Team Focus: São Paulo Buoyed by Form of Awesome Foursome

Of all the sides in the Campeonato Brasileiro, none contains more recognisable faces – to European football fans, at least – than São Paulo FC. There's Álvaro Pereira, the Uruguayan wing-back, on the left flank. Former Arsenal midfielder Denílson sits in front of the back four, sniffing out danger and, yes, playing five-yard sideways passes. Luís Fabiano plunders goals and collects red cards like they're going out of fashion. Then there's Rogério Ceni, the goalscoring goalkeeper, who is something of a cult figure in some circles.

Really, though, the team's true star power lies in an attacking quartet that has begun to light up the division in recent weeks. In Kaká, Paulo Henrique Ganso, Alan Kardec and Alexandre Pato, São Paulo could well have found their very own fantastic four, a combination capable of taking them into next season's Libertadores, if not a sustained title challenge (you win again, Cruzeiro).

Each plays a distinct role in Muricy Ramalho's system. Kaká, back at his boyhood club ahead of his switch to Orlando City, is the senior partner. Nominally stationed on the left but given ample freedom to drift inside and get beyond the strikers, he looks to have recaptured a degree of the joy that gradually drained from his football during his final years in Europe. End product has been limited so far – he has not found the target since netting on debut against Goiás – but more goals will surely follow if he maintains his average of 1.7 shots per game until December.

Alan Kardec had enjoyed more success in front of goal – 4 goals in 9 games thus far – but his true value lies elsewhere. Blessed with tactical awareness as well as plenty of energy, the former Benfica and Palmeiras forward is what you might describe as a spoiler: a player who harasses and harries opposition defences when the Tricolor aren't in possession, and happily drops back into defensive positions when teammates roam.

His hard work has allowed Pato to rediscover some form at last. The forward, who turned 25 this week, cut a frustrated figure in the early part of the season; "He's a fragmented player, split into parts that never come together," wrote former Brazil forward Tostão, and it was hard to disagree. After a poor spell at Corinthians, he looked bereft of confidence, leading many to question whether all the bluster that surrounded his early career had just been hot air.

These are still early days, but there are signs that Pato could be on the mend. 6 goals in 13 starts is a decent return, while he also contributes more to build-up play now than he did last season at Corinthians, for instance: 18.1 passes per game and 1.1 key passes compared to 13.3 and 0.5 last term. Given the paucity of options available to Seleção coach Dunga, he will feel a Brazil return is not outside the realm of possibility.

Perhaps the key man of the four, however, is Ganso. Like Pato, his star waned drastically after the promise of his first steps at senior level, injuries hampering his progress. His early days at São Paulo were defined by frustration, with fans bemoaning his lack of movement and unwillingness to track back.

But now, having regained his rhythm thanks to a sustained run in the side, Ganso is shining. Drifting between a conventional number ten position and the right flank, he is the creative hub of the side, dictating the tempo and setting up chances with laser-guided precision. He has 7 assists to his name and has made 36 key passes: only Jádson (41) and Éverton Ribeiro (38) have made more in the whole division. He has also added goals to his game – 4 in 16 compared to 1 in 28 last term – which will have pleased coach Muricy Ramalho, who has often called for the midfielder to get into to the opposition box more frequently. He averages 1.7 shots per match now – almost double his 2013 figure.

"I had almost given up on him," wrote Juca Kfouri in the Folha de S.Paulo last month, "[but] he's back playing some great football. He now knows what he can and can't do. He would get into any team in the country... and should be in the Brazil squad."

With Ganso in that kind of form and his three attacking companions also in good shape, it should be no surprise that São Paulo's results have picked up of late. In fact, the Tricolor have won every game the awesome foursome have started together. Granted, that has only happened four times so far, but the performance against Internacional in particular suggested that that run could easily be extended in the months to come.

It probably won't be enough to win them the title, but it should earn them a few fans before the year is out.

How do you see São Paulo faring this season? Let us know in the comments below