Sporting go from best to worst in 45 minutes: worrying Rui Borges trend | OneFootball

Sporting will return from the international break with a worrying trend to reverse. After letting leads slip against Famalicão and Arouca, Rui Borges needs to find a solution to the Lions’ drop-off after the interval, especially in the closing stages of matches.

Opta’s data shows two completely different versions of the green-and-white team. After seven rounds, Sporting are the only side in the league yet to concede a single goal in the first half, showing great defensive solidity up to the break.

Everything changes, however, in the second 45 minutes. The Lions have already conceded eight goals after half-time, the same tally as Moreirense, Alverca and Estrela da Amadora. Only Casa Pia, with 10 goals conceded, have worse numbers in this regard.

The situation becomes even more worrying when the analysis is limited to the final 15 minutes, including stoppage time. Sporting have conceded five goals in that phase of matches, the worst record in the entire competition. It was precisely during that period that they dropped points in the two most recent rounds, first in Famalicão and then against Arouca, when they had been leading 2-0.

The next opponent makes these numbers even more significant. Rui Borges and the three matches between the two teams all ended in draws, with the Minho side managing to come back from behind in the later stages.

Rodrigo Zalazar, now a Sporting player, was behind two more late blows: he made it 1-1 at Alvalade, from the penalty spot in the 90'+7th minute, and scored again in Minho, in the 90'+6th minute, to make it 2-2.

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