São Paulo: Crespo may rotate v Atlético-MG, Tolói back, Lucas surprise | OneFootball

Rafael Tolói during last Friday's training session at CT da Barra Funda (Pedro Guedes/SPFC)

RAFAEL EMILIANO@rafaelemilianoo

Having secured a spot in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals and with a break in the schedule coming up due to the FIFA international window in the first week of September, coach Hernán Crespo is expected to rest some players from São Paulo's squad for the match against Atlético-MG, Sunday (24th), at 8:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at Morumbi, for the 21st round of the Brazilian Championship.

As AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR revealed, some starting players, such as defender Alan Franco, are likely to get a break already in the match against the team from Minas Gerais. The Argentine has been experiencing foot pain due to the physical strain from the marathon of games the Morumbi club has faced this August, and was even substituted in the last two matches.

Because of this, the São Paulo coach tested two different formations in training sessions at CT da Barra Funda: one with three defenders, and one with two. The first is the usual lineup that fans have come to memorize. The other is the 4-3-3 formation tried in the draw against Sport in the last round.

Due to the exhausting qualification against Atlético Nacional midweek, some new faces appeared among the supposed starting eleven, such as Maik, reinforcing the idea that it could be a mixed lineup. Even Lucas, now recovered from injury, could be a new addition to the starting team. Since his return, the number 7 has started all matches on the bench.

Among those listed, there could be a new face. Cleared in the CBF's BID (Daily Information Bulletin), Rafael Tolói could be included in the squad. However, the internal plan is to have him as an option on the bench, to be used only in an emergency. Having not played since June, when his contract with Atalanta ended, he is expected to be in full physical condition to play only after the FIFA break.

São Paulo is unbeaten in seven matches in the national competition, with five wins and two draws in that period, and needs to maintain its good form to keep fighting for a spot in the next edition of the Libertadores, one of the main goals of the season.

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