The buzz of Champions League football is back at Alvalade. Sporting wrapped up its second-to-last training session on Tuesday morning. They are getting ready to host Kairat Almaty in their first group stage match. But coach Rui Borges is still facing a big challenge: a long list of sidelined players.
Six players remain under the care of the club’s performance unit. This includes Rui Silva, Diomande, Morita, Geny Catamo, Nuno Santos, and Daniel Bragança. It’s a significant hit to the team’s depth just before a major European test.
Among those on the injury list, there’s a slim chance two players might return. Rui Silva is nursing a hematoma in his left hand. Diomande is recovering from a muscle injury in his right thigh. Both could potentially be fit for the final training session before the Kairat match.
To fill these gaps, Borges called up three promising youngsters from the academy. Lucas Taibo, a strong center-back, Salvador Blopa, a quick winger, and Rafael Nel, a sharp forward, all joined the first team for training. This shows the coach’s trust in the club’s youth system.
The team will hit the training pitch again on Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM. This session will take place at the professional wing of the Academy, with the first fifteen minutes open to the media. Later, at 6:30 PM, Rui Borges and a selected player will speak to the press. They will preview the Kairat game at the Artur Agostinho auditorium in José Alvalade Stadium.
Sporting will finally face the Kazakh club at home on Thursday. The Champions League opener kicks off at 8:00 PM.