The São Paulo football team faced off against Inter de Limeira on February 10, 2025, at the Arena BRB Mané Garrincha, where they struggled to secure a win, ending the match with a disappointing 0-0 draw. Despite having one extra player for the entirety of the second half, São Paulo was unable to break through Inter's solid defense, marking another frustrating game for the team under the management of Luis Zubeldía.
This match was postponed from the first round of the Paulistão Championship. It showcased the struggles São Paulo has been facing, particularly concerning their offensive gameplay. Zubeldía’s side maintained possession and made several attempts to penetrate Inter's defense, but lacked the clinical finishing needed to convert opportunities. The game's dynamics shifted dramatically when Juan Tavares of Inter was shown a red card after the VAR review for a foul on São Paulo's Igor Vinicius right before halftime. The red card meant São Paulo would play against ten men for 45 minutes, yet they still struggled to score.
The first half started quietly, with both teams showing little attacking inspiration early on. It wasn't until the 6th minute when São Paulo began to find some rhythm. Lucas Moura delivered the first significant threat with a cross, but it was after some initial exchanges of possession and missed opportunities where the game became defined. The first real danger occurred at the 13-minute mark when Alisson had the first shot on target, following some nifty play from Ferreira.
Despite their early caution, Inter de Limeira proved to be formidable opponents, launching quick counterattacks. Eduardo was at the forefront for Inter, nearly putting his team on the scoreboard when Rafael, the São Paulo goalkeeper, made superb saves—one right before the half to keep the scoreline intact.
The halftime break saw the referee officially expel Tavares, flipping the advantage firmly to São Paulo. Yet, the second half was characterized by missed opportunities and ineffective attacking patterns. The Tricolor, as São Paulo is often referred to, had continuous possession but failed to convert their numerical advantage on the field to actual goals. Zubeldía made adjustments, including introducing fresh legs like Ryan Francisco and Lucas Ferreira to generate more offensive support, but these changes yielded little success.
Chances were created, particularly when Ferreira showcased his ability to drive down the left flank. One notable attempt came when Enzo Díaz's direct free kick diverted off the wall and nearly found the net. Then came Ferreira's individual brilliance around the 19-minute mark of the second half, where he maneuvered through multiple defenders only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Igo Gabriel.
Frustration grew within the São Paulo camp as the minutes ticked away without any goals. Zubeldía's strategy to push for the opener with high crosses resulted in 43 total attempts, but the stat revealed just 30% efficacy with only 13 crosses being meaningful. The mounting pressure was palpable, and as the clock wound down, it was evident the team was growing impatient.
With the game ending, the spectators, which included about 42,064 fans, expressed their dissatisfaction as northern arrived without goals to cheer. This match left São Paulo at the top of Group C with 14 points, three clear of second-placed Grêmio Novorizontino, even as they eyed maintaining their lead.
On the other side, Inter de Limeira, with the draw, secured six points; enough to escape the last place but far from the qualification contention they desired. The coach, Felipe Conceição, acknowledged the challenging position and hinted at improvements moving forward.
Post-match, coach Luis Zubeldía reflected on the outcome candidly during the press conference, stating, “the result is part of the process.” He noted the lack of clinical finishing and attributed it to the pressure of not scoring early which typically creates more space for attackers. He hoped for improvement as his young players gain experience, citing the importance of turning these experiences for the upcoming matches.
Looking forward, São Paulo will meet Velo Clube on February 13, where they hope to turn their chances from mere hopes to goals on the scoreboard. With the current form, fans remain hopeful yet cautious, as success appears to hinge strongly on the squad's ability to convert chances created as they aim for strong playoffs.