With altitude in mind, Sampaoli may rest Galo starters against Corinthians

In partnership with

Deus me Dibre

·17 October 2025

With altitude in mind, Sampaoli may rest Galo starters against Corinthians

Atlético may have changes in the lineup to face Corinthians this Saturday (18) at 6:30 p.m. at Neo Química Arena, for the 29th round of the Brazilian Championship. Coach Jorge Sampaoli said he would assess the players’ physical condition, since the team has a decisive commitment next Tuesday (21) against Independiente del Valle, in the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana.

The international clash will take place in Quito, Ecuador, a city located at 2,850 meters above sea level — a factor that increases physical wear and often directly influences teams’ performance.

OneFootball Videos

Asked about the lineup he intends to field against Corinthians, Sampaoli dodged the question but acknowledged that the moment calls for caution.

Each match always brings a lot of difficulty in establishing a lineup. There’s a reality that indicates that in football, relationships are established through matches. For us, Saturday’s game is very important. So we’ll see who is better and more rested for the game, bearing in mind that we’ll have a game at altitude on Tuesday (Independiente del Valle). But everything will be evaluated.

Even with the possibility of changes, the coach will count on important reinforcements. Igor Gomes and Vitor Hugo return after serving suspensions, while Alan Franco and Junior Alonso are back after representing the national teams of Ecuador and Paraguay, respectively.

With 33 points, Galo continues seeking to move away from the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship. Tuesday’s match in Quito marks the start of the battle for a place in the grand final of the Copa Sudamericana, a competition that has become one of the club’s main goals this season.

If they win the international tournament, the club secures a direct spot in the group stage of the 2026 Copa Libertadores, the club’s main goal this season.

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