FC Porto footballer Martim Fernandes has suffered a bout of gastroenteritis and missed today’s training session in preparation for Thursday’s Europa League round of 16 first leg against German side Stuttgart, the club announced.
On the eve of the squad’s departure to Germany, the player did not take part in the morning session held at the Jorge Costa Training and Sports Development Centre in Olival, which marked the team’s return following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Benfica in the Primeira Liga.
Martim Fernandes thus joins Nehuén Pérez, Luuk de Jong and Samu on the Porto injury list, putting his availability for the European tie in doubt. Defenders Luís Gomes and António Ribeiro, midfielders Tiago Silva, André Oliveira and Bernardo Lima, forwards André Miranda and Trafim Melnichenka from the B team, and junior player Filipe Sousa also trained today under the direction of Francesco Farioli.
Read more: FC Porto to face Stuttgart and Sporting Braga to play Ferencváros in Europa League Round of 16
On Wednesday, FC Porto will hold a final training session at Olival at 10:30 before departing for Stuttgart at 15:00, with the pre-match press conference at the MHP Arena scheduled for 20:00 local time (19:00 in Lisbon). Porto face Stuttgart in the Europa League round of 16 first leg on Thursday, with kick-off at 18:45 local time (17:45 in Lisbon), refereed by Lithuanian official Donatas Rumsas.
