Juventude X São Paulo: Roger Machado Faces Pressure in Copa do Brasil Return

Juventude x São Paulo lands at Alfredo Jaconi on Wednesday at 19:00 Brasília time, with a place in the Copa do Brasil round of 16 at stake. São Paulo enters with a 1-0 first-leg lead from Morumbis and can advance with a draw.

Juventude has to do more than protect its home field. Mauricio Barbieri’s side needs a two-goal win in normal time to move on, or a one-goal victory to force penalties.

Alfredo Jaconi margin

The first-leg score has already shaped the return. São Paulo did the hard part at Morumbis, and now the math shifts to Juventude, which must chase the match instead of waiting for it.

That gives the home team a narrow route and a clear target. A single-goal win only pushes the tie to penalties, so Juventude has to find a second goal if it wants to avoid that checkpoint entirely.

Roger Machado under pressure

Roger Machado takes his team into the second leg after a derby loss to Corinthians and four matches without a win. That run sits next to the one fact São Paulo cares about most: a lead to protect, not a comeback to build.

Cauly was expected to replace Ferreirinha in São Paulo’s starting team, while Alan Franco and Rafael Tolói were out with injury. Lucas Ramon was also out, and Cédric was expected to fill in at right back.

Juventude’s available pieces

Juventude arrives after five games without a defeat in Série B, and Mandaca was recovering from ankle discomfort and could be available. Diogo Barbosa is suspended, and Raí Ramos is out injured, leaving Barbieri with changes to manage on both sides of the field.

Rodrigo Jose Pereira de Lima from Pernambuco will referee the match, which will be shown live on sportv and Premiere, while ge follows it in real time. For the reader, the calculation is simple: São Paulo can control the tie with a draw, while Juventude has to turn Alfredo Jaconi into a two-goal night before penalties even enter the picture.