Rui Borges has key absentee confirmed for Estrela da Amadora v Sporting | OneFootball

Zeno Debast is expected to miss Sporting’s official start to the 2026/27 season. The centre-back is still working under restrictions and individually due to the physical issues that have been affecting him since the closing stages of last season.

The Belgium international returned to Alvalade without having played a single minute at the World Cup. Debast only rejoined the squad last Saturday and is at a more advanced stage of preparation compared to his teammates.

The 22-year-old centre-back has not played since 4 May and is unlikely to be in the necessary condition to face Estrela da Amadora on 8 August, in the opening round of the league season.

Given the long lay-off, Sporting’s officials do not want to take any risks with the player’s return. The priority is to ensure that Debast returns to action fully recovered.

The defender could even miss the opening rounds of the league, depending on the progress he makes during the work being carried out in Alcochete. Rui Borges is therefore expected to begin the season without one of Sporting’s main options for the heart of the defence.

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