Coach Tiago Margarido promised big changes. He’s shaking up Nacional’s starting lineup for their tough trip to FC Porto. It seems winger Pablo Ruan will step onto the field. He’s back after serving a suspension for a red card he received against Sporting. Now, Ruan will take Witi’s spot, as Witi only got back to Madeira on Wednesday.
The midfield also looks set for a refresh. Midfielder Laabidi seems to be another player who will miss out. This will make way for Filipe Soares to take his place. There’s also buzz around attacking midfielder Daniel Júnior, who might get his first call-up to the squad.
The team has already faced some hurdles off the pitch. Nacional trained yesterday, right after landing in Porto. Getting there wasn’t entirely smooth. TAP, the airline, changed the plane meant for the “black and whites.” This last-minute switch meant extra costs for the club, adding about €200 for each passenger.