Sporting: The Indomitus

NO EUROPE FEAR

Sporting Lisbon manager Marco Silva has stated he isn’t fazed by his group in the UEFA Champions’ League this season.

Upon Sporting’s return to the Champions’ League, the Portuguese giants have been placed up against Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen and Celtic, among the toughest groups of the draw.

Silva, however, is relishing the challenge of progressing through to the Last 16, with Sporting the clear underdog of the group.

”When you qualify for the Champions’ League, you know you’ll face quality sides; you want to face quality sides. That’s what the tournament is all about.

“We aren’t favourites to progress, but I believe we can make it into the round of Last 16 and we will fight for it. There is no fear factor from us.”

Sporting commence their European adventure at the Estadio Jose Alvalade versus Bayer Leverkusen, ending their group stage campaign at home once more to group favourites Arsenal.

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DEADLINE DAY MOVE STALLS

Sporting Lisbon has once again failed to add to their squad after a £7.5 million deal for River Plate’s Eder Alvarez Balanta fell through.

River Plate had agreed to let Colombian defender Balanta join Sporting for £7.5 million, but the player failed to agree terms with the club.

In a negotiation pioneered by Sporting’s director of football, Augusto Inacio, representatives of the Portuguese giants flew out to Argentina on the final day of the transfer window to seal the deal for Balanta.

However, Balanta’s wish was to remain in Argentina unless he was given a shorter contract than initially offered, with his aspiration rumoured to be landing a deal with one of Europe’s biggest clubs in a couple of years.

Balanta becomes the second player to reject Sporting when in contract talks, following the snub of Santos playmaker Geuvanio back in July.

Sporting were also understood to be readying a bid for Boca Juniors youngster Guido Vadala, but any deal between the two clubs failed to materialise as the transfer window clock ticked down.

The signings of Ryan Gauld, Geraldes, Paulo Oliveira and Simeon Slavchev, all coming way before pre-season, will remain their only summer signings.

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PdC: LITTLE SPORTING APPEAL

FC Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa believes young players would rather join Sporting’s rivals than represent the green half of Lisbon.

Sporting turned to South America this summer and came close to signing Geuvanio from Santos, as well as Argentina based Eder Alvarez Balanta and Guido Vadala, but failed to secure any of their targets.

Pinto da Costa has stated that he has no doubts Geuvanio, Balanta and Vadala would be Porto players if they had gone in for them, as well as branding Sporting’s future as ‘insecure’.

”The fact Sporting failed to land in a market we do very well in doesn’t surprise me at all. In recent years, many South American players have emerged from the Portuguese League, like James Rodriguez & Radamel Falcao, but none from Sporting.

“I believe most would rather join Porto or even Benfica, and that Sporting aren’t as well respected in South America, thus why Balanta and Geuvanio are rumoured to have requested only two-year deals.

“Many speak of a Sporting being on the rise, but in my eyes players would still rather join their rivals, and nothing proves it more than this summer transfer window. Sporting’s growth is insecure.”

Porto have added former Atletico Madrid and Benfica midfielder Tiago to their squad this summer, as well as Oliver Torres on loan and Racing Club's Luciano Vietto for £5.5 million.

Meanwhile title holders Benfica have also had success in South America, signing Lucas Romero from Velez Sarsfield for £6.5 million.

September 2013

Jefferson (27, 41)



Slimani (3, 37, 59)






Carrillo (18)






Dier (2)



William Carvalho (pen 24), Slimani (52), Joao Mario (pen 78)

Liga Zon Sagres Table

Sporting’s Player of the Month

Eric Dier

Eric Dier has been a delightful surprise in the side, as I had initially planned to use him as a more sporadic squad player this season. He’s kept Mauricio seated since day one, however, contributing to three goals already and being fundamental in keeping our goals conceded record clean for the second consecutive month.

I cannot deny the results we’ve gotten have been surprising, as I was ready to drop a few points here or there due to the nature of starts to the season. Porto and Benfica have, but we’ve stormed ahead in first. I’m delighted to be in first place, but it’s still early days. Our clash versus Leverkusen was a tricky one, but again, I’m very pleased to have won and collected three vital points in the Champions’ League.

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October 2013

Cazorla (35), Ramsey (53), Walcott (64)











Montero (33)






Slimani (25), Carlos Mane (78)






Carrillo (4), Adrien (pen 27), Gauld (32)

Liga Zon Sagres Table

UEFA Champions’ League Table

Sporting’s Player of the Month

Jefferson

It was incredibly difficult to pick an outstanding performer this month, but I’ve decided that Jefferson pips it due to his consistency throughout the season so far. Playing as a complete wing back, he’s looked very threatening going forward and has settled in well to the high pressing nature of my tactic. I don’t think he’s ever dipped below a level of good, standard performances.

The day to finally concede came, and it’s no surprise a team with such creative potency has savaged us in the manner that Arsenal did. Playing at the Emirates, there was only ever one likely winner, as we struggled to cope with Santi Cazorla and the pace of Theo Walcott. Nevertheless, our form in the league continues to be strong, drawing against our closest title rivals so far and defeating the rest. We are still yet to concede in domestic competitions!