Hernán Crespo’s São Paulo has secured the first semifinal spot in the 2026 Paulistão.
In an away match at Cícero de Souza Marques, the Tricolor triumphed over the previously undefeated Red Bull Bragantino with a score of 2-1 on Saturday night (21).
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Bobadilla and Lucas Moura found the net for São Paulo, while goalkeeper Rafael made two crucial saves to keep the team ahead.
SPFC is now awaiting the identity of its next opponent in the semifinals.
Early Opportunity and SPFC Takes the Lead
Red Bull Bragantino started strong, demonstrating effective ball movement.
They had a notable chance in the 33rd minute when Gustavinho received a pass from Pitta, only to be thwarted by Rafael and then the post.
In contrast, São Paulo focused on attacking along the wings, attempting to outmaneuver a well-structured opponent.
Lucas Ramon stood out early in the match, assisting Bobadilla’s goal in the 39th minute.
Set Piece Success
Just seven minutes into the second half, São Paulo made things challenging for the home side.
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A well-executed set piece led to Lucas Moura scoring his third goal of the season after Danielzinho’s free kick which Luciano set up perfectly.
Massa Bruta Pushes Forward
With no other choice, Massa Bruta increased their attacking efforts, now with Sasha on the field.
They began to take control of the game, but still faced a formidable challenge in Rafael.
This pressure eventually paid off when Nacho Sosa’s corner kick was headed in by Gustavo Marques in the 27th minute.
The final moments of the game saw Red Bull Bragantino continually pressuring a São Paulo side that struggled to finish the match decisively.
Tensions escalated after Alan Franco was sent off in the 47th minute.
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A controversial incident between Bobadilla and Juninho Capixaba resulted in Massa Bruta calling for a penalty in the tenth minute of stoppage time, drawing loud protests from the home team.
However, no penalty was awarded.
Despite the drama, São Paulo advanced to the semifinals.
🤔 What Comes Next?
The semifinal matchups, which will also be single-leg games, will be determined once all qualifiers are known.
The team with the best overall record will face the fourth-best, while the second-best will challenge the third-best.
Both teams are now shifting their focus to the fourth round of the Brazilian Championship.
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Massa Bruta (7th) will host Athletico (6th), while SPFC (2nd) will travel to Coritiba (10th).
Both matches are scheduled for next Wednesday (25).
Photo: Rubens Chiri / São Paulo FC
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.