking to strike early, but the surprising line-up did little to put Sporting off guard. Going forward Jesus’ side looked pragmatic and it was from the very first attack of the game that Sporting found the back of the net, when Adrien capitalised on some pressing defending to battle back possession and put a deadly pass across goal that Téo converted on in the 9th minute.

With so much pressure in the build-up to kick-off, the opening goal was always going to mix things up and that is exactly what happened, as Sporting smartly went about giving Benfica a true lesson in tactics all over the pitch. Both on and off the ball, Sporting were simply brilliant and a ruthless performance in front of goal tallied up another two strikes before half-time. Ruiz came close with a header that ended up the wrong side of the bar, before Slimani scored an absolute stunner of a header in the 21st minute after finding space between Benfica’s centre-backs. 15 minutes later, Ruiz capitalised on a shot from the big Algerian that Júlio César could only parry away to make it an almost unbelievable 3-0 going in at the break.

Both on and off the pitch, Sporting were putting on a memorable showing, while Benfica could do little more than bunker down and point the finger at referee Carlos Xistra, despite Rui Patrício not having been forced into a single stop for the first forty five minutes.

The introduction of Fejsa for Eliseu and André Almeida dropping into left-back did little to turn the tables and as Sporting continued to press, Benfica were frankly lucky to remain with 11 men on the pitch, with fouls from Jonas (aggression against William) and Samaris (who put in several hard tackles) seeing nothing more than yellow cards.

On 69 minutes Jiménez picked up possession after a slip-up by Naldo and called Patrício into action for the first time. Samaris followed up, but he did little more than blaze his effort over the bar. Possession was held down by Sporting in the midfield as the clock ticked down, with little more happening at either end aside from Júlio César having to scramble back to clear a back pass from Luisão off the line.

The result keeps Sporting top of I Liga with 20 points: three ahead of FC Porto who will host Sp. Braga later tonight.

Sporting are next in action next Saturday, taking on Estoril in Estádio José Alvalade.

Jorge Jesus with the press ahead of Sunday's derby

Jorge Jesus was in the press room at Estádio José Alvalade this afternoon to share his thoughts ahead of the weekend’s much awaited derby.

“What we should be focusing on is the teams and the match. There is no point in speaking about anything else right now. We are at the top of the league and we want to defend that”, opened the Sporting coach, before going on to speak about comments made by former referee Marco Ferreira and requests made by the president of the Refereeing Council to favour Benfica.

“We have had more than enough time to prepare for this game. We know each other a lot more than we did compared to when we played in the Supercup. We are feeling really confident right now with the work we have been doing and the team is more than ready to take on a tough opponent on their own turf”, added Jesus, going on to stress that Bryan Ruiz’s place in the squad will only be decided in the morning.

Responding to a comment a journalist that Sporting hasn’t won in Estádio da Luz since 2006, curiously largely due to Jesus, the Avalade boss affirmed: “What matters is that this is Sporting’s second derby with me as coach. We won the first one and we are focused and ready to win the second. Benfica, as I well know, is a team that has six years of my work. Sporting has three months of my work and we want to carry on building on that.”

Finishing with a comment on incidents off the pitch in the build up to the derby, including the publication of players’ phones numbers in a blog associated with Benfica, Jesus said: “The lads are used to this sort of thing before games. All that matters is that we don’t attach any importance to it , because confidence is really important for the group.”

Benfica-Sporting will get underway at 17h00 on Sunday, in Estádio da Luz.

SL Benfica vs Sporting CP

Sporting Clube de Portugal requests that all fans and Organised Fan Groups departing from Estádio José Alvalade to Estádio da Luz arrive on time at Avalade for a 13h30 departure.

It is important that the three thousand Sporting fans attending the game arrive in time for kick-off.

SL Benfica – Sporting CP will kick off at 17h00 on Sunday the 25th of October.

Please note that the clocks go back 1 hour on Sunday morning.

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Sporting forward in UEFA team for Europa League matchday 3

Sporting youngster Matheus Pereira has been included in UEFA’s Team of the Week for Europa League matchday three, after scoring two goals in Sporting’s 5-1 win over Skënderbeu in Estádio José Alvalade.

Matheus burst onto the scene last weekend with two strikes on his debut, helping sink Vilafranquense in the Portuguese Cup third round.

Europa League Team of the Week: Hitz (Augsburg); Gönül (Fenerbahçe), Lacroix (Sion), Bailly (Villarreal); Toulalan (Monaco), Hofmann (Rapid Vienna), Etxebarria (Athl. Bilbao); Gabbiadini (Napoli), Luís Leal (Belenenses) and Aubameyang (B. Dortmund).

Pedro Silva

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Pedro Silva for the renewal of his contact until 2022, with a buy-out clause of €45,000,000.00.

Sporting SAD wishes Pedro Silva the best of professional and personal success.

In his first interview after singing the deal, Silva was in a proud mood: “To hope for anything better would have been difficult. It has been a fantastic year and although I am still in the youth system I have been playing regularly for the B team. Sporting works really well with young players and teaches us about hard work and education. The club has always told me to work hard at school.”

The shotstopper went on to speak about the differences between playing in the youth leagues and defending the Sporting goal in II Liga: “It is more intense with the B team, with more experienced players. At the beginning I felt like nobody really knew me, but I have been getting experience and more confidence.”

Ivanildo Fernandes

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Ivanildo Fernandes for the renewal of his contact until 2022, with a buy-out clause of €45,000,000.00.

Sporting SAD wishes Ivanildo Fernandes the best of professional and personal success.

After renewing his contract, the defender, who arrived 2014 after spells with Estrela da Amadora and Casa Pia affirmed: “I am really happy. It is a sign that I have been growing as a player and a person. I hope this is the first of many contracts. I arrived as part of the youth teams two years ago and I have really grown up a lot. I have improved in a lot of ways and everything is going well. Sporting has really helped me to improve as a player and to be more responsible.” ​

Rafael Leão

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Rafael Leão for the renewal of his contact until 2018, with a buy-out clause of €45,000,000.00.

Sporting SAD wishes Rafael Leão the best of professional and personal success.

After putting pen to paper, the 16-year old forward proved satisfied with the opportunity: “I feel really happy and proud right now. It is thanks to my coach, teammates and especially my dad. It is a special feeling, because I have been here for seven years now and I want to carry on. Seven years later, I feel tougher and I take things more seriously. Everything is changing and I am getting older. I am really happy and I love playing football.” ​

Domingos Duarte

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Domingos Duarte for the renewal of his contract until 2022, with a buy-out clause of €45,000,000.00.

Sporting SAD wishes Domingos Duarte the best of professional and personal success.

Speaking after penning the deal, the defender, who arrived at Alvalade, proved ecstatic with the opportunity to represent his much-loved Sporting.

“I am really happy. I have always been a fan and Member of this club. You can expect dedication and work from me to earn the confidence put in me”, said Domingos Duarte, before reflecting on his time with the captain’s armband in place of the injured Riquicho: “We are all in contact with Riquicho and he is passing on a lot of his experience to us. It is a tough period for him, but we are here to help. Both me and Sambinha have taken on the role of captain and everything is going well.”

In parallel, the Alvalade youngster commented on his career so far: “Like any player at Sporting I want to get into the senior team as quickly as possible and to get back into the national team.”

Fourth round draw sets up Lisbon derby

Sporting will host Benfica in the Portuguese Cup third round, on the 21st or 22nd of November (subject to alteration).

This will be the 35^th time the two Lisbon giants face off in the Portuguese Cup, with Sporting holding a slight advantage (17 wins to Benfica’s 15).

“A draw is a draw and we have to accept it. It will be a good show, like it always is between these two clubs. We still have a lot of games until this one”, said Sporting’s director of football, Octávio Machado, speaking at the draw.

Draw in full:

Farense (II)-Sp. Braga (I)

SPORTING-Benfica (I)

Trofense (CPP)-Académica (I)

Nacional (I)-Cova da Piedade (CPP)

Malveira (CPP)-Feirense (II)

Benfica Castelo Branco (CPP)-Gil Vicente (II)

Desp. Aves (II)-União (I)

Fafe (CPP)-Penafiel (II)

Portimonense (II)-Belenenses (I)

P. Ferreira (I)-Rio Ave (I)

Casa Pia (CPP)-V. Setúbal (I)

Boavista (I)-Operário (CPP)

Arouca (I)-Desp. Chaves (II)

Caldas (CPP)-Estoril (I)

Angrense (CPP)-FC Porto (I)

Amarante (CPP)-Marítimo (I)