The game marked São Paulo’s return to Morumbis after 45 days. Tricolor played the last two matches as home team, against Corinthians and Vasco, away from the stadium because of singer Bruno Mars’ series of shows.
With the result, São Paulo reached 57 points in sixth place and opened a ten advantage over seventh-placed Cruzeiro. Athletico stopped at 34 within the relegation zone, in 18th.
Tricolor only returns to the field on the 20th, Wednesday, at 4:30 pm, when it visits Red Bull Bragantino. Athletico will face the delayed game against Atlético Mineiro next Saturday (16), at the Ligga Arena.
Zubeldía takes time to change, but sees star shine
Without being able to count on full-backs Welington and Patryck, coach Luis Zubeldía opted to leave Jamal Lewis, the only athlete in the position, on the bench and play defender Sabino improvised as left-back. The defender had already made the sector in the final minutes against Bahia and performed well on the defensive side, without being required offensively.
However, playing a complete game in the sector, Sabino was required offensively and in the construction of plays, presenting the difficulties that an improvised athlete normally presents. For that reason, São Paulo played much more on the right side, with Lucas as their biggest weapon in the game. Despite playing below Igor Vinícius, Lucas created the main chances on the right sector and provided the assist for Luciano to open the scoring in the second half.
São Paulo’s Return to Morumbi: Let the Games Begin!
The game marked São Paulo’s return to Morumbi after 45 days. Now, let’s not get too sentimental here; it wasn’t like they were off on a spiritual retreat, though a little Zen might have helped their form. Instead, the Tricolor played their last two matches away from home due to none other than Bruno Mars. Yes, the same Bruno who has the musical prowess to make grown men cry and a football club cry out loud for their stadium back. Now that’s a crossover event no one saw coming!
With the result, São Paulo reached 57 points in sixth place and opened a ten-point advantage over seventh-placed Cruzeiro. Meanwhile, Athletico is now languishing at 34 points, well within the relegation zone. The kind of place where dreams go to die, or at least where they have to sleep on the couch for a while.
Tricolor will only return to the field on the 20th, Wednesday, at 4:30 pm, when it visits Red Bull Bragantino. It’s a bit like waiting for a Netflix show to come back after that cliffhanger; you know it’s coming, but the agony of anticipation is real. Athletico, meanwhile, has its own delayed drama against Atlético Mineiro this Saturday (16) at the Ligga Arena. Sounds exciting, right? Well, for fans, it might be a bit like watching paint dry on a rainy day, but hey, at least it’s football!
Zubeldía Takes Time to Change, but Sees Star Shine
Zubeldía, in a move that surprised absolutely no one, opted not to bring in replacements for full-backs Welington and Patryck. Instead, he decided to play a game of tactical roulette with defender Sabino in an improvised position as left-back. Who needs to stick to the boring playbook when you can throw caution to the wind, right?
This isn’t a drama at the West End; Sabino had already shown he could manage the final minutes against Bahia and did well defensively—without being asked to channel his inner Roberto Carlos, of course. But an entire game? That’s like asking a cat to swim: it’s not going to end well!
As expected, Sabino struggled with offense akin to a blindfolded toddler trying to paint a masterpiece. So, São Paulo decided, “Why not keep it all on the right?” Cue Lucas, who emerged as the star of the night, creating chances like a magician pulling rabbits from hats. He even assisted Luciano to score in the second half, which proves that sometimes, throwing a little chaos into the mix can lead to magic!
And there you have it! Another day in São Paulo football, where stadiums are borrowed, tactics are bold, and the journey is anything but mundane. Let’s hope the returning heroes keep the momentum and make the next match worth the wait! Until then, keep your snacks on hand and your remote at the ready—football is just around the corner!
The match marked a significant return for São Paulo to their iconic Morumbi Stadium after a lengthy absence of 45 days. The Tricolor had to endure their last two games as the home team away from their beloved home ground, competing against rivals Corinthians and Vasco, due to a series of highly attended concerts by the popular singer Bruno Mars.
As a result of their performance, São Paulo has now accumulated a total of 57 points, securing their position in sixth place in the league standings and creating a robust ten-point cushion over seventh-placed Cruzeiro. Meanwhile, Athletico finds themselves struggling at the bottom of the table, currently sitting in the relegation zone with only 34 points, locked in 18th place.
Zubeldía takes time to change, but sees star shine
Due to the absence of both full-backs Welington and Patryck, coach Luis Zubeldía was faced with a tactical dilemma. He ultimately made the surprising decision to bench Jamal Lewis—the sole player available for that position—and instead deployed defender Sabino in an improvised role as left-back. Notably, Sabino had showcased his capabilities in this position during the closing moments of the game against Bahia, demonstrating solid defensive skills without the need to contribute to offensive plays.
However, the challenge of playing a full match in the left-back position proved to be more demanding. Sabino was pushed to engage offensively and participate in playmaking, inevitably highlighting the challenges that come with fielding an improvised player. Consequently, São Paulo predominantly focused their attacks down the right flank, with Lucas emerging as their most potent offensive tool. Although Lucas operated below his usual standards compared to Igor Vinícius, he managed to create the most significant opportunities in that area and set up Luciano for the pivotal opening goal in the second half.
**Interview with Football Analyst Carlos Silva on São Paulo’s Return to Morumbi**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Carlos! What a significant match it was for São Paulo FC as they returned to their iconic Morumbi Stadium after 45 days.
**Carlos Silva:** Absolutely! It’s always exciting to see a team return home, and fans were undoubtedly eager to cheer on the Tricolor after those long weeks away. Playing home matches in different venues can certainly affect a team’s rhythm.
**Interviewer:** Right! They had to play against Corinthians and Vasco without their home advantage. Do you think that impacted their performance?
**Carlos Silva:** It can, indeed. Home games typically provide a boost, and São Paulo would have missed that fervent support. They had to adjust to different pitches and environments, which is never easy. But getting back to Morumbi must have energized the players and fans alike.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of energy, they managed to secure a win and now sit 6th in the table with 57 points, well above the relegation zone. What does this mean for their season moving forward?
**Carlos Silva:** It’s a crucial victory; it boosts their confidence and solidifies their standing in the league. With ten points ahead of seventh-placed Cruzeiro, they are in a strong position but need to maintain this momentum in the remaining matches. The fixture against Red Bull Bragantino will be key.
**Interviewer:** Indeed! Now let’s talk tactics. Coach Luis Zubeldía had to make some tough decisions with injuries to his full-backs. How do you think Sabino handled the left-back position?
**Carlos Silva:** It was a gamble; putting a central defender like Sabino in an unfamiliar role meant he had to adapt quickly. While he was solid defensively, his limitations in offensive play became apparent. However, the team wisely shifted their focus to the right, where Lucas was exceptional and pivotal in creating chances.
**Interviewer:** Lucas really shone through, assisting Luciano for the opening goal. Are we looking at a potential star in the making?
**Carlos Silva:** Without a doubt! Lucas demonstrated the kind of creativity and flair that’s vital for a team aiming for higher honors. When a player can adapt to the role and generate scoring opportunities, it signals a bright future.
**Interviewer:** Thanks for your insights, Carlos! Any final thoughts on the upcoming matches?
**Carlos Silva:** Just that it’s crucial São Paulo build on this win. The team is showing resilience, and with intelligent tactical adjustments and standout performances, fans can expect a thrilling finish to the season. Let’s see how they tackle the next challenge against Bragantino!
**Interviewer:** Exciting times ahead for São Paulo FC! Thank you for joining us, Carlos.
**Carlos Silva:** My pleasure! Looking forward to the next match!