Key areas São Paulo must address for the rest of the season | OneFootball

After being eliminated in the semifinals of the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo is working towards the continuation of the season. The club will only return to the field on March 12, when they host Chapecoense for the fifth round of the Brasileirão.

Despite being in a good phase, the Tricolor is trying to correct some aspects. After a start to the season below expectations, São Paulo has shown improvement but still has points to adjust in some areas of the game.

Defense

The main problem for São Paulo has been the defensive sector. The second-worst defense in the Campeonato Paulista, with 15 goals conceded in 10 games, the team led by Hernán Crespo has struggled to find the ideal system. Although Sabino has started to perform well consistently, Alan Franco and Arboleda are still inconsistent at the start of the year.

Besides the three players, São Paulo also has Dória and Rafael Tolói as options and is looking to improve performance throughout the Campeonato Brasileiro.

However, the Tricolor's coach still needs to define a scheme to consolidate the defensive system. This season, Hernán Crespo has alternated between formations with two or three defenders.

Standings provided by Sofascore

Shots from outside the box

In addition to the defensive problem, São Paulo has not yet scored any goals from outside the box in 2026. This data presents a challenge for coach Hernán Crespo: to increase the versatility of the Tricolor Paulista's offensive sector, making it less predictable with medium and long-distance shots.

So far, the numbers show a clear pattern. Of the 14 goals scored in the Campeonato Paulista, all came from inside the box, with two of them from penalty kicks. In the Campeonato Brasileiro, the scenario is the same: six goals scored, all from close-range finishes, with two from the penalty spot and two from aerial plays.

The statistics highlight a team that can produce offensive volume in the most dangerous area of the field but does not threaten with medium and long-distance shots. This option could serve as a resource against opponents with better-positioned defenses.

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