Sporting will host Portimonense on Friday in the 32nd round of the I League, which could ultimately lead to the consecration of the Lions as the new national champions. For this, Rúben Amorim's team will have to do what they always do when they host the Algarveans, win, and wait for another slip from their rivals Benfica, who will visit Famalicão the following day.

Even so, Amorim guaranteed that the focus must be solely on Alvalade, although he admits that the "logistics" for Sunday are being duly prepared.

On the other side, it is worth remembering, there is a Portimonense fighting for permanence and who will do everything to achieve their goal of continuing to compete in the highest echelon of national football.

With the kick-off scheduled for 6 pm, the match between Sporting and Portimonense will be refereed by Iancu Vasilica and you can follow all the incidents on Desporto ao Minuto.

Coaches in direct speech

Rúben Amorim

Portimonense fighting for 'life': "Also because of the context... Obviously the quality of the teams, with all due respect, are different, the approaches are different. Now everyone is fighting for their goals and we have a very big one, which is to win the game and get closer to the championship. That's what we're going to do against a team with very good characteristics and against which we suffered a lot to win there. We have to be smart in the way we play. We have everything thought out."

Anxiety about being champion: "I felt the team very well and prepared for the game. We don't think we can be champions this weekend, because we think about the things we can control. Controlling is having two wins. But we can do one and take a big step in that regard. We are prepared for any situation. It was a normal week. The only time I felt I had to speak was after the game with Benfica. Otherwise, the team is calm and working. He knows that there is little left."

Paulo Sérgio 

Sporting on the verge of being champions: "We know that the task will be difficult, but our intention, our mentality is always the same. It is to try to arm things in order to make life difficult for an opponent who, we obviously recognize, is far superior. We have to find a strategy, an attitude, a way of competing that allows us to play the game with an opponent of this value."

Management: "I will not give trumps to the opponent and give him the 'eleven'. Tomorrow (Saturday) we will decide if we will do any management in that sense. (...) We also have other young people outside who deserve the opportunity to play and, therefore, I will make the decision about it. Or rather, my decision is made, you will know it tomorrow."

Latest results

Sporting: EVVVV

Portimonense: DEEVD

Last elevens

Sporting: Franco Israel, Jeremiah St. Juste, Sebastián Coates, Ousmane Diomande, Geny Catamo, Daniel Bragança, Morten Hjulmand, Gonçalo Inácio, Francisco Trincão, Paulinho, Pedro Gonçalves

Portimonense: Kosuke Nakamura, Igor Formiga, Alemão, Pedrão, Filipe Relvas, Lucas Ventura, Taichi Fukui, Carlinhos, Luan Campos, Tamble Monteiro, Hélio Varela

Absentees

Sporting: Adán (injured); Marcus Edwards (suspended). 

Portimonense: Hildeberto (suspended), Hoffmann (injured). 

 

Leia Também: "We are not thinking about parties, but we will cheer for Famalicão" (Portuguese version)