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.
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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
Despite Calleri's potential absence, Sao Paulo's momentum under new management and their keenness to potentially keep pace with Talleres at the top of Group B should see the hosts secure maximum points against a Barcelona side that have hitherto conceded two goals a game while averaging just a goal per game heading into matchday five.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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