Preview: Sao Paulo vs Athletico Paranaense – prediction, team news, schedule

Sao Paulo welcomed Athletico-PR at the Estadio Cicero de Souza Marques in Thursday’s Brasileiro match, the match was moved from Morumbis due to Harry Styles’ series of concerts at the stadium.

The visitors enter the competition in fifth place with 30 points and are enjoying a strong run of form, while Sao Paulo are in eighth place with 25 points after winning just one of their last five league games.

Game preview

Despite being at home, the Tricolor will be playing “away from home”, so it does not have the opportunity to have the full support of its fans with the return of the Brazilian Championship.

São Paulo returns to action this season at a critical time. Before the World Cup break, Dorival Junior’s team lost 1-0 to Remo, at the Estadio Banpara Baenao, a result that confirmed three defeats and two draws in the last five rounds of the Brazilian Championship, without a single win during that time.

In the first stage of the national competition, the numbers of the Tricolor are not encouraging. This team has been inconsistent, scoring 23 goals and conceding 20 in 18 games, with a difference of just three goals.

To strengthen the squad, the Sao Paulo board has completed the signing of four new players: striker Vitor Sa, defensive midfielder Newton, right-back Aurelio Buta and defender Domingos Duarte.

On the other hand, Athletico-PR comes into the game as a rising team. Furacao closed the first half of the Brazilian Championship with victories over Mirassol and Remo, and a draw against Flamengo, posting a record of three wins and two draws in their last five games before the break.

Facing Sao Paulo, Furacao will have two key players back: defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo and defender Leo Derik, who missed the closing rounds of the first half of the season, cleared and returned to training without restrictions, taking advantage of the World Cup break to speed up their recovery.

One of the most prominent players in Athletico-PR is striker Kevin Viveros, who is the top scorer this season, with 11 goals.

In the Brazilian Championship table, the gap between the two teams is only five points, making this match big and closely fought this Wednesday, July 22. Athletico-PR is still fighting for a place in the top three, while Sao Paulo aims to climb from eighth place.

It is worth remembering that the recent head-to-head has been an even one, although with a slight edge for the Tricolor: in the last five official meetings, Sao Paulo won twice, as did Athletico-PR, with one draw.

Sao Paulo Brasileiro form:

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Sao Paulo form (all competitions):

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Form of Athletico Paranaense Brasileiro:

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Athletico Paranaense form (all competitions):

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Team News

© Imago

São Paulo has no suspended players for this game, but the treatment room is always worried about Dorival Junior. Sabino is in the final stages of recovery from a right hamstring injury and is still doubtful.

Lucas Moura is still out, there is no date when he will return, and the team is also without Cedric Soares, Luan, Young and Paulinho, all of whom have been left out of the first team squad due to contractual or disciplinary reasons, and are not expected to stay in the Tricolor in the second half of the season.

Athletico-PR returns to the Brazilian Championship with a few people absent, their treatment room empty. Midfielder Bruno Zapelli injured his ankle in a friendly against RB Bragantino and is unavailable. Kevin Viveros, who is the leading scorer in the Brazilian Championship with 11 goals, has recovered from his knee and is expected to start.

During the World Cup break, Athletico-PR strengthened its squad in the transfer window, with defender Bruno Baldini, striker Jorge Rivaldo, defender Dantas and right-back Gilberto all included in the squad.

Sao Paulo is likely to start with:

Raphael; Lucas Ramon, Rafael Toloi, Sabino, Wendell; Pablo Maia, Danielzinho; Luciano, Artur, Ferreirinha; Jonathan Calleri. Coach: Dorival Junior.

Athletico Paranaense likely to qualify:

Santos; Arthur Dias, Aguirre, Esquivel; Gilberto, Jadson, Luiz Gustavo, Joao Cruz, Mendoza; Leozinho, Viveros. Coach: Odair Hellmann.

We say: Sao Paulo 1-1 Athletico Paranaense

Athletico-PR appear to be the most stable team heading into the tournament, with an almost fully fit squad and strong momentum ahead of the league break, things that should help them find the net away from home.

Although the overall record is highly contested, Athletico-PR have won the last two meetings, in the Brasileiro and Copa do Brasil, although Sao Paulo’s home advantage and newcomers should ensure they remain in contention.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.