Sao Paulo (Brazil) vs Independiente del Valle (Ecuador)
Sao Paulo had to wait until the penalty shootout to reach the Copa Sudamericana finals following their 2-0 home success over Atletico Goianiense (having lost 3-1 away in the first leg). Therefore, the team will seek their second title in this competition (champions in 2012). Last Sunday, Rogerio Ceni’s men managed an important 4-0 home victory over Avai FC to make it two consecutive victories in all competitions. That win allowed them to occupy 12th spot in the Brazilian league table (the last Copa Sudamericana berth for next season), having earned 37 points in 28 rounds in the league.
2019 Copa Sudamericana winners Independiente del Valle are back at the final clash following an easy 3-0 away success at Melgar FBC in the return leg of the semi-finals (6-0 on aggregate, in fact). Last Saturday, the team secured a valuable 1-0 home success over CSD Macara to remain occupying the second place of the Ecuadorian league table on 23 points after 12 rounds in the second stage (trailing leaders Aucas, who hold one match in hand). Independiente succumbed to a single defeat across their last six matches in this competition, having won four and drawn one in that time.
The 2012 Sudamericana champions, Sao Paulo, meet the 2019 champions in what should be a very tight final. Independiente are no longer a surprise as they’ve been strong in every international competition for years (they even lost a Copa Libertadores final) so even though the brazilians are the more experienced and bigger club, the ecuadorians will be a tough rival and I can definitely see them winning the tournament.