Injuries up front open the door for Rigoni to return to São Paulo on a high | OneFootball

Amid a series of injuries in the offensive sector, São Paulo is betting on Emiliano Rigoni to gain momentum in the decisive stretch of the season. The forward, who returned to the club in this transfer window, might get immediate playing time against Botafogo on Sunday (09/14) in the Brasileirão.

The opportunity for Rigoni arises due to the absences in the sector. Calleri suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, Ryan Francisco tore his ACL and meniscus, also in his left knee, André Silva was diagnosed with a rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and a strain of the ACL. Lucas, who can also play as a forward, is treating a partial injury to the PCL.

Thus, Rigoni will face competition from Ferreirinha, Tapia, and Dinenno in the fight for a spot in the starting lineup, as Luciano is "untouchable" at the moment.

During the break in the national calendar due to the FIFA Date, coach Hernán Crespo intensified training at the Barra Funda CT to keep the squad in competitive rhythm. This period is serving as specific preparation for the next two commitments: the clash with Glorioso and, days later, the match against LDU in Quito, for the first leg of the Libertadores quarter-finals.

Besides Rigoni, the Tricolor will have the new additions of defender Rafael Tolói and right-back Maílton, also signed in this window. Even so, the coach's challenge is to find alternatives given the absences in the attack, the sector most affected by injuries.

In the Brazilian Championship standings, São Paulo has 32 points and occupies the seventh position. Therefore, the match against Botafogo will not only be a test for the reinforcements but also a warm-up for the continental tournament, considered a priority at Morumbi.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.