São Paulo chase Libertadores: 8th spot hope, Copa do Brasil key | OneFootball

Even with all the trouble São Paulo is going through, the team still has a chance to snatch a spot in the next edition of the Copa Libertadores. To achieve this, they need to root for a pair in the Copa do Brasil and, of course, do their part in the Brazilian Championship.

Currently, the Brasileirão grants 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 among the top seven (G7), it becomes G8. And that's where Tricolor comes in.

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

By earning four points against their last two opponents, Internacional at Vila Belmiro and Vitória in Salvador, Hernán Crespo’s team would reach 52 points, and could at most be matched by Corinthians and Grêmio if they both win their two matches. However, the first tiebreaker is the number of wins, where São Paulo would have the advantage.

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

Corinthians still have to visit the desperate Fortaleza and finish against Juventude at home, a team whose relegation is almost confirmed. Grêmio, on the other hand, hosts Fluminense this Tuesday (2nd) and visits Sport, who are already relegated, in the last round of the Brasileirão. It’s quite likely that both will stumble, at least in their first matches.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE COPA DO BRASIL?

Having explained what Tricolor needs to do in the Brasileirão, let’s talk about the Copa do Brasil. The semifinals, still in this first half of December, will pit Corinthians vs. Cruzeiro and Vasco vs. Fluminense. If either the team from Minas Gerais or the Carioca tricolors win, the Libertadores qualification zone will extend to the G8, benefiting São Paulo.

In other words, if Cruzeiro and Fluminense reach the Copa final, Tricolor will already know they’ll play in the Libertadores qualifiers next year even before the finals are played. That would be as early as December 14th.

WHAT DO THEY DESERVE?

Financially, obviously it’s more advantageous to play in the continent’s main competition. But the big question is, are we at that level right now? Are we one of the best teams in South America, or are we going to enter once again just to ‘compete’ and end up lamenting that quarterfinal game where the ball just wouldn’t go in…

The club is currently in a restructuring phase. The Sudamericana really seems to be what São Paulo deserves, but the chances are 50%, since two clubs can help Tricolor. Whatever comes in 2026, we hope there won’t be any crazy moves or terrible deals and decisions like in recent years.

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