Talleres (Argentina) vs Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Talleres produced one of their best league campaigns in history last season, ending up in second spot of the aggregate table, and qualified for the Copa Libertadores for the fourth time. Last Saturday, they also managed an important 1-0 home success over Velez Sarsfield to climb into second spot in the Copa Liga Profesional group A table on 22 points, two behind leaders Argentinos Juniors. La T are unbeaten in their last seven competitive matches, winning four and drawing three. At home, they have been without defeat in the last five, with four wins and one draw.
Sao Paulo FC will try again to fight for their fourth Copa Libertadores title after becoming Copa do Brasil champions in 2023. At the moment, the team haven’t played any games in over two weeks: on March 17, O Tricolor lost on penalties after a 1-1 home draw against second-tier club Novorizontino in the Sao Paulo State Championship quarter-finals. Overall, Thiago Carpini’s men are on six matches unbeaten (two victories and four draws). On a positive note, they took seven points from the last nine on offer as the visiting side.
Sao Paulo are playing this competition because they won the brazilian cup, but on the league they were just an average team finishing in the 11th position. 2024 so far is going the same way as they were eliminated in the Quarterfinals of the state championship against a 2nd tier club. Talleres has been strong this season, especially at home, and I expect them to start this tournament the same way.