With no advantages, as the first game ended in a 2-2 tie, teams are looking for the unprecedented title
The Recopa Sudamericana will have an unprecedented champion this Wednesday. Palmeiras and Athletico face each other at 21:30 (Brasilia time), at Allianz Parque, for the title of the competition that puts the current champions of Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana face to face.
In the first leg, last week, in Curitiba, a 2-2 draw did not give either side an advantage. In the event of a new tie, the game will be overtime. If equality persists, the decision will be on penalty kicks.
Palmeiras is playing in the eighth final since the arrival of Abel Ferreira, in November 2020. Current two-time champion of Libertadores, the alviverde team, which also won the 2020 Copa do Brasil, took the runner-up in the last edition of the Recopa and now has full house in this year’s decision.
Recovered from Covid, Gustavo Gómez returned to training with the squad on Monday and should be Abel Ferreira’s main novelty in this Wednesday’s confrontation. Over the weekend, the coaching staff decided to preserve the main players – only Zé Rafael was a starter against Inter de Limeira. Raphael Veiga and Dudu are the main bets of the offensive sector in yet another decision. Gabriel Menino (ankle sprain) and Luan (thigh injury), are the absences of Verdão.
Athletico, on the other hand, reaches the fourth game with the main team of the season. The team will have two changes from the first game. Right-back Marcinho took a penalty last week, in the last bid, and no longer plays for the club – a decision made by president Mario Celso Petraglia. Khellven should be the starter in his spot. Up front, forward Pablo has recovered from a muscle injury and replaces Rômulo. Valentim still tested a formation with three defenders, with Nico Hernández in place of Matheus Fernandes, but the tendency is to keep the system.
