Athletico Paranaense and Palmeiras seek the Recopa Sudamericana, an unprecedented title in their record

Brazilians Athletico Paranaense and Palmeiras they begin on Wednesday a duel for an unprecedented title for both and for a reinforced $1.6 million prizewith the party of going for the Recopaa tournament that annually confronts the champions of the Libertadores and the Sudamericana.

The Paranaense, champion of the South American Cupwill host the first leg, at the Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, while the Palmeiras, champion of the last two editions of the Libertadoreswill have the advantage of defining the title on Wednesday of next week in the second leg, at the Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo.

This will be the second title opportunity this year for the green club of Sao Paulowhich two weeks ago fell to England’s Chelsea in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, and also their second chance to win the Cup Winners’ Cup.

Last year, the Recopa was snatched from the Argentine Defense and Justice, then champion of the South American.

For Paranaense it is also the second opportunity to lift the Cup Winners’ Cup titlewhich he let out in 2019, when he fell to the Argentine River Plate.

The winner will be the ninth Brazilian club to hold this title. Among the champions of the previous 35 editions are Sao Paulo, Gremio and Internacional (twice each), as well as Cruzeiro, Santos, Corinthians, Atlético Mineiro and Flamengo.

Another stimulus for both is the prize offered to the championwhich Conmebol raised from 1.25 million in 2021 to 1.6 million in 2022. The loser gets $800,000.

While Paranaense have only played two matches with their starters this year, the Palmeiras arrives fired up by the World Cup and the Paulista Championship, in which he is undefeated with five wins and one draw.

In addition to the short preparation time, the Paranaense coach Alberto Valentim will be without newly hired striker Vitor Buenowho will serve a suspension date for his expulsion in a Libertadores match last year, when he was a Sao Paulo player.

Instead, he will be able to line up midfielder Matheus Fernandes, enabled by Conmebol despite being a player on loan from Palmeiras.

Others who will be able to debut in the Curitiba team are Hugo Moura, Bryan García and Marlos, main reinforcements for this year but who would enter as substitutes because they are still out of shape.

For its part, the Palmeiras coach, the Portuguese Abel Ferreira, will have to improvise his defense and introduce some changes because it will not be able to count on important headlines.

The titular pair of defenders will be of out: Paraguayan Gustavo Gómez for having tested positive for COVID-19 and Luan due to injury in the left leg from which he has not recovered. Possible replacements for him are Kuscevic and the newly hired Murilo.

Midfielder Gustavo Scarpa is also in doubt due to muscular problems.

Palmeiras, on the other hand, will have midfielder Zé Rafael, who has already returned to training after an edema in his left leg that caused him to miss the Club World Cup. (D)

Possible lineups:

Athletico Paranaense

Saints; Marcinho, Pedro Henrique, Thiago Heleno, Abner; Erick, Matheus Fernandes, Leo Cittadini; David Terans, Pablo and Julimar. DT: Alberto Valentim.

palm trees

Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Kuscevic, Murilo, Joaquin Piquerez; Danilo, Jailson, Atuesta or Zé Rafael, Raphael Veiga; Dudu and Rony. DT: Abel Ferreira.

Referee: Facundo Tello (Argentina).

Stadium: Arena da Baixada, Curitiba.

Hour: 19.30 from Ecuador.

Transmit: DirecTV Sports (channels 613 and 1613).