Debast won’t join Sporting or Porto, Rui Borges keeps cards close | OneFootball

Rui Borges assured that Pote and Zeno Debast will be called up for the Sporting - Porto match, the first-leg Classic of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals. While Fotis Ioannidis is in doubt, Ricardo Mangas and Giorgi Kochorashvili are confirmed absences.

"Pedro is in, and Debast too. Debast was already in for the last game, he started training a few days ago, it's natural that his condition might not be the best to fully help the team," emphasized the coach, choosing not to reveal who will be the goalkeeper for the lions against the dragons.

"I never said who is the starter. Virgínia, Callai, Rui are prepared to play... They have to be ready to play and not play, regardless of the competition. For me, there are no competition-specific goalkeepers, but Sporting goalkeepers, depending on the moment, the strategy, the opponent. Everything counts for the coach's decision-making," he stated.

Sporting reaches the semi-finals after eliminating AFS SAD in the quarters, by 3-2, in extra time. Before that, the team's journey in the prestigious competition, led by Rui Borges, began with a hard-fought victory against Paços de Ferreira, by 3-2, in the third round. This was followed by a comfortable win at Alvalade against Marinhense (3-0) and, in the round of 16, the lions secured their place with dramatic flair, eliminating Santa Clara by 3-2 also after regular time.

The green and white emblem returns to the field this Tuesday, March 3rd, against Porto. The match, counting for the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals, against the team led by Francesco Farioli, will be played at 8:45 PM at Estádio José Alvalade.

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