Rui Borges has a duo who demand special attention against Sporting | OneFootball

The Sporting calendar is about to tighten up again. After the matches against Famalicão and Moreirense, separated by a clear week, the lions enter a demanding cycle, with commitments spread across three fronts: the championship, the Champions League, and the Portuguese Cup. Besides the expected physical wear, there is an additional factor that will require the Performance Unit's heightened attention: Ramadan, which began last Tuesday and runs until March 19.

In the lion squad, Ousmane Diomande and Souleymane Faye will observe the Muslim holy month, which involves daily fasting from sunrise to sunset, with restrictions on food and hydration. Respecting the athletes' religious beliefs, the Club has outlined a specific plan, both on and off the field. Nutritionally, an alternative diet will be applied, using foods that allow for quick and effective replenishment of sodium and vitamins, such as energy bars, high-calorie fruits, and isotonic drinks.

In parallel, the technical team led by Rui Borges will take extra care in managing training loads, given the possibility that the Ivorian central defender and the Senegalese winger may not be able to keep up with the usual intensity of the sessions at certain times. Sleep quality will also be closely monitored, using data collected daily by the performance structure.

From a competitive standpoint, Ramadan coincides with a critical phase of the season. After the trip to Moreira de Cónegos - the first game in which Diomande and Faye will be fully observing the religious rite - comes the reception of Estoril (February 27), again for the League.

Then, the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals against Porto takes place on March 3, before another demanding trip to Braga, provisionally scheduled for March 8. About a week and a half before the end of Ramadan, the calendar becomes even more packed. On March 10/11 and 17/18, Sporting will play the first and second legs of the Champions League round of 16, with an opponent to be defined among Real Madrid, Benfica, Inter, or Bodo/Glimt. In between, there will also be a home game against Tondela for the championship.

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