Rui Borges keeps Sporting guessing ahead of the League Cup | OneFootball

The management of Sporting’s goalkeeping position has been one of the few constants for Rui Borges, but it raises some doubts with the arrival of the League Cup. Rui Silva established himself early on as the main goalkeeper for the Lions, while João Virgínia was identified as the keeper for domestic knockout competitions, a status he has honored every time he was called upon.

However, this hierarchy will once again be put to the test in the Allianz Cup semi-final against Vitória de Guimarães, scheduled for Tuesday at 8:00 PM in Leiria. With several absences in the squad and the need to manage efforts at a decisive moment of the season – even with a return expected – the Lions’ coach is weighing whether to maintain stability with the ‘number 1’ or continue with the cup logic by handing the goal to Virgínia.

The ‘number 12’, it should be recalled, responded positively when Rui Silva was unavailable in September due to a left hand injury, delivering solid performances in Liga Portugal Betclic – against Famalicão and Moreirense – and also in the Champions League, against Kairat Almaty.

Internally, the decision has been made. Externally, the mystery remains. Rui Borges is only expected to reveal his choice on the day of the match itself, during the usual morning meeting with the squad. Confidence in both is total, but the competitive context may influence the decision, especially at a time when Sporting sees Porto pulling away in the league and is seeking success in the competitions where there are still titles to be won.

One thing is certain at Alvalade: the goalkeeper chosen for the semi-final will also be the one in goal for a potential final, scheduled for the 10th, at the same venue. Last season, before Rui Silva’s arrival, that role fell to Franco Israel, who is now playing for Torino.

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