Sometimes, the biggest opportunity can come with a hidden cost. Eduardo Quaresma found this out the hard way. His inclusion in Sporting’s starting lineup was a curveball from coach Rui Borges. The young central defender had barely seen the pitch this season. Before this big game, he had only played 91 minutes of competitive football. This lack of match fitness soon caught up with him.
The 23-year-old Portuguese U-21 international visibly struggled. His only other full game this season was against Kairat, way back on Champions League matchday one. He appeared briefly against Famalicão in the league, entering only during stoppage time. Facing the intense pace of the Napoli match was a different beast altogether. At the 67-minute mark, his body simply gave out. He collapsed onto the turf, signaling immediately for a substitution. He felt he had nothing left to give. Coach Rui Borges saw the struggle. He wasted no time. Debast was sent in to replace him, forced to cut his warm-up short and get straight into the action. It was a tough night for Quaresma, a stark reminder of the demands of elite football.