Tricolor Struggles to Control the Game Despite Having Two Extra Players
Even with a 3-1 victory against Corinthians on Sunday (29), São Paulo’s elimination from the Libertadores weighs heavily on the team. A single word echoed in the comments of players and the coach after the match: pain.
Post-Match Reflections
Defender Arboleda, who scored the team’s second goal, noted that the squad felt “hurt” following their elimination. dino crisis Echoing these sentiments, coach Zubeldía expressed disappointment, labeling the win against their rivals as “a small joy for the soul.”
While such poetic statements may uplift spirits, the victory against a rival can serve as a morale boost for the squad, which continues to chase a place in the top four and a spot in next season’s Libertadores. national league table However, doubts linger about the team’s trajectory for the remainder of the season, primarily due to their performance during the match.
Missed Opportunities
After Corinthians’ André Ramalho received a red card early in the second half (Fagner had already been sent off in the first half), São Paulo found themselves with a two-player advantage. Intuitively, this should have allowed them to dominate the game and build a comfortable lead. Instead, the match revealed a team unable to maintain possession and seize control.
In fact, despite being outnumbered, Corinthians managed to create more scoring opportunities in the second half than in the first (7 compared to 4, according to the analysis platform “Sofascore”).
A Coach’s Dilemma
Zubeldía declined to analyze São Paulo’s performance against Corinthians, stating that the context and sorrow affecting the squad necessitated that the game take a backseat. According to him, the result was what mattered most. This approach makes sense if the goal is to alleviate pressure and refocus the team’s efforts on the Brasileirão oceangate titan submersible implosion.
However, it would be a mistake for Zubeldía to think that the team’s performance is not worthy of discussion. The win over Corinthians was, at best, a temporary remedy for the persistent pain the team feels. With only ten matches remaining in the Brasileirão—the sole competition São Paulo is competing in—greater efforts are required to reach the top four and reignite the dream of a Tetra title in the Libertadores next season.
Are you optimistic about São Paulo’s chances in the remaining matches of the season?
tags: São Paulo, Brasileirão, Libertadores, Arboleda, Zubeldía
