São Paulo eye Lucas return for Libertadores quarter-final second leg | OneFootball

Hope at Morumbi is having number 7 for the continental decision (Victor Monteiro)

RAFAEL EMILIANO@rafaelemilianoo

After the somewhat discouraging news that Lucas will need to undergo a simple surgical procedure on his right knee, São Paulo is working internally to have their number 7 available for the second leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals against LDU, on September 25 (Thursday), at Morumbi.

This is the most optimistic prognosis outlined if the arthroscopy to be performed on him this Saturday (30) does not show any abnormalities.

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In practice, the outcome is even considered positive internally, as Lucas's activity schedule was designed for him to return only in the first leg of the continental knockout against the Ecuadorians, a week earlier.

The arthroscopy will allow the Morumbi club's doctors to assess what is preventing the idol's full recovery from the injury to the posterior capsule of his right knee.

The number 7 has been complaining of pain during certain movements on the field and has not been able to progress in his recovery after another attempt to return for Tricolor.

Thus, due to the constant discomfort felt by Lucas, São Paulo's Medical Department decided to perform a new procedure to check for fibrosis in the area or a healing problem, as the cortisone-based treatment did not have the expected effect on the athlete.

"He had a partial ligament injury, a posterior capsule strain. The treatment was clinical, not surgical, from the beginning. You don't operate, you don't reconstruct a ligament or partial injury. He progressed well in terms of activity evolution, but he is feeling discomfort in the posterior region," said Dr. Moisés Cohen, who provides services to Tricolor, to 'ESPN'.

"The only way to know is with an endoscope to see if there is any scar, any fibrosis that might be causing this discomfort. That's it, simple arthroscopy. Do it and go home," he explained.

ATYPICAL INJURY LASTING 5 MONTHS

The Tricolor considers this injury to its main player atypical. It has been three months away from the field due to a strain on the posterior capsule of the right knee, in the classic match against Palmeiras, back on March 10, in the Paulistão semifinal.

In May, he returned to play for 55 minutes in two matches but couldn't endure. Thus, in July, Lucas Moura underwent an infiltration due to the constant pain in the injury area. Finally, only in this month of August, the number 7 returned to matches, gaining a few minutes against Vitória in the Brasileirão.

Afterward, he played three more matches, never playing more than 45 minutes, and was again absent against Atlético-MG, in a victory at Morumbi in the last round of the National Championship.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.