Heads up, Sporting! Casa Pia face issues ahead of trip to Alvalade | OneFootball

Casa Pia is preparing for their visit to Sporting next Friday, January 16, with mandatory changes in defense, in a match that marks Álvaro Pacheco’s official debut on the Gansos’ bench, but the coach will have to make adjustments.

The new manager will not be able to count on André Geraldes, a former Sporting player, who is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card in the previous round against Rio Ave. The absence of the footballer, who is often used as a center-back in a three-man defense, opens up a spot in the back line, forcing immediate decisions from the new coaching staff.

In addition to Geraldes, who was with Sporting between 2014 and 2020, Casa Pia has another significant absence. Kaique Rocha, the Brazilian center-back, is still recovering from a muscle injury and has been unavailable since late November. These defensive limitations come precisely in the debut match of Álvaro Pacheco, increasing the level of difficulty.

Given the situation, the coach may take the opportunity to introduce changes to the tactical setup. Until now, Casa Pia has mostly played in a 3-4-3 formation, a system implemented by Gonçalo Brandão and previously by João Pereira. However, the possibility of switching to a four-man defensive line is gaining traction, considering the absences and the characteristics of the available squad.

Sporting defeated the Gansos in the first round of Liga Portugal Betclic, 2-0, and now want to repeat that result at the start of the second half of the competition. The match is scheduled for next Friday, January 16, at 8:15 p.m., at Estádio José Alvalade.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.