Sporting make call on Matheus Reis ahead of Benfica clash | OneFootball

Matheus Reis prepares to face Benfica again after the controversial incident with Belotti in the Portuguese Cup final. All signs point to the Brazilian facing a hostile environment, but Rui Borges has complete confidence in the player and is calm about his reaction.

Although he is not a regular starter, the 'number 2' of the Lions is seen by the coach as one of the most important members of the locker room, and that ends up being one of the reasons that leaves the Mirandela native at ease. Should he need to call on Matheus Reis during the derby, Rui Borges believes he will be 100% prepared and available, without being affected by rival fans.

According to information revealed by the newspaper Record, despite the incident in the Portuguese Cup having caused quite a stir, there was never any conversation with Matheus Reis about the subject. Both the coaching staff and the rest of the Sporting structure have complete confidence in the player.

It is worth remembering that, after the incident with Belotti, the Sporting defender was handed a five-match suspension—for that reason, he missed the Super Cup against Benfica on July 31. After the controversy, there were several threats made against his family and official statements released, even though Matheus Reis explained what happened through a message on social media.

In total, since arriving at the Green and Whites from Rio Ave, Matheus Reis has already played 211 matches, during which he scored three goals and provided 10 assists. The athlete is also one of the most versatile in the squad, playing both as a center-back and as a left-back.

Luis Suárez dedicated one of his goals to Matheus Reis:

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