Rui Borges finally gets long-awaited call-up for Porto v Sporting | OneFootball

Nuno Santos passed the physical test with distinction in the match against AFS and showed Rui Borges that he is now fit to be included in the squad for the classic against Porto, scheduled for Monday at 8:45 pm at Estádio do Dragão.

The ‘number 11’ went through a long recovery period after suffering a ligament injury to his right knee on October 26, 2024, in Famalicão, which required another surgical intervention. After about 15 months of intense work, the winger returned to competition last Sunday, playing for the B team against Oliveirense, in a match closely watched by Rui Borges, who was present in the stands at Estádio Aurélio Pereira.

The positive signs shown in that game led the Lions’ coach to include him in the squad for the clash with AFS, counting for the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, a match in which Sporting secured qualification for the semi-finals. An avowed admirer of Nuno Santos’ sporting and human qualities, Rui Borges did not hesitate in his decision.

The reception from the fans at Alvalade was particularly warm. Even during the warm-up, the player was greeted with loud applause and, already in the second half, when he came on in the 77th minute to replace Francisco Trincão, his entrance was celebrated like a goal, leaving the left-footer visibly moved.

Unexpectedly, Sporting was forced to play extra time and Nuno Santos ended up spending nearly 45 minutes on the pitch, when the initial plan was for a much shorter appearance. At the end of the match, Rui Borges checked on the player’s physical condition, and according to the newspaper Record, he assured that he felt no complaints and declared himself available for the Classic next Monday.

The return of the ‘number 11’ increases the tactical options available to the coach, as the player is capable of covering the entire left flank. This versatility allows for better management of Maxi Araújo and Ricardo Mangas, as well as opening up space for Pedro Gonçalves and Luís Guilherme to be used in other areas of the pitch. It should be noted that, in the Portuguese Cup, the Brazilian winger started the match on the right flank, his original position, delivering his best performance since joining Sporting in the last winter transfer window.

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