Marcos Antonio forced off in first half, another Reffis headache | OneFootball

São Paulo raised the alarm after losing Marcos Antônio in the first half of the 2-0 win over O’Higgins at Morumbi this Tuesday (14) in the Copa Sudamericana.

The midfielder, who had been the team’s main playmaker, felt pain in his right thigh in the 35th minute, right after leading a fast counterattack and trying a pass to Artur.

The impact of his absence was immediate, as the player had been the standout performer of the match up to that point, having delivered the precise through ball that broke the Chilean defense and led to Luciano’s goal, scored just seven minutes in.

Although he tried to stay on the field, Marcos Antônio quickly asked to be substituted after realizing the seriousness of the discomfort, making way for Danielzinho.

The early exit worries the coaching staff for the rest of the season, since the player had been establishing himself as the engine of Tricolor’s midfield.

Now, the player is expected to undergo detailed tests in the coming hours to assess the extent of the muscle injury, while the team tries to adapt tactically to the absence of its main offensive transition piece.

On his way out of the locker room, Marcos Antônio passed through Morumbi’s mixed zone and tried to sound optimistic. “We’ll be back soon,” he said.

Marcos Antônio played in 20 of São Paulo’s 22 matches this season and was on the field for 1,650 of the team’s 1,980 minutes in 2026.

It was the club’s second setback of the day. Before the match, winger Ferreirinha’s injury was confirmed, and he was left out of the game due to swelling in the back of his left thigh.

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