Portuguese handball club Sporting CP faces a grueling schedule, balancing a tightly packed domestic and European calendar with looming international commitments for its key players.
The team will host Avanca on Friday in the ninth round of the Portuguese Championship, just one day after securing a 34-30 victory against Norway’s Koldstad in Trondheim on Wednesday. Sporting maintains an undefeated lead in the national championship, securing top position with a perfect record.
In European competition, Sporting’s recent win marked their second consecutive triumph, propelling them to third place in Group A. The club enters the Avanca match as clear favorites.
Despite the demanding pace, a forthcoming international break offers a chance for players to recover from their heavy workload. Star left-back Martim Costa, who missed the European clash in Norway, is currently listed as doubtful for the upcoming match against ArtÃstica de Avanca.
Costa’s participation in the national team is also uncertain. National coach Paulo Pereira is set to announce his squad on Friday for two friendly matches against Egypt. These games will be played on October 30 at 8:00 PM local time and November 1 at 4:00 PM local time.
The friendlies are part of the International Terras do Demo Tournament, officially presented Thursday, and will be held at the Municipal Pavilion of Moimenta da Beira. Sporting’s Egyptian goalkeeper, Mohamed Aly, is expected to join the Egyptian national squad for these encounters.
The matches against Egypt serve as preparation for the Euro 2026 tournament. Portugal is slated to compete in Group B in Herning, Denmark, where they will face the host nation, Romania, and North Macedonia in January.