Rui Borges has a real headache for Sporting v Santa Clara, surprise looms | OneFootball

Between confirmed absences and several fitness doubts, Rui Borges faces a real headache in putting together Sporting’s starting eleven against Santa Clara. The coach had already anticipated difficulties in the build-up to the match, and the situation worsened with the return of the internationals, leaving him with multiple constraints at a decisive stage of the season.

Six players are out: Nuno Santos, Luís Guilherme, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Fotis Ioannidis and Geovany Quenda, all with physical issues — although the winger has already recovered, he is still lacking match fitness — as well as Luis Suárez, who is suspended. As if that were not enough, there are also doubts surrounding Morten Hjulmand, Rui Silva, Gonçalo Inácio and Rafael Nel, who returned ill or carrying knocks from international duty.

Despite the uncertainty, Rui Silva is expected to remain in goal, as are Hjulmand and Rafael Nel, who continues to lead the line in place of Luis Suárez. The biggest doubt concerns Gonçalo Inácio, who will be reassessed, although there is confidence that he can be part of the starting eleven.

In defence, Iván Fresneda and Maxi Araújo are expected to return at full-back, with Eduardo Quaresma in central defence and Inácio — if he recovers — alongside him, while Diomande remains on standby. In midfield, the pairing could be Hjulmand and Morita, while up front the usual trio of Geny Catamo, Trincão and Pedro Gonçalves is expected to remain.

In attack, all signs point to Rafael Nel as the big new inclusion. The 20-year-old forward could make the starting line-up for Sporting, taking the place of the suspended Luis Suárez and getting the chance to make his first start for the senior team, having already scored in the thrashing of Bodo/Glimt.

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