Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Sao Paulovs.Barcelona

sportsmole.co.uk, 14 May 2024, 13:10
On Thursday night, the penultimate round of the Copa Libertadores group stage sees second-placed Sao Paulo host Ecuadorian outfit Barcelona SC at Estadio Cicero Pompeu de Toledo.

While qualification from Group B is assured for the Brazilian side, finishing in first place remains a possibility, and they hope to claim maximum points against the second-bottom visitors to put them in a promising position before the concluding round of matches.

Match preview

Sao Paulo have recovered commendably to secure qualification to the Copa Libertadores knockout rounds, overcoming a false start in their opening Group B fixture against Talleres de Cordoba.

That loss to the Argentine club meant the Faith Team needed positive results to avoid exiting the continental competition early despite entering as one of the top seeds.

That defeat at the hands of Talleres and a poor domestic start saw Thiago Carpini relieved of his duties after three months, with Luis Zubeldia taking charge on April 22. Sao Paulo have witnessed an uptick in results since, going undefeated in six matches, including three Copa Libertadores matches to secure passage into the round of 16.

Regardless, five wins and a draw — three on the trot on the continent — have not been enough to supplant Talleres in the standings due to the latter avoiding defeat in their games. The Argentine side were close to losing in matchday two, but a 96th-minute leveller from Juan Rodriguez saw them level at the death against Barcelona.

The upshot of those results leaves Zubeldia's men one point adrift of the table-topping club, setting up Group B for a potentially exciting culmination as both sides battle for first in the final group game.

Barcelona (two points) are undoubtedly out of contention for a top-two spot, but the Ecuadorian side can stay on the continent by securing third place in their section.

Toreros currently occupy that position, but they must prevent bottom Cobresal from overtaking them in the standings in the final two games.

With only one point separating third from fourth, Ariel Holan's men seek a positive result in their game or hope for a Talleres victory against the Chilean club to retain their position heading into matchday six's decisive match for third place in Group B.

However, Holan has gone two games without maximum points after initially securing back-to-back wins following his appointment at the backend of April.

The first defeat of the 63-year-old's embryonic reign came away at the table-toppers in Group B, and the expectation for their visit to Morumbi is another loss for the Ecuadorians, beaten 2-0 in the reverse fixture on April 26.

Sao Paulo Copa Libertadores form:

L

W

W

W

Sao Paulo form (all competitions):

W

W

D

W

W

W

Barcelona SC Copa Libertadores form:

D

D

L

L

Barcelona SC form (all competitions):

Team News

Jonathan Calleri (calf) was left out of the Sao Paulo squad that defeated Fluminense on Monday night, and it remains to be seen if the forward features when the Brazilian side host Barcelona. Calleri has netted in victories over Cobresal and the reverse fixture against this week's opponents, taking him to three goals in this year's competition.

While Lucas Moura (thigh) could be touch-and-go for the hosts, James Rodriguez (muscle), Pablo Maia (thigh), Rafinha (leg) and Wellington Rato (ankle) are expected to miss out this week.

Despite Barcelona's struggles for goals in this year's competition, Damian Diaz has netted 50% of the team's four goals, and he hopes to come up trumps on Thursday night. Diaz set up a game-saving assist for Toreros in Monday's 1-1 league draw with Aucas.

Franklin Guerra tore ligaments in February, and the centre-back remains the Ecuadorian club's only reported long-term absentee.

Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:

Rafael; Vinicius, Arboleda, Franco, Patryck; Alisson, Bobadilla; Araujo, Silva, Ferreira; Luciano

Barcelona SC possible starting lineup:

Burrai; Rangel, Ramirez, Sosa, Chala; Corozo, Leonai, Gaibor, Rojas; Diaz; Fydriszewski

We say: Sao Paulo 2-0 Barcelona SC

Previews by email

Top News

26 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly considering making a move for Hull City forward Jaden Philogene during this summer's transfer window. 26 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Euro 2024 will enter the last knockings of the group stage on Wednesday night, and while 11 of the last 16 places have already been accounted for, the battle for the remaining slots is still red hot. 26 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erik ten Hag is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract at Manchester United, with the finer details of the fresh agreement expected to be finalised 'this week'. 26 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town and Burnley - two clubs relegated from the Premier League - will square off on the opening day of the 2024-25 Championship season. 26 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 26 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Slovakia vs. Romania (Wednesday, 5.00pm) In the most hotly-contested group at Euro 2024, third-placed Slovakia are set to face leaders Romania on Wednesday in Group E at Deutsche Bank Park in each side's final group stage game, and the winner could qualify for the knockout rounds in first place. 26 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham have reportedly stood firm on their asking price for Bayern Munich target Joao Palhinha. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has encouraged head coach Arne Slot to sign a new "number six" in the summer transfer window. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to snap their four-match winless run, Sao Paulo play host to Criciuma at the Estadio do Morumbi in round 12 of the Brasileiro Serie A on Wednesday. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly offered out-of-favour winger Jadon Sancho to La Liga giants Barcelona this summer. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly open to selling midfielder Ilkay Gundogan this summer amid concerns over their financial situation. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly made contact with Barcelona to inform them that they expect to sign Marc Guiu. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Denmark were evidently riding high on confidence after their impressive performance against England, as they pressed Serbia aggressively to good effect from the front and dictated the tempo of the game in possess with patient build-up play, picking their moments to get players into the opposing box. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have finished top of Group C at Euro 2024 despite playing out a drab 0-0 draw with Slovenia at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne on Tuesday night. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final round of Euro 2024 group matches is in full swing as teams battle it out to reach the knockout rounds in Germany. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Austria have qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2024 as Group D winners after beating the Netherlands 3-2 in a thriller at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Tuesday evening. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France missed out on top spot in Group D after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Poland despite Kylian Mbappe scoring his first goal at a European Championship. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England reached the Euro 2024 knockout rounds on Monday after Spain claimed a 1-0 victory in their final group game against Albania. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug has reportedly been identified as a summer transfer target by fellow Bundesliga club Stuttgart. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have announced that they have completed the signing of highly-rated Eric da Silva Moreira. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The USA can potentially qualify for the knockout stage of the Copa America on Thursday when they face Panama in matchday two action at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will reportedly face competition from a Champions League club if they pursue a deal for Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have been handed a major boost in their efforts to sign Guido Rodriguez. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fluminense and Vitoria, both struggling at the foot of the 2024 Brasileiro Serie A table, go head-to-head on Thursday at the Maracana. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have confirmed that Nacho will be leaving the club at the end of this month. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been handed a major boost in their efforts to sign Nottingham Forest defender Murillo. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in the signing of Roma attacker Paulo Dybala this summer. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea reportedly intend to send Alfie Gilchrist out on loan for the 2024-25 campaign. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton have reportedly reached an agreement with Marseille to sign striker Iliman Ndiaye.