São Paulo look to extend nearly 13-year unbeaten run against Portuguesa | OneFootball

São Paulo takes the field against Portuguesa this Wednesday, at 7:30 PM (Brasília time), at Morumbis, defending a streak that has lasted almost 13 years. The last time Tricolor lost to Lusa was on August 11, 2013, in the 13th round of the Brazilian Championship, at Canindé.

On that occasion, Portuguesa, who was fighting against relegation, won 2-1, with two goals from Diogo, while Lucas Evangelista, now at Palmeiras, found the net for Tricolor.

Despite the win, Portuguesa finished the 2013 Brazilian Championship relegated, after much controversy involving Flamengo and Fluminense. After being relegated nationally, Lusa entered a serious financial crisis and was also relegated in the State Championship in the following years.

Due to the relegations, São Paulo and Portuguesa have faced each other only five more times since then, all in the Paulistão, with Tricolor dominating: there were four wins and just one draw. The most recent meeting was on January 29 of last year, in the fifth round of the State Championship, when Tricolor came from behind to win 2-1, with André Silva and Ryan Francisco scoring, while Renan Peixoto netted Lusa's goal.

In search of a spot in the knockout stage

In the match that marks the halfway point of the first phase, the teams are experiencing similar phases in the State Championship: São Paulo is in tenth place with four points, while Portuguesa is in 12th, with three.

Both teams are chasing Santos, who occupies eighth place and, consequently, the first spot in the knockout stage qualification zone. Peixe has the same four points as São Paulo, but has a better goal difference.

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