Sporting opens 2026/27 I Liga at Estrela da Amadora as Borges manages Suárez row and depleted squad

Season opener at Reboleira

Sporting will open the 2026/27 I Liga season on Saturday, 8 August, visiting Estrela da Amadora at the Estádio José Gomes in Reboleira. Kickoff is set for 20:30 mainland Portugal time, with referee João Gonçalves of the AF Porto taking charge. The fixture marks the first jornada for both clubs and makes Sporting the earliest of Portugal's three traditional powers to begin the campaign. Rui Borges's side starts as national runner-up, having lost the title to FC Porto last season and fallen short of a three-peat. The coach told reporters at the Cidade Desportiva in Alcochete on Friday that the pressure to reclaim silverware remains unchanged from day one of his career.

Suárez training incident

The buildup was dominated by reports of an incident involving forward Luis Suárez during Wednesday's training session. Borges firmly dismissed the controversy, describing what he called a routine moment of frustration after a 10-versus-10 drill.

Absolutely nothing happened. Simply, the training ended, he was frustrated with what had happened in training, went straight to the locker room and only had to do a complementary training of a minute or two. I called him, he returned, calmly did what he had to do and came back inside. There is no case at all.

Borges confirmed there is no disciplinary process against the Colombian because he did not disrespect anyone, and called some of what was published "ridiculous." He acknowledged that Suárez is not yet at his best after playing 90 minutes in consecutive matches and participating in the World Cup, saying the demanding season has taken a toll on his body. Suárez is expected to begin on the bench, with Ioannidis starting in attack. The coach did not confirm that lineup but admitted the forward is still searching for his best form.

Squad availability and transfers

Several players will miss the match. Maxi Araújo is suspended, while Zeno Debast, Ibrahima Ba, Nuno Santos, João Simões and Salvador Blopa are injured. Pedro Gonçalves and Daniel Bragança are excluded by choice, with Borges confirming both are seeking new challenges after long tenures at the club.

They themselves want other challenges, because they have been here for many years. They haven't lost the will to win, directly, but settling in, sometimes a bit indirectly, happens.

Ousmane Diomande, who was close to a move to Nottingham Forest that ultimately fell through, is available and called up. Borges said he is "zero concerned" about transfer noise surrounding the Ivorian defender, adding that until the window closes there will be plenty of speculation around Sporting's players. The coach is expected to field four center-backs in the matchday squad, with Eduardo Quaresma and Gonçalo Inácio starting and Diomande and Eduardo Felicíssimo as bench options. Felicíssimo, who impressed in preseason, can also serve as a midfield alternative.

Captains and new arrivals

The club's captaincy group for the new season has been defined, with Gonçalo Inácio inheriting the armband from Hjulmand and Maxi Araújo elevated to the group alongside Quaresma, Nuno Santos and Bragança. Borges also praised new signing Doumbia, describing him as a young player with enormous potential whom the club moved early to secure, knowing they would not have a chance at season's end. The coach rejected the notion of an "end of cycle" at the club but acknowledged that changes were necessary by mutual agreement between club and players, referencing president Frederico Varandas's comments after the Portugal Cup final defeat.