Rui Patrício makes 400th senior apperance with brilliant display

He was the star of the show, making his 400th appearance and putting in one of his finest performances in the process.

"We all went out to get the win and that is what matters most. That is what we want to do in every game and that is how this club is. I had to do a lot tonight, but that is part of the game and we all do our best. The best way to celebrate was with the win", said Rui Patrício at the final whistle on Saturday night.

Jorge Jesus highlights the importance of keeping a cleansheet in Saturday's win against Rio Ave

Analysing Sporting CP's win against Rio Ave on Saturday night, Jorge Jesus accepted that Rui Patrício's performance was a key piece of the puzzle. "In the first 20 minutes Rui Patrício was decisive. During the week I told the lads that Rio Ave are a good team. They have some very good players. We had a bit of trouble stopping them getting forward and we gave away a bit of possession. We scored without doing much in attack, but that changed in the second-half. Rio Ave couldn't threaten us and only got close from dead balls. We were a lot better after Bryan Ruiz came on, because he is tactically a very intelligent player", said the Sporting CP coach.

Looking in greater depth at the encounter, Jesus added: “Three positive things changed in this match. First was getting the win and second was keeping a cleansheet. Finally, the fans were superb and were really important for us."

Patrício secures 400th apperance with fantastic performance

It was always going to be a magical night for Rui Patrício, celebrating his 400th senior appearance. However, the night is sure to be remembered for a string of absolutely brilliant saves by the Alvalade keeper in the first-half of the weekend's win against Rio Ave. At the final whistle, Patrício scooped an overwhelming 83% of the vote for Man of the Match.

Jorge Jesus had alerted of the dangers posed by this week's opposition, who proved extremely dangerous going forward. The first twenty minutes kept Patrício on his toes, which was finally relieved when Nélson Monte was introduced in place of the injured Lionn. A minute later, William Carvalho unlocked Rio Ave with a stroke of genius, releasing Gelson on the edge of the 18-yard box. The winger smashed a shot against the visiting keeper, but Alan Ruiz was on hand to tuck away the rebound.

The goal was the perfect remedy for Jorge Jesus' side and Sporting CP took control of proceedings, with Bas Dost proving particularly tricky for Rio Ave to secure. First Roderick denied the big Dutchman with a last ditch intervention (38'), before Dost latched on to a cross from Gelson and came close to capitalising (41'). Finally, another cross from Jefferson saw the Liga NOS top scorer again come close (42').

The second-half saw the introduction of Bryan Ruiz for Bruno César, in the first of three substitutions. Adrien was forced off with a knock and Alan Ruiz was eventually called to the bench. As the game died out Rio Ave struggled to find space going forward and the three points stayed in Alvalade.

At the final whistle Patrício was given a commemorative shirt by president Bruno de Carvalho.

Jesus names squad for Alvalade hosting of Rio Ave on Liga NOS matchday 22

1 – Rui Patrício
34 – Beto Pimparel
2 – Ezequiel Schelotto
4 – Jefferson
10 – Bryan Ruiz
11 – Bruno César
13 – Sebastian Coates
14 – William Carvalho
15 – Paulo Oliveira
20 – Luc Castaignos
23 – Adrien Silva
28 – Bas Dost
35 – Rúben Semedo
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
56 – Daniel Podence
66 – João Palhinha
77 – Gelson Martins
99 – Alan Ruiz

Jorge Jesus looking forward to the weekend's hosting of Rio Ave

Sporting CP will host Rio Ave in Alvalade this Saturday, on Liga NOS matchday 22. For Jesus, the weekend's action promises its fair share of difficulties.

"We have been getting better and better lately. Our match against Rio Ave will be complicated. They are a good team who are well organised in defence and with good players up front. Rio Ave want to play football and they know how to do it. Obviously we will be trying to make sure they can't and we want to boss the game for the full 90 minutes, not just for one half like we have been. It won't be easy and no game is in this league", opened Jesus, going on to speak about João Palhinha, Francisco Geraldes and Daniel Podence: "Out of the three Palhinha has played most and he even started one match. Each one of the lads has different characteristics and each has different opportunities. Adapting to the way we play isn't easy."

Jorge Jesus went on to speak about what will be Rui Patrício's 400th appearance: "Rui's story at Sporting CP is all about big numbers and 400 is an interesting milestone. I read his interview this week and he wants to carry on winning titles. Of course he wants to break records, but what he wants most is to win titles. He has grown a lot, thanks to his belief and hard work. Goalkeepers get better as they get older and Patrício will be no exception to that."

To finish, the Alvalade coach highlighted the importance of stringing together a series of good results: "We are used to having to win. We don't want to win four straight matches, but more like eight, nine or ten, like we did last season. We have to find ourselves and look to the future. Sometimes it has been our fault, but sometimes it hasn't. We have to reflect on what has happened and come out stronger next season. Last season we were absolutely brilliant. It isn't easy to win 86 points and like I have said several times, that might not ever happen again."

Petrovic

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Rio Ave Futebol Clube – Futebol SDUQ for the loan of the player Radosav Petrovic until the end of the current sports season.

Sporting SAD wishes Petrovic the best of personal and professional success.

Jorge Jesus reflects on loss in Rio Ave

Jorge Jesus did not shy away from speaking with the press after his side's 3-1 loss on Sunday night, accepting that his side were outclassed by a determined Rio Ave side.

"Rio Ave deserve to win with what they did in the first-half. We didn't do what we really needed to do tonight. There is a lot of football still to play, but we were not prepared to concede three goals. We have to look at what happened and react, starting with a win on Friday", affirmed the Sporting coach, adding: "Honestly my players surprised me a lot more than Rio Ave's did. We are a well organised team, but you couldn't see that today and it isn't worth making excuses as to why. We struggled to keep up with Rio Ave on the counter attack. One of their defenders brought the ball all the way up to our area for their first goal and normally that wouldn't happen."

Recovering from such an exhausting trip to Madrid during the week, squad rotation was inevitable. "We brought in four fresh players, because the lads who played in Madrid were not up to it. We can speak about it all we want before the match, but sometimes it is hard to reset your focus. Now I will sit down with the lads and we will talk about what happened. We looked better in the second-half. Normally the teams that I work with are more effective, but today we have to give credit to Rio Ave."

Sporting CP surprised by Rio Ave with three first-half strikes

Jorge Jesus had issued the warning in his pre-match press conference: Rio Ave were going to close down the place more than Real Madrid. That is exactly what happened, with Rio Ave pressing high and putting in one of their finest performances to go in at the break with a staggering 3-0 lead.

The opening exchanges proved to be a reflection of the rest of the encounter, with the hosts pressing hard when Sporting took possession. A forced error from Rúben Semedo saw the defender scuff his clearance and Gil Dias broke away down the right wing and put the first chance of the evening across the face of goal. In response Alan Ruiz tied his luck from range down the other end, but Cássio was having a brilliant night in the Rio Ave goal and made one of a string of decent saves. It honestly only looked like a matter of time before Rio Ave's high-tempo play broke the Sporting backline and their goal came through Tarantini, after an excellent sprint forward by Roderick with the ball at his feet.

A reaction from Jesus' side was expected, but the midweek visit to the Spanish capital was still wearing hard on tired legs and wholes began to appear while clambering back to defend against Rio Ave's relentless counter attacking. Seven minutes later, Gil Dias beat the offside trap and set up Guedes for his side's second. With the team from Alvalade totally disorientated, Rio Ave made it three seven minutes later, again with Gil Gias turned playmaker and again with Guedes with the finish.

Attempting to salvage something from the evening, Jesus rang the changes at the break, bringing on Bryan Ruiz and Bas Dost for Campbell and Alan Ruiz. The substitutions did eventually make a difference and Sporting put together a chance a minute after the hour-mark, but Bryan Ruiz slashed his half volley to the wrong side of the post. The Costa Rican's shot triggered a better final half-hour from sporting and Bas Dost pulled a goal back, but it was too little too late after such a devastating first-half.

Jorge Jesus includes 19 for trip to Rio Ave

Jorge Jesus has announced his squad for Sunday's Liga NOS matchday 5 trip to Vila do Conde to face Rio Ave.

Squad list full:

1 - Rui Patrício 
2 - Ezequiel Schelotto
3 - Lazar Markovic
4 - Jefferson Moreira
7 - Joel Campbell
10 - Bryan Ruiz 
11 - Bruno César
13 - Sebastian Coates
14 - William Carvalho 
15 - Paulo Oliveira
16 - André Felipe
21 - João Pereira
22 - Elias Trindade
23 - Adrien Silva
28 - Bas Dost
34 - Beto Pimparel
35 - Ruben Semedo
77 - Gelson Martins 
99 - Alan Ruiz

Jorge Jesus expecting a strong Rio Ave on Sunday

Sporting CP will be back in domestic action this Sunday, facing a difficult trip to Rio Ave after a testing encounter against Real Madrid. For Jorge Jesus, his side have to now reset their sights on Liga NOS.

"Wednesday and tomorrow will be different stories. We have to fully focus on tomorrow. It is nice to hear people from the world of football praising us, particularly the Spanish press, but we have to keep our focus on Rio Ave now. Real Madrid defends one way and Rio Ave will defend another. We will have less space than we did on Wednesday. Every game in Vila do Conde is hard and this one will be as well", affirmed the Sporting coach, going to talk about how we is likely to manage his squad after such an exhausting visit to the Spanish capital: "The only way to manage the players to keep them at there best is to make a few changes here and there. We will train tomorrow as well and I will see how the lads are feeling. The players covered a lot of ground against Real Madrid, both physically and physiologically. Marvin and Bryan struggled to finish the match, so we will see."

Jesus also spoke about the two sending offs he has already received this season: "I think about everything involved in the game, but it would be hard for me to change. Its not me that's wrong, it is the bureaucracy involved in football. It seems like people want to change football into an opera, where we all have to be quiet. Football isn't like that, it is an emotionally charged sport. I am sure I will be sent off more, that is just how I am."