Ousmane Diomande returns with a clear goal at Sporting | OneFootball

Sporting prepares for the reception of Casa Pia with good news in the defensive sector, at a time when Rui Borges has been dealing with several absences in the squad. After the elimination in the Allianz Cup and a longer microcycle of work, the leonine coach will be able to count on Ousmane Diomande again, a central defender who returns to the options and aims for a starting position at the beginning of the second half of the League.

The Ivorian international is integrated for the match against the geese and is expected to pair up with Gonçalo Inácio, who also returns to the lineup after serving a suspension. Even with some competitive deficit, Diomande is physically fresher, having accumulated only 91 minutes in two games in the final phase of the CAN, a campaign that ended against Egypt.

The importance of the 'number 26' becomes even more evident when analyzing recent results. Since his absence, Sporting has conceded goals in four of the last five official matches, indicating less defensive solidity. Diomande's return could be valuable for Rui Borges.

The numbers confirm this impact. According to statistical data, when Diomande is not on the field, Sporting allows an average of 9.2 shots per game to opponents, a figure that drops to 7.7 when the central defender plays. The possession percentage also drops significantly, going from 66.7% with the defender available to 59.2% without him, highlighting the Ivorian's influence in building from the back.

In the current 2025/26 sports season, Ousmane Diomande – valued at 45 million euros – has played 12 matches for Sporting: six in the Liga Portugal Betclic, four in the Champions League, one in the Portuguese Cup, and another in the Super Cup. In total, the central defender has accumulated 947 minutes.

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