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Portuguese Cup to be played in Estádio António Coimbra da Mota
The Portuguese Cup third round tie between Vilafranquense and Sporting will be played in Estoril's António Coimbra da Mota, kicking off at 17h30 on Saturday the 17th of October.
Bryan Ruiz
Bryan Ruiz – suffered an injury to the adductor muscle in his right thigh and is expected to be out of action for two weeks.
Jorge Jesus shares his thoughts on Sunday's win
Jorge Jesus was evidently happy with his side’s dominating performance against V. Guimarães this Sunday evening.
“It was a good game. João Mário played really well on the right and he has played there a few times with the under-21 team. We were really strong down the right in the first-half and we created chances that unbalanced Guimarães. Everything becomes that much easier when you score, but it was a shame that we conceded. We let our focus when we scored the fifth and we can’t do that. I also want to congratulate the fans. We need them, like any good team does. This win is for the fans and for the president”, opened the Alvalade coach, speaking with radio journalists at the final whistle, before speaking about the absence of Bruno de Carvalho from his habitual place on the bench.
“I wasn’t strange, because he was there mentally. We spoke before the game and he spent the morning with the team. The team is really together right now and it is really important that the fans believe in us”, said Jorge Jesus, before revealing some of his tactical thinking: “João Mário has other characteristics compared to Gelson and Mané and that can give more space to Esgaio.”
“A few players have to go on international duty now. It would be better for us to play against Benfica now, but that is how the fixtures are. What matters now is that Ewerton and Bruno Paulista recover. We are really happy with our start to the season, we won the Supercup and we are at the top of the league.”
William speaks with the press after 5-1 win over V. Guimarães
William rubber stabbed what has been a brilliant return from injury with another dominating performance this weekend, masterminding a 5-1 win over V. Guimarães.
“The team achieved an important objective, which was to win and to play well. Now we will carry on working hard to do the same in our next game”, said the Alvalade midfielder speaking with the press, before responding to a question about the coming Lisbon derby: “We still aren’t thinking about it, because we still have a Portuguese Cup game to come first and we will be focused on that.”
In parallel, William reinforced the idea that problems off the pitch will do little to damage his side’s performance: “We have been working hard, despite what is going on. I also want to thank the fans for their support.”
Sporting breeze past V. Guimarães on I Liga matchday 7
Sporting put in the best performance of the season so far with a 5-1 thrashing of V. Guimarães this Sunday night. Slimani was the encounter’s main instigator, netting a hattrick in what was a brilliant showing all round.
With five changes relative to the side that took on Besiktas mid-week (Esgaio, Jefferson, Adrien, João Mário and Slimani), Sporting dominated right from the off, with William in particular bossing play with a midfield masterclass. Long spells of possession went largely uncontested, as Jorge Jesus’ side smartly went about exploiting the space out wide. In was only a matter of time before the ball was in the back of the net and it was Slimani who obliged, heading in a cross from João Mário.
After quarter of an hour Slimani pulled a fine save out of Douglas, before Teo Gutiérrez headed an effort against the cross bar two minutes later following a Jefferson corner. A second was only a matter of time and it was the Colombian who struck in the 24th minute, picking up a loose pass from Montoya and rounding the keeper to slot into an empty net.
Despite having netted twice early on, Sporting continued to pressure and push forward. Bryan Ruiz was next to try his luck, tricking his way past two before being denied by Douglas in what was the Costa Rican’s last showing of the night as he was forced off by injury in place of Gelson Martins). Five minutes later, Teo had another chance, after some superb link up play between João Mário and Gelson.
The second-half actually started off with Sporting looking more cautious in attack, but a harsh tackle from Saré on 55 minutes saw Guimarães reduced to 10 men and signalled the start of wave after wave of Sporting attacks. Slimani made it three in the 58th minute following a pinpoint cross from Jefferson, before Adrien scored with a kind deflection following a free-kick on the edge of the area.
A series of set pieces followed for the visitors, while Sporting continued to throw numbers forward. After a decent chance for Gelson in the 78th minute, only cut out by a past ditch tackle from Josué, Slimani rounded off his hattrick with a simple finish after a driven cross by Jefferson. Sérgio Conceição’s side did grab a consolation in the 82nd minute, but it did little to overshadow what was a brilliant showing from the team from Alvalade.
The result keeps Sporting in 1st with FC Porto on 17 points, three ahead of Rio Ave and four ahead of Sp. Braga.
Sporting-V. Guimarães, 5-1
I Liga matchday 7
Estádio José Alvalade, 31.295 spectators
Referee: Rui Costa (AF Porto), substituted in the 52nd minute for Hélder Malheiro
Sporting: Rui Patrício; Ricardo Esgaio, Tobias Figueiredo, Naldo, Jefferson; William, Adrien (captain, Aquilani, 61’); João Mário, Bryan Ruiz (Gelson Martins, 35’), Teo Gutiérrez (Montero, 66’) and Slimani
Coach: Jorge Jesus
V. Guimarães: Douglas (captain); Bruno Gaspar, Josué, João Afonso, Dalbert; Saré, Cafu, Tozé (João Pedro, 62’); Montoya (Licá, 35), Ricardo Valente and Tomané (Ricardo Gomes, 62’)
Coach: Sérgio Conceição
Goals: Slimani (12’, 58’ and 78’), Teo Gutiérrez (24’) and Adrien (60’); Josué (82’)
Cards: Yellow, Adrien (20’), Montoya (32’), Bruno Gaspar (59’), Gelson Martins (67’), Dalbert (75’) and Licá (90+2’). Red, Saré (55’)
Jorge Jesus with the press ahead of visit to V. Guimarães
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“Guimarães are a good side and their position in the league doesn’t reflect that”, opened Jorge Jesus in his habitual pre-match press conference this Saturday. While Sunday’s opposition may be languishing down in 15th in I Liga, the Sporting coach was careful to warn of the danger posed: “They have technically gifted players and they are trying to fight back with a young coach in Sérgio Conceição. I am expecting them to defend well and to be really aggressive, but they are also dangerous and really quick going forward. We have to deal with what they can throw at us and make the most of our players who can make the difference in this kind of match. We are ready.” Jesus also used the conference to reflect on three issues attracting the headlines as of late, namely Carrillo, the leaking of documents supposedly from the club and William missing out on a national call up. “The technical team, squad and administration did everything possible to reach an agreement and that didn’t happen. It is an issue that is being dealt with by SAD. If you asked me if we are less competitive, well we won the first official trophy of the season, we are at the top of the league with FC Porto and all we have missed out on is the Champions League. Carrillo was a quality player, but I started the season without two quality players in Ewerton and William and you didn’t hear me complaining. I will find solutions and that is what I was hired to do at Sporting.” “All of the documents which have come out which are related to Sporting are intended to hide what we have been doing. The first trophy of the season was won by Sporting, right now we are at the top of the league with FC Porto and all that it is trying to do is take away from that.” “It is normal that William isn’t included and he wasn’t expecting to be. It is important for the national team and for Sporting that he has time to prepare properly.” Sporting-V. Guimarães will get underway at 20h30 on Sunday, in Estádio José Alvalade. |
Portugal to face Hungary and Greece in Euro qualification
Rui Jorge has included Tobias Figueiredo and Gelson Martins in his under-21 side, along with the on loan Sporting player Iuri Medeiros.
The 23 called up are: André Moreira, Bruno Varela, Rui Silva; Edgar Ié, Fábio Cardoso, João Cancelo, Rafa Soares, Nurio, Rebocho, Ruben Vezo, Tobias Figueiredo; Bruno Fernandes, Francisco Ramos, Rony Lopes, Raphael Guzzo, Ruben Neves, Tomás Podstawski; Bruma, Gelson Martins, Gonçalo Paciência, Gonçalo Guedes, Iuri Medeiros and Ricardo Horta.
Speaking after releasing his squad list, Rui Jorge took the opportunity to speak about Mauro Riquicho, who would certainly have featured if it were not for a serious injury: “We were counting on having him with us and we all wish him the best. I won’t wish him a quick recover, because that kind of injury needs time and the important thing is that he is okay.”
Portugal will host Hungary on the 8th of October in Penafiel’s 25 de Abril Municipal Stadium, before travelling to Greece for a 16h30 kick off on the 13th.
National squad to face Denmark and Serbia
National coach Fernando Santos has included two Sporting players in his squad for the encounters with Denmark and Serbia, on the 8th and 11th of October respectively.
Rui Patrício and João Mário are the Alvalade duo who will feature, in a squad comprised of 24: Anthony Lopes, Rui Patrício, Ventura; Cédric, Nélson Semedo, Bruno Alves, José Fonte, Luís Neto, Ricardo Carvalho, Eliseu, Fábio Coentrão; Danilo, Miguel Veloso, Tiago, André André, João Moutinho, João Mário; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Danny, Nani, Rafa, Éder and Ricardo Quaresma.
Portugal will host Denmark on the 8th of October at 20h45 in The Braga Municipal Stadium, before travelling to Serbia for a 18h00 (local time) kick off on the 11th.
Rui Costa named for I Liga matchday 8
Rui Costa, 39, from the Porto Football Association, has been named to take charge of Sporting’s hosting of V. Guimarães, on I Liga matchday eight.
Miguel Aguilar and João Silva will act as linesmen.
Sporting-V. Guimarães will kick off at 20h30 on Sunday the 4th October, in Estádio José Alvalade.
William and Matheus on Thursday's Europa League encounter
William Carvalho and Matheus Pereira both put in solid performances in Istanbul this Thursday, in a dominating Sporting showing that deserved the three points.
“We played well. We did really well in the first-half and we knew they would come back at us in the second-half. They created chances, but the fair result would have been a win for us”, said William, going on to add: “We did slip up when it came to finishing, but we have been training hard and goals will come.”
For Matheus Pereira, only the win would have made better on his senior debut. “We didn’t get the result. I am happy to have played and all I am sad about is the result, because we had chances and we deserved it”, said the younger, finishing: “The coach told me to just to what I do with the B team. I know that I have to work hard, because nothing is guaranteed.
