Rui Borges plans defensive changes for Sporting v Torreense | OneFootball

Good news for Rui Borges ahead of the Portuguese Cup final against Torreense: after serving a one-match suspension, Ousmane Diomande is expected to return straight to Sporting’s starting eleven for the match scheduled for Sunday at 5:15 pm at Jamor.

The centre-back missed the last Liga Portugal Betclic round against Gil Vicente due to suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, but everything points to him immediately regaining his place in the starting lineup. The Ivory Coast international is expected to once again partner Gonçalo Inácio in central defence, a pairing that has already played together in 22 matches this season and managed to keep a clean sheet in half of them.

This will also mark Ousmane Diomande’s return to Jamor, after taking part in the final lost to Porto in 2023/24. Last season, it should be remembered, the centre-back missed the showdown with Benfica due to a left knee injury suffered against Vitória SC, in the match that confirmed Sporting’s back-to-back league title.

With the Ivorian’s return to the heart of the defence, Eduardo Quaresma is expected to move back to the right flank, a position where he offers Rui Borges’ team stronger defensive assurances. Although Georgios Vagiannidis is now available again, the full-back is still not fully fit, and the Sporting coach prefers the defensive security provided by the young Portuguese international.

In addition, Rui Borges wants to keep the group’s spirit of unity intact and will call up the entire squad for the final at the Estádio Nacional. Even the injured players will be present at Jamor, in a symbolic decision by the Mirandela-born coach to reinforce the collective importance of the journey made throughout the season.

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