São Paulo: Lucas rested in Barueri, misses Palmeiras derby | OneFootball

Coach Hernán Crespo has decided on São Paulo's lineup for the crucial derby (at least for the tricolor side) at 6:30 PM (Brasília time) this Saturday (24th) against Palmeiras, at Arena Barueri, for the fifth round of the Campeonato Paulista.

As expected, the attacking midfielder Lucas was not included for the derby and is out. Crespo himself had hinted that this would happen after the defeat to Portuguesa on Wednesday (21st), at Morumbi.

Number 7 suffered two serious injuries facing the green rival on the synthetic pitch, one in the second half of 2023, in a match for the Brazilian Championship, and another last year, in the Paulistão semifinal.

Managed by Palmeiras' president Leila Pereira, Arena Barueri has the feared and contested surface. Besides the plan to avoid risks, since Lucas is still trying to regain his best physical form, there is the condition that the tricolor idol comes from a sequence of matches and would need to be rested.

In this morning's training, after the warm-up process and a physical circuit supervised by the fitness staff, Crespo led a tactical session focused on the Choque-Rei.

The coaching staff also made adjustments to set-piece plays, as well as conducting finishing drills for part of the group.

Calleri, who also suffered a serious injury on the synthetic pitch in the derby with the rival in last year's semifinal, is included and is expected to remain in the starting lineup after showing full recovery with the two goals scored against Lusa.

After resting some players considered absolute starters in Wednesday's defeat, the tendency is for Crespo to field the so-called 'full strength' against the rival.

Enzo Díaz might be a new addition. The left-back has recovered from surgery performed last year, was included for the first time this season in the match against Lusa, and seems to have regained his best physical form.

There is also the possibility of Crespo returning to the three-defender formation, widely used last year but abandoned this season after the defeat in the Paulistão opener against Mirassol.

A probable São Paulo lineup might consist of Rafael; Alan Franco (Ferraresi), Arboleda, and Sabino (Dória); Maik, Danielzinho, Bobadilla (Pablo Maia), Marcos Antônio, and Wendell (Enzo Díaz); Luciano (Lucca) and Calleri (Tapia).

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