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With the tie completely open, Sao Paulo and Botafogo will meet this Wednesday at the Morumbi stadium in the capital of São Paulo for a place in the semifinals of the 2024 Copa Libertadores, after the 0-0 draw in the first leg.
Sao Paulo left Rio de Janeiro alive, where they were besieged by Botafogo, mainly in the first half, although they managed to keep a clean sheet and now trust in their power at home to reach the semifinals.
Three-time continental champion (1992, 1993 and 2005), Sao Paulo has not played in the Libertadores semifinals since 2016, when they lost 4-1 on aggregate against Colombian Atlético Nacional, who ended up winning the title.
Aware of the importance of the duel, Argentine coach Luis Zubeldía reserved practically his entire starting eleven on Sunday in the 3-1 defeat at home against Inter de Porto Alegre for the Brasileirao.
Sao Paulo is fifth in the Brazilian league, twelve points behind the leader, its rival this Wednesday, Botafogo.
Only the Paraguayan midfielder Damián Bobadilla and the team’s figure, Lucas Moura, started with respect to the team that will take to the field on Wednesday.
Zubeldía hesitates between repeating the same formation from the first leg, with a 3-4-2-1, or using a more offensive formation, with a 4-2-3-1.
In this case, Wellington Rato would enter the left wing of the attack in place of the winger Sabino, while Wellington would delay his position to act in defense.
Without sanctions, the only safe casualties for Sao Paulo are the injured Pablo Maia, Alisson, Rodrigo Nestor, Liziero and Patrick, while Ferrerinha could force his return after more than a month injured.
“We need a different posture than the one we had in Rio. It is a two-game final, the main thing was not to concede a goal. In the playoffs, we need to qualify, not give a show,” said veteran Lucas Moura.
For its part, Botafogo wants to continue its good momentum and make history by reaching the Libertadores semi-finals for the first time with the current format, while fighting for the local league title.
On Saturday, they won 0-1 against Fluminense in the Brasileirao with a goal in injury time from Luiz Henrique. Botafogo is the leader of the tournament with three points more than Palmeiras, its runner-up.
Portuguese coach Arthur Jorge rested several starters ahead of the rematch against Sao Paulo, and is expected to come out with the same eleven with which he played at home.
Proof of the good moment it is experiencing is that four of its players (goalkeeper John, full-back Alex Telles and forwards Igor Jesús and Luiz Henrique) were included in the reserved list of 50 called up for the Brazilian team for the double date in October of the South American qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
The winner of this quarterfinal series will play in the semifinals against the winner of the key between Peñarol and Flamengo, which is defined on Thursday in Montevideo after the 1-0 victory of the Uruguayan team at the Maracaná.
The match will start at 9:30 p.m. local time (00:30 GMT on Thursday) and will be directed by Argentine Darío Herrera.
Possible lineups:
Sao Paulo: Rafael – Rafinha, Robert Arboleda, Alan Franco, Wellington – Luiz Gustavo, Damián Bobadilla – Rato, Lucas, William Gomes – Calleri. Coach: Luis Zubeldia
Botafogo: John – Vitinho, Bastos, Alexander Barboza, Alex Telles – Gregores, Marlon – Luiz Henrique, Jefferson Savarino, Thiago Almada – Igor Jesús. DT: Arthur Jorge.
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