The tendency is for the pair to start the match in the reserve; In any case, the presence of players will only be confirmed by curly on the eve of the match
The need to beat LDU for at least two goals difference on Thursday (25), to ensure the vacancy to the semifinal. For the duel at Morumbi, it should have two heavy reinforcements in the reserve bench, which may help the team to reverse the disadvantage in Ecuador: and, removed by injury for months, have been training with the cast.
The tendency is for the pair to start the match in the reserve. In any case, the presence of Oscar and Lucas will only be confirmed by curly on the eve of the match, as they are in different stages in the recovery of their respective injuries.
Oscar is more advanced and trained by the cast in recent days. Even there was the possibility of him joining the group in the match against, on Sunday, but Crespo chose to preserve him. He has not entered the field since July, when he faced OE he had to be replaced after 15 minutes with a fracture on L1, L2 and L3 vertebrae.
Lucas Moura has been away for a month and had to undergo an arthroscopy in his right knee after being affected by persistent pain that disrupted his field performance this season. In the last training sessions, the attacker has reacted well to treatment and is not discarded by curly if he needs to enter a few minutes this week.
Among the two, Oscar is the one who is most likely to start the match, as he works with the cast longer and is at a rapid pace in his recovery. Lucas, even if he goes to the field, would only be placed by curly in case of need, in a scenario that the coach needs to reinforce the offensive sector in the minutes to seek the classification. If the victory is assured, the striker is unlikely to enter the second half.
Since 1993, Sao Paulo has not reversed a two goals in the Libertadores departure. Since the competition has adopted direct confrontations and the knockout format, São Paulo has lost the outward match on ten occasions-not including LDU. By two goals difference, in two of these games: Atletico Nacional, in the semi of 2016, in Morumbi, and Newell´s Old Boys, in the eighth of 1993, this being the last occasion that guaranteed the classification.
Crespo works to guarantee the classification this Thursday, from 19h (Brasília), in Morumbi. The team seeks to return to a semifinal of Libertadores for the first time since 2016, as well as overcoming last season’s trauma, when it was eliminated on penalties by Botafogo at home, having to win by any score to secure the vacancy.
*With information from Estadão Content
Posted by Nátaly Tenório
