São Paulo aim to bounce back with reserve full-backs vs Grêmio | OneFootball

The São Paulo lineup has been set for this Thursday’s clash against Grêmio in Porto Alegre, for the 28th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. The main change is on the flanks, which will be filled by players usually considered substitutes.

Without Cédric Soares, out with a fractured right foot, and Enzo Díaz, suffering from hip pain, coach Hernán Crespo will field Mailton at right back and Wendell at left back.

The full São Paulo lineup features Rafael; Arboleda, Alan Franco, and Sabino; Mailton, Marcos Antônio, Alisson, Rodriguinho, and Wendell; Luciano and Tapia.

Pablo Maia, suspended, and Bobadilla, absent after playing for the Paraguayan national team in friendlies in Asia, will miss the São Paulo midfield, as will midfielder Luan, who is recovering from a right adductor injury, and Oscar, with a left calf injury.

Other absences include Calleri (surgery on the left knee’s cruciate ligament), André Silva (posterior cruciate ligament injury and anterior cruciate ligament strain in the right knee), Rafael Tolói (injury to the back of the left thigh), and Ryan Francisco (anterior cruciate ligament rupture and meniscus injury in the left knee).

With five losses in the last six matches, the latest being the derby against Palmeiras at Morumbis, São Paulo urgently needs to bounce back this season to avoid jeopardizing their fight for a spot in the next Copa Libertadores.

With 38 points, Tricolor currently sits in eighth place in the Campeonato Brasileiro and needs to earn points to avoid falling further behind the tournament leaders, since, at least for now, only the top six teams secure a spot in the 2026 Libertadores.

Grêmio, meanwhile, is in an even more delicate situation. The team from Rio Grande do Sul sits in 13th place, with 33 points, and wants to move further away from the relegation zone. Vitória, the first team in the drop zone, has 25 points.

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