Suárez or Ioannidis? Rui Borges has a plan for Sporting's next games | OneFootball

Fotis Ioannidis is preparing to return to Sporting’s starting eleven. The 26-year-old striker is in line for a start and is expected to be named in the lineup either against Braga or, four days later, away to Lens in the Champions League.

According to the newspaper A Bola, the decision will largely depend on the condition in which Luis Suárez returns from Colombia’s international fixtures. Regardless of Rui Borges’ decision, the projected scenario is that Ioannidis will start in one of Sporting’s next two matches.

The Greece international comes into this stage with renewed credentials. He played 148 minutes for the national team during this break and was particularly impressive in the 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, where he scored one goal and provided one assist.

Ioannidis had already begun the season as Sporting’s first-choice striker. A lower back issue, suffered around the time of the match against Alverca, interrupted that run and allowed Suárez to regain ground and take over the starting spot.

Now, the situation may once again open the door for the Greek forward. The Colombian has scored in seven consecutive matches, but he faces a long trip back after international duty. If he returns in good condition, he is expected to keep his place against Braga; in that case, Ioannidis is tipped to start against Lens.

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