Ahead of Sporting-Benfica, José Mourinho faces a fresh headache | OneFootball

Benfica are preparing for the derby against Sporting, in the 30th round of Liga Portugal Betclic, with a different set of options available, forcing José Mourinho to make delicate decisions when putting together Sunday’s starting eleven.

The return of Fredrik Aursnes, already used against Nacional after injury, opens the door to changes in midfield. The Norway international is seen as a key player and is expected to take a place in the team, alongside Leandro Barreiro, who has been a regular option and praised by the coaching staff.

This scenario puts pressure on Richard Ríos, who has made a recent impact, including strong performances against Casa Pia and Nacional. Even so, the need for balance and José Mourinho’s preferences could lead to his exit from the starting eleven, although it is not a straightforward decision.

In attack, the situation also raises doubts. Rafa Silva appears as another player at risk, even after scoring in the last match. His inconsistency and the strong competition on the wings increase the uncertainty over whether he will start.

With Vangelis Pavlidis fixed up front and Andreas Schjelderup and Gianluca Prestianni standing out on the wings, Benfica’s coach - who sees Sudakov on the way out - will have to sacrifice one of the options to adjust the team for one of the most decisive matches of the season.

It should be remembered that Benfica and Sporting will feature in the standout match of round 30 of Liga Portugal Betclic, scheduled for this Sunday, 19 April, at 18:00, at the José Alvalade Stadium. At the moment, the Eagles are fighting to reach second place, currently occupied by the Lions.

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