São Paulo's Brasileirão edge remains, but Cruzeiro are level this decade | OneFootball

In his second match in charge of Cruzeiro, coach Artur Jorge will face a major challenge: taking on São Paulo at Morumbis, a rival that has historically always caused plenty of trouble and holds a wide advantage over Cruzeiro in Brazilian Championship matches. In total, the teams have faced each other 54 times in the country’s main competition, with Cruzeiro managing just 11 wins, 13 draws, and 30 losses.

This one-sided record became even more evident between the 2000s and 2010s. Raposa went from 2004 to 2013 without beating the Tricolor Paulista, ending that drought in 2013 with a 3-0 win at Morumbi, the same year they also won their third Brazilian title.

During that period, the clubs faced each other 38 times in the country’s main competition. São Paulo won 21 matches, compared to 7 Cruzeiro victories, along with 10 draws. In terms of points won, the Minas Gerais side collected just 31 points out of a possible 114, a rate of 27.2%.

Between 2001 and 2009, there were 18 matches, with 9 São Paulo wins, 6 draws, and only 3 Cruzeiro victories. Although the number of draws suggests some balance at certain moments, the São Paulo side’s superiority consistently showed in the final results.

However, the Brazilian Championship picture between the teams is beginning to show some signs of change in the current decade. Since returning to the top flight in 2023, Cruzeiro still trails, but the gap is small compared to the overall history.

In six Brasileirão matches played between 2023 and 2025, there have been three wins for the São Paulo side, two for Cruzeiro, and one draw. Last year, for example, Raposa did not lose to their tormentor. They drew 1-1 at Morumbi and won 1-0 at Mineirão.

In the current Brazilian Championship standings, Cruzeiro heads into the clash with a clear goal: get out of the relegation zone and gain some breathing room in the table. The team recently moved off the bottom spot and, even without playing in one of the rounds, managed to climb one position, benefiting from other results and goal difference.

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