Rui Borges: Ex-Benfica man could start up front for Sporting, in squad | OneFootball

Sporting’s attack will have a new reference point, as Rui Borges cannot count on Luis Suárez, due to suspension. As such, the coach is forced to turn to another option to fill the spot of the Colombian international. The coach admitted that Rafael Nel, who once played for Benfica, could be the replacement.

"He could... And Rafael Nel is called up. He’s someone who has been training with us, has been involved in our matches, and has been among the players available for selection. And tomorrow, he’s another one who’s available to play. He trained in his position. Depending on what we anticipate for the match, we’ll see what the best starting option will be."

The coach also spoke about what he expects from the Minho side: "They are a good team, they like to take the initiative, they have their own style and like to stick to it regardless of the opponent. They adapt well to the flow of the game and to each difficulty the opposition presents."

Rui Borges praised Hugo Oliveira’s team: "They are a good team, very competitive, intense, and they commit a lot of fouls. That intensity is very noticeable. Defensively, they are very competent. They have a lot of action down the flanks, one-on-one situations, and cross a lot looking for targets. They are one of the best teams in the league, despite having one or two less successful results."

Rafael Nel was developed at Benfica, having represented the club for eight years. In 2018/19, he moved to Belenenses and, in 2020, switched from Belém to the green and whites. This season, the Sporting forward has scored seven goals and provided four assists in 19 matches for the B team.

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