Needing just a single point to clinch first place, Sao Paulo welcome Talleres to MorumBIS on Tuesday in the final group stage fixture for both sides at the Copa Libertadores.
A late equaliser on matchday five enabled the Brazilians to claim a 1-1 draw with Club Libertad and remain three points above them, while Talleres moved ahead of Alianza Lima for third after beating them 2-0.
Match preview
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They like to leave it late, but Sao Paulo always seem to thrive in a match's latter stages, particularly in this year's competition.
Half of their goals scored in the Libertadores group phase have come beyond the 75th minute of play, one of which was a winner on matchday one (1-0 over Talleres) and the other earned them a point the last time out.
Luis Zubeldia's men have not lost a home game since February when Ponte Preta beat them 2-1 in Paulista A1 action, though they have not won either of their matches played at MorumBIS in the tournament this year.
If they avoid defeat on Tuesday, it would mark the first time that Sao Paulo will finish the group stage undefeated since 2005, when they last lifted the trophy.
After five group fixtures, Soberano have yet to concede a single goal in the opening half, giving up the joint-fewest goals in this phase of the tournament.
Sao Paulo have never lost to Talleres at home in this competition, posting two clean sheets against them, including a 2-0 triumph in the group stage a year ago.
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Talleres will exit the Copa Libertadores early, though a victory in this upcoming clash could still salvage something vital for this club.
Claiming maximum points on Tuesday could see them claim third spot in the group and a place in the Copa Sudamericana, unless Lima do the same and there is a two-goal swing in the Peruvians favour.
Caretaker manager Mariano Levisman has got some positive results early into his tenure, unbeaten in his two matches in charge, without a goal conceded.
Talleres have lost their last three Libertadores group contests away from home and have not won a match in normal time as the visitors since defeating San Martin on matchday five of the Argentine Primera Division campaign in February.
Dating back to the 2021 edition of this tournament, Talleres are unbeaten in their last six group fixtures when netting in the opening half.
La T have never won a match played on Brazilian soil in this competition, with their best result being a 0-0 draw with Sao Paulo at MorumBIS in the 2019 qualifying round.
Team News
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Knee issues kept Ruan and Lucas Moura on the Sao Paulo sidelines on matchday five, while Igor Vinicius was dealing with a back problem.
An ankle injury forced Henrique Carmo out of that contest, Jonathan Calleri was unavailable due to a cruciate ligament problem, Luiz Gustavo had a lung contusion and Alisson will miss this match because of a red card suspension.
Minutes after coming on for Lucas Ferreira, Lucca Marques netted the equaliser for Tricolor Paulista, his first of the tournament.
Talleres's Emanuel Reynoso and Guido Herrera missed their previous Libertadores match with muscle strains, while Matias Catalan was still recovering from a cruciate ligament tear and Gaston Benavidez sat out with an ankle sprain.
From matchday four to five, we saw three new faces in their starting 11, with Augusto Schott, Valentin Depietri and Rick replacing Benavidez, Blas Riveros and Nahuel Bustos.
Ruben Botta netted the winner for them against Alianza Lima, with Depietri also scoring and Javier Burrai making six stops for a clean sheet.
Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:
Rafael; Cedric, Arboleda, Franco, Diaz; Antonio, Maia; Rodriguinho, Oscar, Ferreirinha; Silva
Talleres possible starting lineup:
Burrai; Schott, Fernandez, Portillo, Navarro; Galarza, Portilla; Depietri, Botta, Ortegoza; Girotti
We say: Sao Paulo 1-0 Talleres
Both sides have something to play for, and it should be a close game, but we trust the Brazilians' experience and Zubeldia's resourcefulness will find a way to win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
