The coach reviews a 1-2 win away to Casa Pia AC

Sporting CP's second victory in Liga Portugal, 1-2 to Casa Pia AC, had coach Rúben Amorim happy with the result but also concerned at the condition of a fan who required medical attention during the first half.

"Everyone at Sporting CP wishes all the best to that fan and his family. We already know that he is in a stable condition and we hope to see him in Alvalade in a future game. We would be delighted to see him," he began by telling journalists at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior following the match.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult game, against a team that won well in their first match and that didn't have any pressure in this game. From the first minute, we showed that we have a lot of desire to win. We had several opportunities in the first half and many balls between the lines that we could have used to better effect. I think it was fair that we led at the break, and the second half was different from the game against FC Vizela. We conceded a goal, but we had the match under control and as soon as the ball went to the midfield, we accelerated a little more and scored the goal. Then it was about holding onto the result. We had some transitions and we ended up controlling things -a little deeper, but we controlled the game well until the end," he summarised.

When confronted with the statement from the League's Arbitration Council, which stated that due to a VAR error the opening goal "should not have been validated," Amorim considered that this "will always affect our team, without it being our fault, and brings problems for the whole league."

“These things cannot happen, but I liked the speed of the announcement. It should happen more often so that we understand what is happening. As Sporting CP coach, I don't like these situations. It is regrettable and has a great importance in the game."

"It was a very serious case, they have to put the lines on the VAR and we will wait as long as it takes. Someone made a mistake."

Questioned afterwards about the fact that the team were unable to hold onto their advantage without conceding an equaliser in the first two games, the coach stressed that "we must also give credit to the opposition. We have to develop our game, but above all we are managing to win and we are having more opportunities and more moves into the opposition area."

As for Paulinho, who was decisive again and has scored three goals at the start of the season, Amorim considered that the striker “perhaps is more comfortable, not being the target man in the area."

"He's doing well. Sometimes both he and Viktor Gyökeres will play, other times just the one of them. Paulinho worked hard, as always, and he scored two goals, which gives more effect to his game and means people are looking at him in a different way," he said, before explaining the substitutions to bring on Mateus Fernandes and new signing Morten Hjulmand.

"'Gonçalves was tired and our team still have a lot to improve -technically and physically. Mateus is a player similar to 'Pote' and in the future we may have a player with those characteristics there: He is a midfielder who can move the ball around, and that's what we tried to bring to the game, using a midfielder/forward to help with the pressure and to be strong in the transition."

“Morten brought a lot of quality to the game, in the sense of his positional play. He didn't make big moves, but he had the ball many times and is very strong in the tackle. His positioning is completely different at Sporting CP from what he did in Italy, playing further back."

Finally, the coach praised the strong Sportinguista presence in Rio Maior.

“They filled the stadium, they are following the team and we really need them in Alvalade. As it turned out, the team are not yet mature enough to dominate every moment in a home game. We need them to win the game against FC Famalicão, who are a team with a lot of talent and without any pressure on them."

Two Paulinho goals earn a 1-2 win

Sporting Clube de Portugal won away in their Friday night fixture, beating Casa Pia AC 1-2 in the game that opened Matchday 2 of the Liga Portugal season. Just like he did against FC Vizela, it was Paulinho who gave the three points to Rúben Amorim's Leões, scoring twice on his 100th appearance for the club.

The game was held at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior, the stadium used by Casa Pia AC for this season, and this Lisbon derby was transferred to a venue in the district of Santarém. Sportinguistas filled most of the approximately seven thousand seats at the ground.

Like Sporting CP, Casa Pia AC came into this match after a win in their opening game, having won 0-3 against SC Farense.

Amorim made four changes in relation to his previous starting XI: Ricardo Esgaio and Nuno Santos – back after injury and making his first appearance this season - came onto the wings in place of Geny Catamo and Matheus Reis, while Marcus Edwards and Paulinho were included at the expense of Daniel Bragança - out due to a rib injury - and Francisco Trincão. Pedro Gonçalves dropped into midfield and Paulinho joined Edwards and Viktor Gyökeres in attack.

The first time Sporting CP ventured into the attack, they immediately opened the scoring: With three minutes on the clock, Esgaio crossed and Paulinho, inside the area, shot first time into the back of the net, giving the team the best possible start.

Later, the League's Arbitration Council would, in a statement, inform that there was “an error in the placement of the point that defines the offside line,” concluding that “the goal should not have been validated” due to Paulinho being offside "by nine centimetres."

Casa Pia AC started to show a reaction, managing to steal some balls high up the pitch but without causing any real danger. At the other end, Paulinho reappeared in the area, but headed way over the top when completing a quick attack.

The game was interrupted for nearly 15 minutes due to a medical emergency in the stands. The supporter was assisted on the spot by firefighters, with the help of the medical teams from both clubs, before leaving the stadium in an ambulance. During the second half, news came in that they were already stable, and transferred to Hospital San Jose.

Even before half an hour had expired, Sporting CP did not slow down and were very close to extending their lead twice. In the first, a shot by Gyökeres ended up hitting the crossbar and, then, from the corner kick that followed, Paulinho was close to scoring the second.

Minutes later, the No.20 tried his luck again, this time from outside the area, but the shot was saved by goalkeeper Ricardo Batista.

It was during the 12 minutes of injury time that Casa Pia AC had their first opportunity, but Antonio Adán shook off Godwin's strong shot and Sporting CP went into the break 0-1 up.

The second half started with Edwards missing in a promising position and, shortly afterwards, a strike well wide.

Goal number two arrived in the 58th minute, but it was for Casa Pia AC rather than the dominant Sporting CP: After he was played through, Clayton's shot beat Adán in the one-on-one.

The 1-1 scoreline would last less than three minutes, as Paulinho received a cross and won the ball in the area, striking on the turn for his third goal in two games.

Gyökeres' attempt to make it 1-3 attempt went slightly wide of the post and the opportunities kept on coming for Sporting CP, even after substitutions such as the additions of Geny Catamo and Matheus Reis and the debuting Hjulmand.

Chasing an equaliser, Casa Pia AC managed to have more ball and grew in the final stretch of the game, but did not provide more than a 'scare' off a corner. Minutes later, Sporting CP responded in kind and Ousmane Diomande also headed wide.

The score remained 1-2 at the final whistle, despite a Geny Catamo threat just before time, and Sporting CP took their points tally to 6. Next up, they play FC Famalicão on August 27th.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Ricardo Esgaio (Geny Catamo 64’), Ousmane Diomande, Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Santos (Matheus Reis 64’), Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Gonçalves (Mateus Fernandes 88’), Marcus Edwards (Morten Hjulmand 75’), Paulinho (Francisco Trincão 88’) and Viktor Gyökeres.

The renewal was made official this week

Nuno Santos has renewed his contract with Sporting Clube de Portugal through to 2027, with a buyout clause of 60 million euros.

Speaking after the confirmation of the new deal, the Sporting CP player explained that he was satisfied to be continuing at the club.

 “It's a feeling of great happiness and pride and I will continue to do everything for this club, trying to win trophies. We will always give our all, because this is a huge club and we feel very happy here: I speak for myself and for the team”, he told the club's official media.

Nuno Santos sees the renewal as further proof of the confidence Sporting CP have shown in the qualities he possesses.

“Without a doubt, I really wanted to stay here at Sporting CP, but this is yet another reason for the club's confidence in me. I will continue to give everything, we'll try to achieve the club's objectives and I'm going to try to help, now in my fourth season. We're going to give it our all and continue at maximum strength”.

“It is a very big feeling of identification with the team. Since I arrived at Sporting CP I've been very much appreciated by everyone, both inside and outside the club and by the supporters, and it's a feeling of great happiness. When I arrived, I was very surprised by the club and its structure and I am very happy. It is a feeling of great pride and I will always give everything”.

In addition to winning more trophies at Sporting CP, he also has the ambition to be a full international for Portugal.

“This has been one of my biggest goals for a long time, but I have to work every day to achieve it and then it's up to the coach to decide whether to call me up or not. It's one of my dreams to represent the Portuguese national team”.

The coach's preview of the game against Casa Pia AC

This Thursday, Rúben Amorim previewed the Liga Portugal match against Casa Pia AC, which is scheduled for Friday at 8:15pm, at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior. The coach praised the opposing team, but believes that his side can take a good result away.

“Casa Pia AC are a very well organised team, with processes that have been used for some time and an excellent coach who has managed to bring quality and transmit stability to the team. They believe a lot in the process and you can see that, and that's why they concede few goals. Looking at their game against SC Farense, we realise that they are a team that, despite having only been in the top flight for a year, manage to control the moments well and do not feel anxious at all. Therefore, I foresee a very difficult game in which we will have to control their transitions well -which we had problems with last year and in the first game- but we are prepared. We know how Casa Pia AC play and we have studied all their movements in detail”, he began by saying.

“I expect a competitive game, but I also expect a victory for Sporting CP”, he underlined, commenting on what happened on Matchday 1 of Liga Portugal.

“The season will be quite difficult. We have already seen that how you start is very important, but there are no easy games and in the first round of matches there is always a lot of anxiety".

Without saying who will play this Friday, Amorim revealed that Morten Hjulmand has been called up and that "he is ready to be an option”.

“He was called up and tomorrow we'll see if he'll play. He has completely different characteristics from other midfielders and complements all the others very well. He's another option to help in a season that will be long and we couldn't be more satisfied with all the players we have for the midfield: Players with completely different characteristics, but all with their own quality”.

Amorim also spoke about the renewals of Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos and Gonçalo Inácio.

“There was so much talk that they were going to leave, but they are mainstays at Sporting CP. They like being here, the atmosphere is very good and we have given preference to the renewal of important players. I couldn't be more satisfied, but they have to keep working to remain an option for us”.

Asked about the enthusiasm that Sportinguistas have shown for this season, the coach commented that it does not bring greater pressure.

“I think this is what should be normality at Sporting CP. There was some division before, but we are bringing everyone together and good results are the best fuel for a club to unite. Despite the fact that last season was less successful, we can see that the club have a direction, are growing in training players and in our structure. Sportinguistas, when they see a path, manage to stick together. The fans are behind the team and we have to respond. What I feel, even after last season, is a lot of support from the fans and I think that happens because they see that there is a way that we are going”.

Together through to 2027

Pedro Gonçalves and Sporting Clube de Portugal will continue together through to 2027, with the extension of the midfielder/forward's contract with an €80 million buyout clause.

"It's a feeling of pride. I'm very happy to continue at the club", he began by saying in an event celebrating the new deal.

Currently playing in his fourth consecutive season at the club, he said that his expectations for 2023/2024 are "the same as always".

"We're going into every game to win, because we know our capabilities, in addition to training hard every day for the next game. We are here to work", Gonçalves stated.

For him, another of the crucial points when it came to renewing was the support shown by the fans.

"It is quite important to me. We feel their support a lot and even commented about it in the dressing room when the stadium was sold out for this first home game. For us, after a season that wasn't so good, having them giving us this support right away is very motivating. We are very grateful; now we have to perform well for them to be with us until the end. We are always together".

In the three seasons in which he has represented Sporting CP, Gonçalves has been the team's top scorer in two, something that he himself considers to be the result of hard work.

"I always had the characteristics of a goalscorer, even in the junior and youth teams. I played in midfield but ended the season with a lot of goals. Even so, the most important thing is that the team do well and win. I will always give everything for the team; that is the objective", he guaranteed.

One thing that will change for the 25-year-old is his shirt number, as he swaps no. 28 for no. 8. "I like the number eight, which is legendary at this club", he said.

The young defender extends his contract at the club

Gonçalo Inácio has renewed his contract with Sporting Clube de Portugal through to 2027, with his buyout clause rising from 45 million euros to 60 million.

The academy product, who has been at the club since 2012, confirmed the extension in an event attended by Sporting CP president, Frederico Varandas.

“It is an enormous source of pride to carry on with the Leão on my chest, as it has been for many years. I am very happy to stay here. I hope that there is even more to come”, he told the media.

The 21-year-old Portuguese international has appeared at every youth level at the club, eventually making his first team debut in 2020/2021. He now has 123 appearances, 11 goals and four trophies to his name: Liga Portugal (2020/2021), the Taça da Liga (2020/2021 and 2021/2022) and a Supertaça (2021).

“The biggest dream come true has been making it to the first team and becoming a league champion, but now I have to keep the focus on hard work, as I always have, and get more trophies”.

“It's very good for me that younger players see me as an example to follow. Since I arrived at Sporting CP, it has been a lot of responsibility. I want to get better and better and I want to be an example for the younger players, in the same way that I looked up to the older players”.

As a result of his rapid development, Inácio has managed to achieve a spot in the Portugal  national team and worn the captain's armband at Sporting CP.

“I have to work here, at the club, to reach the objective of being on the national team. One of the players who has helped me most is my teammate, Sebastián Coates. He's a great example to follow as a captain: Always helping, on and off the field”.

“I have a great commitment to this great club. We always count on the support of Sportinguistas, in all games and every day. They help us to be better”.

The squad continue working in Alcochete

Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to training at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday, focused on preparing for Friday night's match (8:15pm local time) against Casa Pia AC at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior. The game will be the team's second in Liga Portugal this season.

The session was run by coach Rúben Amorim, with the squad committed to staying on a winning path after their victory in their official debut in 2023/2024. A press conference ahead of the game will take place on Thursday at 7pm.

The Sporting CP coach responds to a 3-2 win over FC Vizela

After the 3-2 victory for Sporting Clube de Portugal over FC Vizela, Rúben Amorim spoke in a press conference and analysed the game.

"We started well, pushing FC Vizela into their half with our quality. We reached a 2-0 lead and had the game completely under control. We went into the break, Daniel Bragança didn't come back out due to a blow to the head, and we felt his absence. We always looked like we were going to score the third goal, and it looked like a defense-attack drill out there. FC Vizela got an equaliser and you could feel the anxiety. I play with soul and a lot of heart. We were happy in the end. You always have to be prepared. It was a beautiful night, with a great atmosphere, which turned into a problem and I'm afraid I have to pay attention to that aspect," he began by telling journalists.

"There is no justification for the drop in performance in the second half and for the two goals that we conceded, and the match became very strange. We conceded a goal, there wasn't time to settle down and we conceded another. We can't make it easy for the opposition. However, on days like these, when you win, not everything is bad."

Asked about the reactions from the Sporting CP fans, Amorim said that "in the first half, everyone was excited and there were several opportunities. Then, we started the second half badly and we conceded twice. When a team goes from 2-0 to 2-2, the fans are not satisfied. The pressure is always the same. We sold out the stadium and the Sportinguistas are getting behind the team. They simply reacted like supporters of a big club do. What happened today was football and the reaction of fans of a big club."

"We had chances, but we conceded two goals quickly. The substitutions didn't help us. I'm going to sleep a little easier because we won and because one of the substitutes scored a goal," he also stressed.

Responding to a question about Viktor Gyökeres, he said that "he always wants the ball in space and that makes him more dangerous. He gives us more aggression, which makes the team stronger." Then Amorim commented on starting debutant Geny Catamo's performance.

"He sometimes joins the defensive line, but usually acts as a winger. I took him off because he was tired and because I wanted more control of the game. I really liked his performance, he's much more grown up now. It's good that players rotate, even if they don't play too much, to gain maturity. We will improve him even more."

Finally, the coach set out his expectations for 2023/24: "I feel that we can be champions and that we will fight for the title, but it's all a box of surprises. I feel that the squad is stronger now. Despite there being some inexperience, the kids are very hungry. We are more complete in terms of forwards and we need an experienced midfielder to help us in these games that become difficult."

Sporting CP strike in the 99th minute to beat FC Vizela 3-2

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat FC Vizela by 3-2 in thrilling fashion in their first match of the 2023/24 Liga Portugal season. Debutant Viktor Gyökeres scored twice and Paulinho grabbed a stoppage time winner to give the team the three points.

Gyökeres was playing his first official game and Geny Catamo made his starting XI debut, whilst Daniel Bragança was playing for the first time since May 2022 - coming back from a long term injury.

After receiving the award for the best pitch in Liga Portugal in 2022/23, Sporting CP got the contest underway. They could have opened the scoring after just four minutes, when Pedro Gonçalves took a free-kick and Sebastián Coates, with a header, forced goalkeeper Fabijan Buntić into an excellent intervention.

Shortly afterwards, Gonçalves was unable to reach Gyökeres's ball by a matter of centimetres, then later it was Hidemasa Morita's turn to try to set up Ousmane Diomande without success. The pressure from Sporting CP was very high and FC Vizela were unable to bring the ball out well.

The feeling was that it was only a matter of time before Sporting CP scored, and they got the goal in the 14th minute: Matheus Reis crossed into the heart of the area and Gyökeres took the ball off a deflection, taking on the defence and firing the ball into the net.

In the very next minute, the Swede took advantage of a mistake by the opposition to steal the ball, sell an opponent a dummy and shoot with his right foot to make it 2-0.

The two goals calmed the pace of the match, even though it was Sporting CP that continued to control proceedings. More goals could have followed, such as from the 27th-minute counterattack in which Gonçalves struck into a defender and from Gyökeres' header which Fabijan Buntić saved.

The first attempt by FC Vizela of any danger came in the 42nd minute, when Tomás Silva - a Liga Portugal winner for Sporting CP in 2020/21 - set up fellow former Leão Nuno Moreira, and he missed the target. In response, Gonçalves found Gyökeres and he crossed to Bragança, who shot over the crossbar.

For FC Vizela, shots by Kiko Bondoso and Samu went wide and were saved by Antonio Adán, respectively, before the halftime whistle.

During the interval, Sporting CP Women players Alicia Correia, Ana Borges, Ana Capeta, Diana Silva, Fátima Pinto and Joana Martins, who participated in Portugal's historic campaign in the Women's World Cup, as well as Olivia Smith, who also participated representing Canada, were welcomed onto the pitch.

For the second half, Marcus Edwards replaced Bragança, whilst in the 55th minute coach Rúben Amorim made another change to bring on Ricardo Esgaio in place of Geny Catamo.

Gonçalves had two chances before the hour, missing the target on the first and being denied by a good save from Buntić the second time around. At the other end, Diogo Nascimento shot from distance and Adán covered.

In the 64th minute, Afonso Moreira came on to make his debut for the first team, joined by Paulinho as Matheus Reis and Francisco Trincão went off.

It was FC Vizela who reduced their deficit in the 75th minute, when a mistake by Adán allowed Samuel Essende to make it 2-1.

They did not stop there and, two minutes later, they leveled after a cross by Tomás Silva found Nuno Moreira to turn it into the net.

After many minutes of indecision and frustration, the winning goal arrived. In the ninth minute of stoppage time, a high ball went into the FC Vizela area, Gyökeres headed on, Coates got a touch and Paulinho took the chance to score.

The late goal earned Sporting CP a winning start to the Liga Portugal campaign, and their first three points in 2023/24. Next up is a visit Casa Pia AC on Friday, August 18th.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Ousmane Diomande, Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Geny Catamo (Ricardo Esgaio, 55'), Hidemasa Morita, Daniel Bragança (Marcus Edwards, 46'), Matheus Reis (Afonso Moreira, 64', Luís Neto, 90+10'), Francisco Trincão (Paulinho, 64'), Pedro Gonçalves and Viktor Gyökeres.

The coach previews the game against FC Vizela

Sporting Clube de Portugal open their Liga Portugal campaign on Saturday, with the visit of FC Vizela to the Estádio José Alvalade. Speaking ahead of the game, coach Rúben Amorim talked about the preparations and expectations for the match and the season.

“The preseason was as it should be: Well planned, with many young players who asserted themselves and won their place in the squad. We grew. We have lost some players, but the base remained the same and that helps us to take steps forward in what we are doing. We won friendlies, but that's not worth anything. The objective is to beat FC Vizela and fight for all the trophies in Portugal. It was a good preseason with success in terms of the club's DNA, which is bringing through academy players,” he said in the press conference for the match.

“The team look very well, confident and ready to start the season. Sporting CP are candidates for the title. The only year I said that we weren't, was a very difficult year. I feel and believe that the team are capable of it. I only have one objective, which is to take things game-by-game,” emphasised the coach.

On the characteristics that new signing Gyokeres can bring to Sporting CP, he noted that the team can play a little differently due to the characteristics of the Swedish international forward.

“Gyokeres is a striker who, in addition to scoring goals, allows our team to have the ability to play a little deeper and to have someone who operates more alone in transitions. We are more complete, and the fact that we are incorporating young players makes it seem to me that we are starting a new three-year cycle. We want to win now, but we are doing the same cycle we had three years ago. There is a lot of hunger in training and that pleases me and will make the team grow a lot."

Amorim praised the ability of sporting director Hugo Viana to transmit the Sporting CP project in the transfer market.

“We are still below 50 percent, between sales and purchases. Last year, Porro left in the middle of the season, Sarabia, Palhinha, Matheus Nunes also departed and there were more changes than this year. Only Ugarte left from the regular starters, which allowed us to plan better. We went looking for young players who already had some experience to join the first team. Many kids came in and will have their spot. We set targets early and we had good sales. We didn't do anything in a hurry, so now it's time to beat FC Vizela. We're on the right track. We know it's going to be a tough year, but having a base will make it easier," he noted.

As for the options for Saturday, Nuno Santos will only be ready next week and St. Juste continues with his recovery plan.

“Nuno Santos is doing better, but he will only start training with the team next week. Next week he will be an option. We're trying to get St. Juste into top shape. We believe in him a lot, and we are doing the best for him. He is world class.”

Asked about the importance of starting the season well, Amorim was even more specific.

“We are aware of the eight points that we had dropped last year by the eighth matchday. We can't lose too many points. We don't have to think about the first four games, but rather think about FC Vizela. We have to lower our average of goals conceded and it's a matter of consistency,” he noted.

Finally, asked which position is the ideal one for Pedro Gonçalves, he answered that: “Pote will vary between midfield and forward; we have more options up front. We can change our way of playing here or there. He cannot be assured f always playing up front, in midfield or playing all the time. It will vary from game to game.”