Portuguese football club Nacional is grappling with a severe defensive crisis, with coach Tiago Margarido facing depleted options following a recent player expulsion and a string of injuries ahead of an upcoming league match.
Defender Zé Vítor will miss the crucial fixture against Amadora after receiving a red card from accumulated yellows during Nacional’s last game against Famalicão. His absence compounds an already dire situation for the team’s backline.
Two other central defenders, Ulisses and Ivanildo Fernandes, are also unavailable due to ongoing injuries, severely limiting Margarido’s selection choices.
The coach will primarily rely on Léo Santos in central defense. Potential partners include young Francisco Gonçalves, who has limited league experience with just 11 minutes against Sp. Braga this season, or adapted players such as Matheus Dias or José Gomes.
Adding to the club’s injury woes, Laabidi and Pablo Ruan are scheduled for medical examinations to assess the severity of injuries that kept them out of Saturday’s match.
Lucas França and Miguel Baeza are also among several players continuing their recovery from various injuries.
Nacional players returned to training Monday morning after a day off. Coach Margarido is set to lead a closed-door session at Estádio da Madeira at 10:30 AM local time as the team prepares for the upcoming challenge.