São Paulo in Pursuit of Qualification: Luciano the Hope Against Boca Juniors

The Big Decision

This coming Tuesday, on 15, São Paulo arrives with everything to take on Boca Juniors at Morumbi. And guess what? Luciano, their star striker, is expected to start since Calleri is out of the match due to a third yellow card. This is one of coach Dorival Júnior’s most strategic moves in the quest to reach the semifinal of the Copa Sul-Americana!

A Hope, Not a Injury

Here at UOL, we learned that Luciano had no injury after leaving the Bombonera with some aches. The first leg, which ended in 1 to a 0 for the Argentines, took place on the last day 8. For now, everything is calm on this side!

Luciano, who is the team’s top scorer this season, was left out of the derby against Palmeiras due to a minor thigh edema. But now he should be 100% ready for this decisive match, unless something unexpected happens.

Impressive Numbers

If you didn’t know, of the 14 goals Luciano scored this season, 12 were scored at home. Besides Morumbi, he also found the net at other stadiums, such as Brinco de Ouro, Canindé, and Cícero de Souza Marques. Of course, having him at Morumbi brings even more confidence to the team—especially considering that, under Dorival, he scored in all the victories he had available.

New Talent on the Field

And it’s not only Luciano who should shine, either! Young Gustavo Santana, who also came up through Cotia’s youth system, has every reason to form a great partnership with Luciano. This will be a major chance for him, since he’ll take part in one of the most important matches of the season. He’s already made his mark by scoring against Bragantino, and he also had a goal against Atlético-MG that, unfortunately, was ruled out for offside.

Returns and Expectations

In addition to Luciano and Gustavo, the match will also feature the return of other players who were rested during the recent derby against Palmeiras, where the team played with substitutes. Luciano, for example, was completely out, but now he returns with everything!

So mark it on your calendar: São Paulo and Boca Juniors face off on Tuesday (15), at 21h30, at Morumbi. The Tricolor must win by two-goal difference to advance directly to the semifinals. If they win by only one goal, the tie will be decided by penalties. It’s time to cheer and believe!