Bolívar confident of upsetting São Paulo in Brazil

Despite a 1-1 draw at home in La Paz, Bolivian club Bolívar is expressing strong confidence in its ability to overcome São Paulo in Brazil and advance to the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals. The team acknowledges the missed opportunity to gain an advantage on home soil but maintains that the series remains wide open.

Damián Batallini, a player for Bolívar, highlighted the team's second-half reaction and asserted that the squad possesses the necessary arguments to pursue victory in the return leg. "We have a great team, we have faith," Batallini stated, recalling Bolívar's past successes playing in Brazil. He noted that the team lacked precision in the final third during the first leg, preventing them from converting their dominance into more goals, despite Carlos Melgar's equalizer in the 63rd minute.

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We have a great team, we have faith.

Coach Alejandro Restrepo echoed Batallini's sentiment, emphasizing that the series is entirely open. He pointed out that São Paulo surprised Bolívar with a 5-3-2 formation, which differed from their usual 4-4-2, making it difficult for Bolívar to adapt in the first half. However, Restrepo praised his team's intensity and pressure in the second half, noting how they found space on the flanks, though he also lamented the lack of presence in the box to capitalize on generated chances.

The return match is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, in São Paulo. For Bolívar, a direct victory is essential to secure their place in the quarterfinals. A draw would force the tie into a penalty shootout, while any defeat would result in their elimination from the competition.

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Now we have to go there and look for the result.