Sporting starter wants careful handling, cites pressure: numbers don't lie | OneFootball

One of Rui Borges’ main surprises in the 31st round of the Liga Portugal Betclic match against AVS SAD was his decision to start Rafael Nel in Sporting’s lineup, leaving Luis Suárez on the bench — something rare this season at Sporting.

The last time the Colombian striker had not started was on November 22, 2025, against Marinhense, in the Portuguese Cup. Since then, the number 97 has racked up consecutive starts, becoming one of the most-used players in the squad, with 3,887 minutes, surpassed only by Francisco Trincão (4,190).

Luis Suárez was still brought on during the match, coming on in the 57th minute, but he could not prevent a sixth straight game without scoring, his worst run of the season. At the end, the striker remained on the pitch doing sprints, an image that clearly reflects both the physical demands and the moment he is going through.

This season, wearing the Sporting shirt, Luis Suárez — valued at €28 million — has made 48 appearances: 28 in Liga Portugal Betclic, 12 in the Champions League, six in the Portuguese Cup, one in the League Cup, and another in the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup. In the 3,887 minutes he has been on the field, the center-forward has scored 33 goals and provided five assists.

The green-and-white side will return to action next Wednesday, April 29, against Tondela. The match, counting for Matchday 26 (rescheduled) of the Liga Portugal Betclic, against the team coached by Gonçalo Feio, will be played at 8:15 p.m. at the José Alvalade Stadium.

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