Sao Paulo host American Mineiro in the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals on Thursday night. The two rivals will play in Morumbi Stadium in Sao Paulo.
The Copa do Brasil quarterfinals are two-legged affairs. This is the stage in which Sao Paulo were eliminated in last season’s tournament. Fortaleza had the honour of knocking Sao Paulo out last term.
America MG were knocked out of the Copa do Brasil last term on penalties in the third round by Criciuma. Mineiro now have two legs separating them with the final four.
The visitors are struggling in Serie A for points ahead of this Copa match. America MG won just two of their last six league games with four ending in defeat. Sao Paulo aren’t much better off in the table despite being unbeaten in six straight Serie A fixtures.
Sao Paulo are on a streak of four straight draws in the league. Thursday’s hosts eliminated Palmeiras in the previous round to reach the quarterfinals. America MG Botafogo over two legs in the round of 16.
These teams played in Serie A in June with Sao Paulo winning 1-0. Patrik’s 34th-minute goal was enough to send Sao Paulo to the win.
Sao Paulo manager Rogerio Ceni has a host of injuries ahead of the cup match. Walce is ruled out with an ACL injury. Robert Arboleda has a fractured ankle. Reinaldo is a doubt with a hamstring strain.
Luan is also nursing a hamstring problem, while Patrik could miss the game with a thigh muscle issue. Andre Anderson is a doubt and Caio is set to miss the fixture with a knee injury.
Ceni’s charges recently drew 3-3 with Goais. He used a 4-4-2 formation. The manager will be hopeful Jonathan Calleri will fit to play as the striker goes into the quarterfinals with 10 Serie A goals.
America MG manager Wagner Mancini used a 4-1-4-1 formation in the team’s recent 1-0 win against Atletico GO. Iago Maidana has three goals this season and leads the team in scoring.
Defender Everaldo is likely to miss out with a muscle problem. As it stands, he is the only player likely to miss the game at the moment for America MG.
The first leg of the quarterfinals between these teams should be close. Just one goal separated them in the first league meeting. This time around, Sao Paulo and American MG should finish nil-nil with neither side able to get the upper hand.