Leandro Barreiro ‘to start’ as Benfica prepare for Nacional with Sporting in mind | OneFootball

Leandro Barreiro has recovered from the injury that kept him out against Casa Pia and is being lined up to face Nacional, a tune up before Benfica’s trip to Alvalade to meet Sporting on 19 April.

Record writes that the Luxembourg midfielder, Benfica’s No 18, is more than ready for José Mourinho’s plans, and he is seen as a strong candidate to start as he builds match sharpness.

Mourinho’s thinking is twofold, to give Barreiro minutes before Rui Borges’s side and to inject fresh energy into a midfield that failed to impose itself in Rio Maior.

Fredrik Aursnes is also in the squad after close to a month out with a muscle problem suffered against Gil Vicente. The Norway international is expected to begin on the bench, with the aim of getting some minutes against Nacional.

This season Barreiro, valued at €15 million, has played 44 competitive games for Benfica, 25 in the Liga Portugal Betclic, 13 in the Champions League, three in the Taça de Portugal, two in the Taça da Liga and one in the Supertaça.

Across 2,491 minutes he has recorded four goals and five assists.

Source: Glorioso 1904