A BOLA – Palhinha and Paulinho straight to eleven (Sporting)

Straw, Paulinho and… nine more. The midfielder and forward, Portuguese internationals, are back in Sporting’s squad, with direct entry into Rúben Amorim’s starting eleven for tonight’s match, against Gil Vicente, in Barcelos.

João Palhinha, it should be remembered, suffered a muscle injury in the posterior region of his right thigh in the game of the 12th round, against Tondela, having been substituted in the 67th minute. The derby against Benfica, the game with Ajax, of the Champions League, the reception of Boavista, and the match, in the middle of the week, with Penafiel, of the League Cup, failed.

At least another week of treatment was expected, but in the wake of the victory (1-0) that sealed the presence of the lions in the Final Four of the League Cup, Palhinha was reinstated. He did two training sessions at the Academy, presented himself at 100% and was tested in the starting eleven planned by Rúben Amorim. Paulinho is the one who did not go to the test at eleven but is waiting, today, for the last negative test on Covid-19 to travel immediately to Barcelos. The striker, it should be remembered, tested positive for the new coronavirus on the return of the lions from the Netherlands, on the 8th, and was immediately isolated. Already without symptoms, training at home, Paulinho is today the 10th day of mandatory prophylactic isolation and, having been discharged, travels immediately to join the internship and start at night.

Read more in the print edition and digital of THE BALL.

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