Rui Borges could spring big surprise in Sporting XI v Alverca | OneFootball

Luis Suárez could start for the first time this season in Sporting’s home match against Alverca, scheduled for Saturday at 8:30pm. Fotis Ioannidis’ lower back pain persists and opens the door for the Colombian’s return to Rui Borges’ starting eleven.

Sporting do not intend to take any risks with the Greece international, who has scored two goals in the first two official matches. Even if he is included in the squad, Ioannidis could start on the bench, especially as he has not been able to fully complete the first training sessions of the week.

Luis Suárez therefore emerges as the main candidate to lead the attack. The Colombian has played only 30 minutes against Estrela da Amadora and 24 against Vitória de Guimarães, and now has an opportunity to make up ground in the battle for a starting spot and also win back the fans, after the whistles heard in the last match at Alvalade.

The striker, who finished 2025/26 with 38 goals, has not scored officially for Sporting since the Portuguese Cup final against Torreense on 24 May. At Alvalade, his last goal came on 16 May against Gil Vicente. Rui Borges and the board believe that a return to goals could help Suárez turn the page on the difficult spell he is going through.

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