Rui Borges unsure about player's fitness for Benfica v Sporting clash | OneFootball

Rui Borges still doesn’t know if he will be able to count on Fotis Ioannidis for the Benfica - Sporting match. Despite recent reports stating that the Greek international would definitely be ruled out of the derby, the Lions’ coach said he is still uncertain.

“Ioannidis is still in doubt. I don’t know if he will be called up. It could happen, it might not happen,” said Rui Borges when asked about the striker. Next, the Sporting coach responded to the importance of a good result at Luz for the league standings.

“I don’t think it will decide anything about the end of the championship. It’s a big game. I understand why people say that, that both teams could be six points apart if Porto wins, etc... But last year we had a big points advantage and then we lost some. Given how much is left to play—and there’s a lot left—this result in no way determines the outcome of the championship,” Rui Borges emphasized.

This season, wearing the Sporting shirt, Fotis Ioannidis—valued at 22 million euros—has played 13 matches. The 25-year-old Greek international striker has played 563 minutes, in which he has already scored four goals and provided three assists in the green and white stripes.

The match, counting for the 13th round of Liga Portugal Betclic, against the team led by José Mourinho, will be played at 8:15 p.m. at Estádio da Luz.

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