São Paulo chase Libertadores: 8th place hope rests on Copa do Brasil | OneFootball

Even in the tough situation that São Paulo is experiencing, the team still has a chance to snag a spot in the next edition of the Copa Libertadores. For that, they need to root for a duo in the Copa do Brasil, and, of course, do their part in the Brazilian Championship.

Today, the Brasileirão guarantees seven spots for the 2026 Libertadores, since Flamengo secured their qualification by winning the title this year. However, if the Copa do Brasil champion is in the G7, it becomes G8. And that's where the Tricolor comes in.

The eighth place on the table is São Paulo, with 48 points, two more than the main rivals below, Corinthians (9th) and Grêmio (10th). This gives the Tricolor the advantage of not necessarily needing to win both of their games to secure their position.

By adding four points against their last rivals, Internacional, at Vila Belmiro, and Vitória, in Salvador, Hernán Crespo's team would reach 52 points, and at most could be equaled by Corinthians and Grêmio if they win both of their matches. However, the first tiebreaker criterion is the number of victories, in which São Paulo would have the advantage.

Therefore, winning against Inter and drawing with Vitória away, or vice versa, is enough for the Morumbi team to secure the 8th position without depending on any other results.

Corinthians still visit the desperate Fortaleza and close against Juventude at home, a team that has almost been relegated. Meanwhile, Grêmio hosts Fluminense this Tuesday (2) and visits Sport, which has already been relegated, in the last round of the Brasileirão. It's quite likely that both will stumble, at least in the first matches they play.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE COPA DO BRASIL?

Explained what the Tricolor needs to do in the Brasileirão, let's move to the Copa do Brasil. The semifinals in the first half of December put Corinthians x Cruzeiro and Vasco x Fluminense face to face. If the miners or carioca tricolors become champions, the qualifying zone for the Libertadores will extend to the G8, benefiting São Paulo.

In other words, if Cruzeiro and Fluminense make it to the Copa final, the Tricolor will already know that they will compete in the pre-Libertadores next year even before the finals need to be played. This would be by December 14th.

WHAT DO THEY DESERVE?

Financially, obviously, it's more advantageous to compete in the continent's main competition. But the big question is, are we at that level currently? Are we one of the best teams in South America, or are we going to enter again to 'compete' and end up lamenting that quarter-final game where the ball didn't go in...

The club's moment is one of restructuring. The South American seems to be what São Paulo really deserves, but the chances are 50%, as two clubs can help the Tricolor. Whatever comes in 2026, we hope that no crazy decisions and poor deals like in recent years are made.

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