Sporting Calls Up Youth Talents as Injury Crisis Deepens Ahead of Estoril Clash

Sporting CP's head coach Rui Borges has once again turned to the club's reserve squad to navigate a mounting injury crisis, calling up 21-year-old midfielder Samuel Justo and 22-year-old Brazilian center-back Rômulo Júnior to train with the first team as preparations begin for Friday's league clash against Estoril at José Alvalade stadium.

The Portugal-based defending champions returned to their Alcochete training complex on Tuesday morning following a two-day break after a commanding 3-0 victory over Moreirense at the Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas stadium. With three key players still sidelined and critical fixtures looming across three competitions, the technical staff is leaning heavily on academy depth.

Three Key Absences Continue

The medical report remains unchanged for the trio of unavailable players. Belgian center-back Zeno Debast has been out since January 24 with a ligament injury in his left knee, missing six consecutive matches. His return is tentatively scheduled for March 10, though club sources indicate that timeline could shift depending on rehabilitation progress.

Georgian midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili is dealing with a traumatic knock and is expected to miss his fourth straight game, including Friday's fixture. Meanwhile, Portuguese winger Geovany Quenda, who suffered a fractured fifth metatarso in his right foot during December's Lisbon derby against Benfica, continues his recovery largely at Chelsea's training facilities in London. The 17-year-old has a pre-agreement to join the Premier League club in July 2026 and is targeting a March return to Sporting before his summer transfer.

Why This Matters:

• Debast has been a defensive anchor since arriving from Anderlecht; his absence forces tactical adjustments in the back line.

• Quenda's early-season breakout made him one of Europe's most-watched teenagers before injury halted his momentum.

• Kochorashvili, though not a regular starter, provided midfield depth the squad now lacks in a congested fixture calendar.

Youth Promotion as Strategic Response

Rômulo Júnior arrived at Sporting B on loan from Brazilian side Atlético Mineiro in August 2025, bringing first-team experience from Brazil's top division—10 appearances and one goal in 2024. The agreement includes a purchase option, signaling long-term interest from the Lisbon club. He has logged 777 minutes across 12 matches in the Liga Portugal 2 this season and has publicly stated his ambition to "reach the main squad." Described by scouts as aggressive, strong in the air, and possessing excellent long-range passing, the 1.88m defender offers physicality that could prove valuable against deep-lying opposition.

Samuel Justo has been with Sporting's academy since 2013 and signed his first professional contract in October 2020. The midfielder spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Casa Pia, where he featured in 21 Primeira Liga matches and scored once. After a brief stint at Farense in early 2025, he returned to Sporting B for the current season and has been a mainstay, accumulating 1,719 minutes, two goals, five yellow cards, and one red card. Justo has represented Portugal at under-16, under-18, under-19, and under-20 levels and holds a contract through June 30, 2027.

Both players trained with the senior group Tuesday and are scheduled to participate in Wednesday's session, though neither is guaranteed a matchday squad slot.

What This Means for Residents

For supporters attending Friday's 8:45 PM kickoff at José Alvalade, the match against Estoril represents a crucial opportunity to close the gap on league leaders FC Porto, who sit four points clear with 62 points after 23 rounds. Porto host Arouca on the same evening, while third-place Benfica (55 points, undefeated) face Gil Vicente on Monday in Barcelos.

Sporting's recent dominance over Estoril—nine wins in the last 10 meetings, including a 1-0 away victory in September—suggests a favorable outcome. However, the club's crowded schedule demands careful squad rotation. Next Tuesday, March 3, Borges' side host FC Porto at 8:45 PM in the first leg of the Taça de Portugal semifinals, with the return fixture at the Dragão stadium scheduled for late April.

Beyond domestic concerns, Sporting awaits Friday's Champions League Round of 16 draw, which will pair them with one of four potential opponents: Inter Milan, Bodø/Glimt, Real Madrid, or crosstown rivals Benfica. The Italian and Norwegian clubs meet Tuesday in Milan, with Inter attempting to overturn a surprising 3-1 first-leg deficit. On Wednesday, Benfica travel to the Santiago Bernabéu seeking to reverse a 1-0 loss inflicted by a Vinícius Júnior strike at the Estádio da Luz last week.

Title Race Dynamics

The 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign, which began in August 2024 and concludes in May 2025, has evolved into a three-way battle unprecedented in recent Portuguese football. Porto's 20 victories, two draws, and one defeat have them atop the standings, but Sporting's 18-4-1 record keeps them within striking distance. Benfica's unbeaten run (16-7-0) adds a third dimension to the race, with all three clubs mathematically capable of lifting the trophy.

Sporting captured their 21st league title last season and are aiming to become the first team since Porto's 2012-2014 run to secure three consecutive championships. Coach Borges, who took charge earlier this season, has emphasized the volatility of title races, noting that "in football, everything changes"—a reference to past collapses where substantial leads evaporated in the final stretch.

Broader Squad Context

The technical staff led by Borges includes assistant coaches Tiago Aguiar and Ricardo Chaves, physical trainers Luís Neto, Fernando Morato, and Gonçalo Álvaro, analyst José Meireles, and goalkeeper coaches Tiago Ferreira and Hugo Tecelão. This group has managed squad fitness and tactical preparation amid a schedule that includes league, cup, and European commitments.

Forward Fotis Ioannidis, who returned from injury rehabilitation ahead of the Moreirense match, provides attacking depth, though midfielder Pedro Gonçalves served a one-match suspension for that fixture and is available for selection Friday.

The integration of B-team players has become a recurring theme under Borges, who has consistently praised the academy pipeline as essential to the club's model. With Sporting B competing in the second tier for the first time in years, the reserve squad operates as a genuine proving ground rather than a purely developmental environment.

Looking Ahead

Wednesday's training session will determine the final squad list for the Estoril encounter, with particular attention on whether Kochorashvili might recover in time for inclusion. Club sources indicated Tuesday that the Georgian midfielder held "some hope" of being available, though starting him remains unlikely given the short turnaround.

For fans planning to attend matches at José Alvalade, ticket availability for the Porto cup semifinal is already limited, with the club encouraging advance purchases through official channels. The domestic cup represents Sporting's best path to silverware this season alongside the league title, making the two-legged affair against Porto a defining moment in the campaign.

The Liga Portugal 2 fixture schedule has been adjusted to accommodate international breaks, meaning Sporting B will not play this weekend, allowing Rômulo and Justo to remain with the senior group without disrupting their own competitive rhythm.

As the calendar enters March, Sporting faces 13 league matches, at least two cup games, and potentially four Champions League fixtures if they advance past the Round of 16. Managing personnel amid injuries will test the depth Borges inherited and the readiness of academy graduates to step into high-pressure environments.