Vini Jr's Brazil title inspires Nestor for Bahia's Libertadores debut | OneFootball

Bahia is preparing for its Libertadores debut, scheduled for next Wednesday at 9:30 PM, against O’Higgins in Chile. The first leg of the second phase of the continental tournament holds special meaning for midfielder Rodrigo Nestor. The player returns to the El Teniente stadium, the place where he won the U-17 South American Championship in 2017, alongside names like Vini Jr., Paulinho, and Yuri Alberto.

During that victorious campaign, Nestor was part of a promising generation that secured Brazil’s 12th title in the competition. The Brazilian National Team defeated the hosts 5-0 at the same El Teniente.

“It was a great team. These are players who, from the very beginning, showed they would be different. It was a very good generation, and it’s no coincidence they got where they are. This stadium brings me great memories, it will be nice to go back after so long. I hope it brings us the same luck as before,” recalled Nestor, now 25 years old.

Experience on Chilean soil

Chile also holds another good memory for the midfielder. In 2024, playing for São Paulo, Nestor scored a stunning goal against Cobresal, helping secure a 3-1 victory in the Libertadores itself.

Currently, he is the third player in Bahia’s squad with the most appearances in the tournament, totaling 23 games. He trails only Everton Ribeiro, with 77 matches, and Erick, with 32.

“In these knockout games, you have to be extra focused, especially at the start of the season. It’s definitely going to be a tough match, but we’ll be ready. The Libertadores is special, we really want to have a great campaign, and we’re anxious and confident for the start of the competition. We can go further this time,” said the player, who in 2025 was a standout in the tricolor squad with 8 goals and 6 assists.

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