São Paulo aim to repeat first-half run to secure Copa Libertadores spot | OneFootball

São Paulo faces five decisive matches ahead in the fight for a spot in the 2026 Pre-Libertadores. To secure qualification for the continental tournament, Tricolor needs to finish the Brasileirão among the top seven. Currently, with 45 points, the team sits in eighth place, six points behind Fluminense, who closes out the G7.

With this goal in mind, São Paulo aims to repeat the strong campaign it had in the first half of the season against the same opponents it will face in this final stretch. The team ends the championship against Corinthians (away), Juventude (home), Fluminense (away), Internacional (home), and Vitória (away)—precisely the rivals they defeated in succession in the first half, during the team's best moment in the championship.

On that occasion, Tricolor beat Corinthians 2-0, with two goals from Luciano, then overcame Juventude 1-0, again with a goal from the number 10. Next, they defeated Fluminense 3-1, Internacional 2-1, and closed the positive streak with a 2-0 win over Vitória.

This winning streak marked the beginning of Hernán Crespo’s second spell in charge of São Paulo, who is now trying to repeat that performance to achieve the team’s goal in this final stretch of the season.

It’s true that the G7 could become G8 if Cruzeiro or Fluminense win the Copa do Brasil. In that case, if São Paulo finishes the Brasileirão among the top eight, they would secure qualification for the preliminary phase of the Libertadores.

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São Paulo’s next match

São Paulo returns to the field next Thursday (20th), at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time), against Corinthians, at Neo Química Arena, for the 34th round of the Brazilian Championship.

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