After the latest instructions and tactical and technical activities at the Barra Funda CT, the São Paulo squad travels to Rio de Janeiro this Saturday (16) for the final of the Copa do Brasil against Flamengo, tomorrow (17), at Maracanã. One of the doubts for the squad due to physical reasons, Ecuadorian defender Robert Arboleda traveled with the Tricolor delegation and could appear among the starters.
– The São Paulo squad concluded this Saturday morning (16) the preparation for the first game of the Copa do Brasil final, against Flamengo, which will be played at 4pm (Brasília time) this Sunday (17), at Maracanã. Coach Dorival Júnior started the day’s work by showing a video to the athletes. On the pitch, after the warm-up, the coach and his committee led technical and tactical activities, as well as a set-piece rehearsal. Defender Arboleda participated in part of the work with the group and complemented his daily activity with a period of treatment for fibrosis in his left thigh. He is part of the delegation that travels to Rio de Janeiro in the afternoon – São Paulo wrote in a note.
Ready to start the decision for @CopaDoBrasilCBF! # VamosSãoPaulo
Rubens Chiri / saopaulofc pic.twitter.com/1Bp1IV2hdC
— São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC) September 16, 2023
The defender was a doubt because he was injured last Tuesday (12) in a match for the Ecuadorian team in the World Cup qualifiers. With pain in his thigh, Arboleda was replaced on a stretcher 15 minutes into the second half. In São Paulo, tests were carried out and no injuries were found, but precautions are still taken with the player.
If Arboleda is unable to start as a starter, Diego Costa should win the spot. The likely São Paulo for the final is Rafael; Rafinha, Diego Costa (Arboleda), Beraldo and Caio Paulista (Welington); Pablo Maia, Alisson, Welington Rato and Lucas; Luciano and Calleri.
São Paulo and Flamengo arrive under pressure due to poor performance
Both fans are pessimistic about the grand final of the Copa do Brasil. On the São Paulo side, the sequence of just one victory in the last five games is discouraging, mainly due to the team’s poor performance when playing in the Brasileirão. The last triumph in this period did not do much good, as it led to the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana on penalties, won by LDU, from Ecuador, in the middle of Morumbi.
Flamengo’s situation is also close. Rubro-Negro is in crisis with coach Jorge Sampaoli, especially after cases of aggression within the squad and the elimination against Olimpia in the Copa Libertadores. Last Wednesday (13), the Rio team, with maximum strength, lost 3 x 0 to Athletico-PR, resulting in Gabigol being expelled.
The other match of the decision takes place on Sunday, September 24th, at the same time, this time played at the Morumbi stadium, in São Paulo.
Between the finals, Tricolor hosts Fortaleza in the Brasileirão, while Fla visits Goiás, both next Wednesday (20).
