2021 Paulista champions | OneFootball

On May 23, 2021, at MorumBIS, São Paulo defeated Palmeiras 2-0 and were crowned São Paulo state champions for the 22nd time in their history. The goals were scored by Luan and Luciano.

São Paulo’s title came in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and, due to health and safety protocols, there were no fans in the stadiums throughout the entire competition. The championship, which had already started late on the calendar because of the outbreak, was even suspended between March 11 and April 10.

As a result, the match schedule was compressed as much as possible, and after the return to the pitch, Tricolor ended up playing four matches in one week. The marathon and the wear and tear, both physical and mental, did not stop the team from finishing the first stage of the Paulista with the best campaign: 27 points, with eight wins, three draws, and only one defeat, while also boasting the best attack with 28 goals and having conceded only nine.

In the quarterfinals, São Paulo faced Ferroviária, who had finished second in their group, in a single match at MorumBIS. With a great performance, the Tricolors dispatched the visitors with a 4-2 win, with goals from Gabriel Sara, Liziero, Igor Vinícius, and Pablo.

In the next clash, the semifinal, also played as a single match, São Paulo faced Mirassol and, in another perfect display, completely outclassed their opponent, thrashing them 4-0. Arboleda, Pablo, Gabriel Sara, and Luciano got the goals.

PHOTOS FROM THE CAMPAIGN

Unlike the previous knockout rounds, the championship decider was played over two legs. In the first, on May 20, away from home, São Paulo earned a good 0-0 draw against rivals Palmeiras. That meant everything would be decided at MorumBIS.

Even without their biggest difference-maker, the Tricolor supporters, the home side knew how to impose themselves throughout the match. Still in the first half, Luan opened the scoring for Tricolor in the 36th minute. Then, in the second half, Luciano, in the 31st minute, sealed the result and set the final score: 2-0 to São Paulo, 2021 São Paulo state champions!

THE MATCH SHEET

23.05.2021São Paulo (SP)Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo – MorumBIS

SÃO PAULO Futebol Clube 2 x 0 Sociedade Esportiva PALMEIRAS

SPFC: Volpi; Arboleda, Miranda, and Léo; Igor Vinícius, Luan (Rodrigo Nestor, 17/2), Liziero (William, 37/2), Gabriel Sara, Igor Gomes (Joao Rojas, 28/2), and Reinaldo; Pablo (Luciano, halftime). Head coach: Hernán Crespo. Goals: Luan, 36/1; Luciano, 31/2. Yellow cards: Liziero, 11/1; Igor Gomes, 24/1; Hernanes (bench), 23/2

SEP: Weverton; Luan (Gabriel Menino, 16/2), Gustavo Gómez, and Renan; Mayke, Felipe Melo (Danilo, halftime), Danilo Barbosa (Patrick de Paula, halftime), Raphael Veiga (Gustavo Scarpa, 23/2), and Victor Luis (Wesley, 16/2); Luiz Adriano and Rony. Head coach: Abel Ferreira. Yellow cards: Renan, 31/1; Lucas Lima (bench), Wesley, 24/2

Referee: Raphael ClausAssistant 1: Daniel Paulo ZiolliAssistant 2: Neuza Ines BackVAR: Marcio Henrique de Gois

Rubens Chiri / saopaulofc.net – Tadeu Moreno (doctor), Luis de Barros (physiologist), Galeano, Volpi, Pablo, Miranda, Igor Gomes, Arboleda, Bruno Alves, Hernanes, Léo, Shaylon, Alejandro Kohan (fitness coach), Gustavo Nepote (goalkeeping coach), Perri, Pedro Campos (fitness coach), Octavio Ohl (goalkeeping coach), Cristiano (kit man), Juan Branda (assistant), Hernán Crespo (head coach), and Aílton (masseur); Liziero, Igor Vinícius, Reinaldo, Luan, Gabriel Sara, Rodrigo Nestor, Éder, Luciano, Rojas, William, Welington, and Orejuela

THE CAMPAIGN

First stage – Single round-robin02/28/2021 Morumbi – 1×1 Botafogo03/03/2021 Limeirão – 4×0 Inter de Limeira03/06/2021 Morumbi – 4×0 Santos03/13/2021 Jorjão – 1×2 Novorizontino04/10/2021 Morumbi – 5×1 São Caetano04/12/2021 Morumbi – 1×0 RB Bragantino04/14/2021 Morumbi – 3×2 Guarani04/16/2021 Pq. Antarctica – 1×0 Palmeiras04/23/2021 Morumbi – 2×0 Santo André04/25/2021 Novelli Jr – 3×0 Ituano05/02/2021 Itaquerão – 2×2 Corinthians05/09/2021 Maião – 1×1 Mirassol

Second stage – Quarterfinals05/14/2021 Morumbi – 4×2 Ferroviária

Third stage – Semifinal05/16/2021 Morumbi – 4×0 Mirassol

Fourth stage – Final05/20/2021 Pq. Antarctica – 0x0 Palmeiras05/23/2021 Morumbi – 2×0 Palmeiras

THE COACHING STAFF

by Michael Serra / João Farah Historical Archive

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