Sporting is grappling with a reduced squad due to lingering injuries as it finalizes preparations for Saturday’s league clash against Santa Clara. The team returned to work at the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy this morning for the 11th matchday of the championship.
Coach Rui Borges will be without four key players for the away fixture in the Azores. Daniel Bragança, Nuno Santos, Debast, and Fresneda remain on the medical bulletin and are unavailable.
Despite ongoing injury concerns, forward Luis Suárez trained normally with the main group. This comes after he played and trained with protection on his right knee last week following a knock sustained in a previous match against Alverca.
Players who started in Sporting’s 1-1 Champions League draw against Juventus underwent recovery work in the gym. The remaining squad members trained on the pitch under Borges’ direction.
The team’s final training session before the game is scheduled for Friday morning, which will be the only one with all available players. Following this, Borges is set to hold a pre-match press conference at 12:15 PM local time in Alcochete. The squad will then depart from Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport for the Azores on Friday afternoon.