Two major changes possible for Sporting against Estrela da Amadora | OneFootball

Eduardo Quaresma is expected to start for Sporting in the trip to Reboleira, emerging as a strong candidate to take a place in central defence. The Portuguese centre-back could line up alongside Gonçalo Inácio or Ousmane Diomande, at a time when both usual starters are at risk of missing the derby against Benfica if they receive a yellow card against Estrela da Amadora.

At the pre-match press conference, Rui Borges played down the disciplinary issue, but pointed to the need to manage players’ workload during a demanding stage of the schedule. “More than the yellow cards, management is very much related to the physical side. We need energy. It is better to give everything for 30 minutes than not do so for 60 or 70,” explained the Sporting coach.

Eduardo Quaresma also appears to be a logical option because of his physical freshness, since he was not used against Arsenal. His pace could be important in stopping Estrela da Amadora’s counter-attacks, something Rui Borges highlighted. “They look a lot for their forward players, who are quick and technically good. They are a very strong team athletically, on a pitch where the physical side is important,” he said.

There is still doubt over Quaresma’s partner in the centre of defence. Gonçalo Inácio is one of the most-used players and could be rested, which would open the door for Diomande. Even so, the fact that the Portugal international is the only left-footed centre-back keeps open the possibility of him lining up with Quaresma. Despite the rotation, the coach made it clear that the focus is on the present. “There is no point thinking about the next game without thinking about this one,” he said.

In Sporting’s midfield, changes are also expected. Morten Hjulmand returns to the starting XI after suspension, and Daniel Bragança is expected to regain his place in the lineup. João Simões is a doubt and will be reassessed before the match, while Hidemasa Morita could be managed after 90 high-intensity minutes against Arsenal.

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