Eyes on Libertadores: São Paulo rest stars, lose to Santos | OneFootball

São Paulo's focus was already quite explicit with the initial lineup against Santos this Sunday (21), where Hernán Crespo did not repeat any of the starters who began playing against LDU in the Libertadores during the week. With a reserve team at Vila Belmiro, Tricolor created little, played poorly, and was defeated 1-0 in a match for the 24th round of the Brazilian Championship.

After the stumble away from home, the São Paulo team missed the chance to enter the G6 of the Brasileirão, still in 7th position, with 35 points earned.

It was a weak performance by Tricolor, who in the first half saw their rivals take 12 shots at goal, against just one São Paulo finish. The beach team was the one that came closest to opening the scoring, but was stopped by good saves from goalkeeper Young.

The second half came with many changes from Crespo, but it was Santos who scored. The defense faltered and let Guilherme rise to score with a header. It was not São Paulo's day, who could not impose themselves and go up the mountain with a poor performance in the bag.

START WITH GOOD CHANCES

It was Ferreirinha who almost scored first, just 3 minutes in, when he broke away alone on a counterattack, but advanced the ball too much and divided with goalkeeper Brazão, who cleared the danger from the Santos area. Shortly after it was Young's turn to show that he was also alert for Tricolor by making a good save on a strong shot from Rollheiser.

As time went on, São Paulo could not break through Santos' marking. And the rivals didn't attack much either, with the tricolor defense well positioned, making the classic match dull and without great emotions. Crespo's team rotated the ball, but couldn't find gaps to create.

Already at 35’ of the first half, Young was required again twice, and did very well. First, in defense in the corner after a shot from Guilherme, sending it to the corner. On the corner, Laurato Díaz rose with his head and tested firmly, but the São Paulo goalkeeper made an even more impressive intervention, preventing Santos' goal.

With the home team dominant in the 1st half, the teams went to the break without scoring, with Peixe having 57% of ball possession, as well as an incredible 12 shots on goal, against just one from Tricolor, according to numbers from Sofascore.

MANY CHANGES AND THEIR GOAL

Crespo returned with two changes from the interval, Bobadilla in place of Rodriguinho and Rigoni in place of Dinenno. After 10 minutes, he made more changes, promoting the entries of Luciano and Marcos Antonio and the exits of Luan and Ferreirinha. It had no effect, and it was the opponent who scored.

In a play on the right side of the attack, Rollheiser crossed into the area and found Guilherme free between the São Paulo defense to deflect and open the scoring for Santos, 14 minutes into the second half. Then, Rigoni was activated inside the Santos area and shot for a good save by Brazão.

The match became more open in the end, and at 23’ Tiquinho Soares came face to face with Young, but shot very high. Luciano, after a São Paulo aerial play, had little space to shoot and ended up sending it out. Tricolor sketched a pressure already in stoppage time, even with their goalkeeper in the area, but to no avail. End of match, 1 x 0 at Vila Belmiro.

The challenge now is a single one, the biggest of the year so far. São Paulo is in full preparation for the next Thursday's match (25) at Morumbi, against LDU, in the return of the Libertadores quarterfinals, after losing in Ecuador by 2 to 0. A victory by three or more goals gives the spot to Tricolor, while a triumph by a difference of two takes the decision to penalties.

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