Morumbis hosts São Paulo Vs Botafogo at 17:00 in Round 17
São Paulo vs Botafogo lands at the Morumbis on Saturday at 17:00, with the home side back in its stadium after two matches played away from it. São Paulo sits fourth with 24 points but has gone seven matches without a win, while Botafogo arrives after two straight victories and a run into the Copa Sul-Americana round of 16.
Morumbis after two detours
São Paulo’s return to the Morumbis comes after the club had to use Campinas and Bragança Paulista for home fixtures because of shows by The Weeknd. The switch-back matters because the team is trying to stop a slide that includes elimination from the Copa do Brasil and a 1-1 draw with Millonarios on Tuesday.
Dorival Júnior is expected to keep a base close to the side that drew in the Sul-Americana, with Rafael in goal and a back line built around Lucas Ramon, Alan Franco, Sabino and Wendell. The probable group also includes Danielzinho, Luan or Pablo Maia, Luciano, Artur, Calleri and Ferreira.
São Paulo’s missing pieces
Wendell is one of three São Paulo players on the warning list, alongside Ferreira and Luciano. He is also part of a long absentee list that leaves Dorival with little room to change the shape of the team.
Cauly, Marcos Antônio, Rafael Tolói, Lucas, Enzo Diaz, Bobadilla, André Silva, Maik and Arboleda are all out, shrinking the options around a match that carries weight for a team trying to hold fourth place. With 24 points already on the board, São Paulo needs the kind of result that keeps the season from drifting further.
Botafogo without Alex Telles
Botafogo brings its own absences into the 17th round. Alex Telles and Medina are suspended, Barboza is gone after his move to Palmeiras, and the list of unavailable players also includes Ponte, Allan, Bastos, Júnior Santos, Kaio Pantaleão, Matheus Martins and Nathan Fernandes.
Franclim Carvalho is expected to adjust after Sunday’s 3-1 win over Corinthians and Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Independiente Petrolero. Marçal and Edenilson are the likely replacements, and the probable lineup has Neto, Vitinho, Ferraresi, Justino, Marçal or Caio Roque, Huguinho, Edenilson, Montoro, Villalba, Kadir and Arthur Cabral.
That leaves both clubs with a familiar problem: good recent results, but not full squads. Arthur Cabral and Villalba are on Botafogo’s warning list, while São Paulo has three players one booking away from trouble, and the details around those absences may shape the match as much as the form lines do.
