Suárez or Ioannidis? Rui Borges sets Sporting attack plan | OneFootball

Sporting are preparing for a particularly demanding season and Rui Borges already has an important issue on his hands to manage: how to use Luis Suárez and Fotis Ioannidis in attack. The two forwards went into the match against Rio Ave on equal physical footing, but the Sporting coach once again opted for the Colombian as a starter, having also done so against Alverca.

The decision paid off in the best possible way. Suárez responded with two goals at the Estádio dos Arcos and moved to the top of the lions’ scoring chart at the start of the season, with three accurate finishes. The “cafetero” thus regained his status as the leading candidate for the striker role.

He returned to work later due to his participation in the Club World Cup and, in the meantime, the forward also went through a difficult period in his relationship with the fans after being linked to a failed bid for the Fenerbahçe presidency. The episode involving the coaching staff, when he left the pitch earlier than his teammates, increased the tension even further. Even so, Sporting’s board has not received any concrete offers for the player, and Frederico Varandas maintains that any potential departure will only happen for the value of the €80 million release clause or a figure very close to it.

On the other side is Ioannidis, a player Rui Borges still considers crucial. The Greece international has already overcome the physical problems that prevented him from facing Alverca and will remain very close to Suárez in the coach’s pecking order. The coaching staff’s aim is to increase rotation between the two forwards and avoid a situation similar to last season, when the Greek’s injury forced the Colombian to pile up consecutive matches without the desired rest.

Sporting’s schedule, with their presence in the Champions League league phase, should require even more careful management. Rui Borges is not even ruling out using both forwards at the same time in certain matches, a formula that was already tested against Rio Ave for 22 minutes and also worked in 2025/26. Luis Suárez offers technical ability, versatility and quality in link-up play, while Ioannidis adds explosiveness, physical strength and the ability to battle with defenders.

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