Santos' Copa Sul-Americana flop may delay derby, aid São Paulo at Morumbi | OneFootball

São Paulo has received a positive indication behind the scenes that should minimize its period away from Morumbi in July. Due to Santos’ commitments in the Copa Sudamericana, the San-São derby, initially scheduled by the CBF for July 29 in the Brazilian Championship, is expected to be officially postponed.

The potential postponement represents logistical and technical relief for the tricolor coaching staff. Morumbi will be unavailable in the second half of July to host four concerts by British singer Harry Styles (on the 17th, 18th, 21st, and 24th). If the original schedule were maintained, São Paulo would be forced to play two consecutive home matches away from its usual ground: the clash against Athletico-PR on the 22nd and the derby against Santos the following week.

The scheduling conflict stems from Santos’ campaign in the continental tournament. Having finished the Sudamericana group stage as runners-up in its group, the Baixada Santista side will have to play in the playoff round against Venezuela’s Universidad Central.

Conmebol has reserved July 21 and 28 for the first leg (in Caracas) and the return leg (at Vila Belmiro), respectively. As competitions organized by the South American entity have regulatory priority over domestic dates, the state derby in the Brasileirão will have to be rescheduled for the second half of the year, leaving only the match against Athletico-PR as a home-fixture issue for São Paulo during the concert period.

Return to Morumbi and pitch renovation

Having qualified directly for the Sudamericana round of 16 — whose matches will only take place in August — São Paulo expects to use an alternative stadium on just one occasion. The board’s expectation is to reopen Morumbi on August 16 against Coritiba, in the 23rd round of the national competition.

The period without sporting events in the São Paulo capital will be used for a full renovation of the playing surface. The current grass will be completely removed and transplanted to the Barra Funda training center. During the music events, the stadium will undergo modernization work on its drainage and irrigation systems. Afterwards, a new pitch, cultivated since October in Tremembé (SP), will be installed.

For the only displaced fixture, against the Paraná side on July 22, São Paulo’s board is considering sticking with the strategy of playing in the interior of the state, as it did at the start of the competition. Brinco de Ouro (Campinas) and Cícero de Souza Marques (Bragança Paulista) are the leading options to host next month’s match, pending only the CBF’s approval of the schedule.

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