Estádio dos Aflitos will be the stage for the Classic of Classics between Náutico and Sport, this Saturday (24) (Photo: RAFAEL VIEIRA/FPF) Náutico and Sport face each other this Saturday afternoon (24), at 4:30 pm, at the Aflitos stadium, for the last round of the first phase of the Pernambucano Championship. While the red-blacks only fulfill the schedule, as they guaranteed the overall leadership in advance, the red-and-whites are still fighting to qualify directly for the semi-finals, without needing to go through the quarter-finals.
To do this, the Alvirrubros need to win or draw in the Classic of Classics and hope for a stumble by Retrô, who visit the already relegated Flamengo de Arcoverde, in Arruda. Furthermore, Rosa e Silva’s team is still looking to break the Taboo of nine consecutive games without beating Leão.
Náutico seeks to rediscover the winning path after three games of fasting (Photo: RAFAEL VIEIRA/FPF) Náutico is three games away without knowing what it means to win. Going through a difficult sequence of games, they drew with Ceará and Vitória in the Copa do Nordeste and suffered a defeat against Retrô, which took second place in the Pernambucano Championship. Second place guarantees a direct place in the state semi-finals, and it is after this place that Timbu is going today, against Sport. The last time was in February 2020, for the Copa do Nordeste.
In addition to the difficult game in the middle of the week, Náutico went through an unexpected situation. The flight that would bring the Alvirrubra delegation from Salvador to Recife suffered electrical problems and was cancelled, meaning that the players and coaching staff only arrived in the capital of Pernambuco yesterday (23).
For the match, coach Allan Aal’s team must go with maximum strength, considering that the commander spared some athletes in the clash against Vitória, last Wednesday (21). Marcos Júnior should return to midfield, as well as Rafael Vaz to the defense and Paulo Sérgio to the attack.
Titi Ortiz could be new to Sport’s starting lineup against Náutico (Photo: PAULO PAIVA/SPORT) In relation to Sport, as it already has the leadership guaranteed, the tendency is for coach Mariano Soso to select an alternative team, sparing the main starters for the debut in the Copa do Brasil. Leão takes the field next Wednesday (28), against Trem-AP, away from home.
The only doubts in the lineup are in the midfield. Fabinho, Fábio Matheus, Ítalo and Lucas André are fighting for two places, while Pedro Vilhena will be the point guard. In attack, expectations revolve around the possible debut of Chrysthian Barletta, announced last week and already regularized with the IDB. Another who could be among the starters for the first time is Argentine Titi Ortíz.
GAME SHEET
NAUTICAL: Vágner; Arnaldo, Guilherme Matos, Rafael Vaz and Luiz Paulo; Marco Antônio, Marcos Júnior and Patrick Allan; Kauan, Júlio César and Paulo Sérgio. Technician: Allan Aal.
SPORT: Thiago Couto; Lucas Ramon, Alisson Cassiano, Renzo and Roberto Rosales; Fabinho (Lucas André), Fábio Matheus (Ítalo) and Pedro Vilhena; Arthur Caike, Chrysthian Barletta and Titi Ortiz. Technician: Mariano Soso.
- Competition: Pernambuco Championship (9th round)
- Local: Afflicted (Recife/PE)
- Assistants: José Romão and Humberto Martins