Vitória debuts this Friday (3) in the Copa São Paulo: see where to watch

The São Paulo Junior Football Cup has started and Vitória debuts in Brazil’s biggest youth competition this Friday (3). The red-black team faces São José-RS, in the first round of group eight, at 3pm. The match will be broadcast on SporTV.

In addition to the team from Rio Grande do Sul, Leão will also face Comercial-SP and Retrô during the first phase. All group games take place at the José Vessi Municipal Stadium, in the city of Cravinhos. The top two from each of the 32 groups in the competition advance to the knockout stages. The clash against Retrô takes place next Monday (6), while the game against Comercial-SP is scheduled for Thursday (9).

In total, 22 players and 13 professionals from the coaching staff were listed for the Copinha. The best-known names of the generation, however, will be absent from the squad led by coach Laelson Lopes. Names like Luís Miguel, Lawan, Edenilson, Andrei, Riquelme and Emerson appear at Toca do Leão to compete in the first rounds of the Bahian Championship.

Among the players that red and black fans should keep a closer eye on, goalkeeper Davi Barbosa is playing in his second Copainha and has already trained with the professional squad. The player is a starter for the under-20s and participated in the campaign in the last Brazilian Aspirants Championship. Midfielder Wanderson Papaterra is another one to watch. The 2024 player took to the field in 10 matches for Itabuna in Série D and in seven matches for Leão’s under-23 team. The 19-year-old midfielder has also been loaned to Internacional.

In 2024, Vitória was in group 30 of the competition and finished second in the group stage, with five points from one victory and two draws. In the second phase, Leão’s opponent was Vasco. The red and black team thrashed their Rio rivals 4-1, advancing to the third phase of the competition, when they were eliminated by Ibrachina on penalties. Striker Fábio Soares, the team’s standout player at the time, took to the field five times last season for the professional team.

Leão’s first participation in the tournament was in 1983. Ten years later, they had their best campaign in the Copinha. The team that reached the semifinals had goalkeeper Dida, midfielder Vampeta and midfielder Paulo Isidoro. Later that year, the players revealed by the red and black team were part of the campaign that ended as runners-up in the Brazilian Championship.

Goalkeepers – David Barbosa and Ezequiel

Sides – Gean, Paulo and Pedro Henrique

Defenders – Jadson, Kauan Santos and Luis Filipe

Midfielders – Gerson Neto, Hiago Moura, Italo Santana, Lucas Lohan, Ricardo, Vitinho and Wanderson Papaterra

Attackers – Alex, Emanoel, Henri, Marcos Cabrobó, Mizael, Paulo Roberto and Rodrigo Dias