São Paulo, Brazil—March 27, 2025—São Paulo FC heads into the 2025 Copa Libertadores group stage with a point to prove. After years of uneven performances in South America’s premier club competition, the Tricolor Paulista aim to reclaim their status as continental giants. Drawn into Group D alongside Paraguay’s Libertad, Argentina’s Talleres, and Peru’s Alianza Lima, São Paulo face a challenging yet navigable path as they kick off their redemption arc. The group stage begins April 1, and fans are already buzzing about the matchups.
São Paulo last hoisted the Libertadores trophy in 2005, capping a golden era with three titles in 13 years (1992, 1993, 2005). Since then, inconsistency has plagued the club in the tournament. Recent campaigns—like their 2024 group-stage exit despite a strong start—left supporters frustrated. Now, under head coach Luis Zubeldía, the team looks to harness a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talent. Striker Jonathan Calleri, who netted five goals in last year’s competition, anchors the attack, while midfielder Lucas Moura brings flair and experience from his European stints. The squad’s depth took a hit with injuries in 2024, but a healthier roster could make the difference this time.
The Tricolor open their campaign on April 3 against Talleres in Córdoba, a rematch of last year’s group-stage duel. São Paulo’s blend of technical skill and physicality should test every opponent in Group D, but each rival brings its own threats. Here’s how the group stacks up.
Libertad: Paraguay’s Perennial Contenders
Libertad enter the Libertadores as Paraguay’s Apertura champions, a title they clinched in June 2024. The Gumarelos boast a 24th appearance in the competition, a testament to their domestic dominance. They’ve reached the semifinals twice (most recently in 2017), but the ultimate prize has eluded them. Coach Sergio Aquino favors a disciplined, counterattacking style, leaning on a veteran core.
Up top, 41-year-old Roque Santa Cruz remains a focal point. The former Bayern Munich and Manchester City striker defies age with his positioning and finishing—his four goals in the 2024 Apertura show he’s still lethal. Supporting him is Óscar Cardozo, another 41-year-old with a knack for big moments, alongside ex-Vasco goalkeeper Martín Silva and Uruguayan defender Martín Cáceres. Libertad lead the 2025 Apertura with an unbeaten record through nine matches, racking up 23 points. Their home ground, Estadio Tigo La Huerta in Asunción, offers a compact but raucous atmosphere.
São Paulo hold an edge in technical quality and squad depth. Libertad’s reliance on aging stars could falter against the Tricolor’s pace, especially if Moura and Calleri exploit gaps on the break. Still, the Paraguayans’ organization and experience make them a trap game—particularly when São Paulo visit Asunción on May 27.
Talleres: Argentina’s Rising Force
Talleres, based in Córdoba, Argentina, return to the Libertadores for their sixth appearance and fourth in five years. Securing a spot via a top-three finish in Argentina’s 2024 annual table, the Matador have evolved into a consistent threat. They pushed São Paulo to the wire in last year’s group stage, splitting results: a 2-1 win in Córdoba and a 2-0 loss in Morumbi. That head-to-head ended with both teams at 13 points, but São Paulo advanced on goal difference.
Coach Walter Ribonetto deploys a high-pressing 4-2-3-1, with forward Federico Girotti as the spearhead. Girotti’s aerial presence—he scored twice against São Paulo in 2024—pairs with midfielder Rubén Botta’s creativity. The Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, a 57,000-seat cauldron, amplifies their home advantage. Talleres sit mid-table in Argentina’s 2025 Primera División so far, but their Libertadores pedigree suggests they’ll elevate their game.
São Paulo’s prior encounters give them insight into Talleres’ tactics. The Tricolor’s midfield, led by Pablo Maia, can disrupt Botta’s rhythm, while their backline must neutralize Girotti’s physicality. Travel to Córdoba on April 3 and hosting Talleres on May 15 will test São Paulo’s ability to adapt under pressure—a key to their redemption bid.
Alianza Lima: Peru’s Resilient Underdogs
Alianza Lima arrive in Group D as the Cinderella story of 2025. The Peruvian side fought through three preliminary rounds, toppling Nacional (Paraguay), Boca Juniors, and Deportes Iquique to earn their spot. That gauntlet included a historic penalty shootout win over Boca in La Bombonera, a 5-4 triumph after splitting the legs 1-0 and 2-1. Coach Néstor Gorosito, a savvy tactician, has turned Alianza into a gritty, opportunistic outfit.
Veteran forwards Hernán Barcos and Paolo Guerrero lead the charge. Barcos, 40, tops the 2025 Libertadores scoring chart with four goals from the prelims, while Guerrero, 41, brings pedigree from his Corinthians and Bayern days. Left-back Miguel Trauco, a former Flamengo standout, adds dynamism on the flank. The Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in Lima—known as Matute—hosts their home games, where raucous crowds create a fortress-like vibe.
São Paulo’s superior resources and talent should overpower Alianza, especially in their May 6 clash at Morumbi. However, the Tricolor’s trip to Lima on April 10 looms as a potential stumble. Alianza’s resilience and counterattacking threat could punish any complacency, making them the group’s wildcard.
The Road Ahead
São Paulo’s schedule offers a balanced start: they travel to Talleres, then host Alianza Lima and Libertad in quick succession (April 10 and April 22). The back half flips those venues, with the Talleres home leg on May 15 as a potential decider. CONMEBOL’s format—top two advance, third drops to the Sudamericana—means every point counts. Brazilian clubs have won the last six Libertadores titles, and São Paulo aim to keep that streak alive.
Fans see this group as a chance to rebuild momentum. “We’ve got the tools to dominate,” said Tricolor supporter João Silva outside Morumbi this week. “But we can’t sleep on these teams—especially away.” Zubeldía echoed that caution in a presser, noting, “Libertad’s experience, Talleres’ intensity, Alianza’s fight—they’ll all push us.”
History favors São Paulo against this trio. They’ve beaten Libertad in past meetings (most recently 2016), split with Talleres, and hold a 4-1-1 record over Alianza Lima, including a 3-0 rout in 2020. Yet past glory won’t win games in 2025. Consistency, a weakness in recent years, will define their redemption arc.
The Libertadores offers São Paulo a shot at erasing recent disappointments. Group D isn’t a cakewalk, but it’s a stage they can command. Kickoff is days away—time will tell if the Tricolor rise to the occasion.
