São Paulo face uphill task in 2025 to progress in the Libertadores | OneFootball

After the 2-0 defeat to LDU in Quito, São Paulo will have to seek a historic turnaround at Morumbi next Thursday to stay alive in the Copa Libertadores. To qualify directly for the semi-finals, Tricolor needs to win by 3 goals difference, something that did not happen often in 2025. If they win by 2 goals, the decision will be on penalties.

Victory by 3 goals is an exception in 2025

The challenge is big. In 2025, out of the 50 times they played in official competitions, São Paulo only managed to win by 3 goals difference once: in the game against Mirassol, for the Paulistão, when they scored 4 to 1 at Morumbi stadium. This shows that the score needed to advance in Libertadores is not an easy task.

Victories by 2 goals are more common — but away from home

São Paulo won 8 matches by 2 goals difference in 2025. Two of them were precisely in the Libertadores, against Libertad and Alianza Lima — both away from home. In other words, the team has not yet achieved this type of result playing at Morumbi in the continental competition.

Crespo has half of the victories by 2 goals

Since taking over as technical director after the World Cup break, Hernán Crespo has already accumulated 4 of the 8 victories by 2 goals in 2025. This shows an offensive evolution under his command, but that would still be insufficient to guarantee direct qualification in the current scenario.

Victory by 3 goals difference

São Paulo 4 x 1 Mirassol – Paulistão 2025

Victories by 2 goals difference

São Paulo 3 x 1 Corinthians – Paulistão 2025 São Bernardo 1 x 3 São Paulo – Paulistão 2025 Libertad 0 x 2 São Paulo – Libertadores 2025 Alianza Lima 0 x 2 São Paulo – Libertadores 2025 São Paulo 2 x 0 Corinthians – Brasileirão 2025* São Paulo 3 x 1 Fluminense – Brasileirão 2025* São Paulo 2 x 0 Vitória – Brasileirão 2025* São Paulo 2 x 0 Atlético-MG – Brasileirão 2025*

* Games under the command of Hernán Crespo.

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