São Paulo stumbled again in the Brazilian Championship. This Wednesday (13), Tricolor even opened the scoring at Beira-Rio, but suffered a comeback in the second half and left the field with yet another defeat under their belt. Coach Dorival Júnior was one of the most criticized by fans, who also questioned the team’s apathetic attitude in the match.
Without major aspirations in the Brasileirão, São Paulo sees the Copa do Brasil as the only opportunity for a title this season. Guaranteed in the final, the Morumbi club will face Flamengo next Sunday (17), at Maracanã, in the first leg. With the decision knocking on the door, tricolor fans, angry after the upset defeat in Porto Alegre, demanded the squad and coaching staff to turn the key and ‘give their lives’ in the national knockout stage.
Let’s play ball, damn it. Sunday without migué, without tiredness. It’s leaving life on the field for this Copa do Brasil title! For God’s sake, let’s play ball, don’t let us down in this final. Play with discipline, focus on the 90 minutes, be efficient in the opportunities you get!
— SÃO PAULO MY LOVE (@Spfccordeiro) September 14, 2023
11 days training
Internacional hadn’t won in 10 games, the team was dead
It was only against São Paulo that they revived
IT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR YOU TO WIN THE BRAZIL CUP A SHITTY TEAM, WE WILL NOT SPARE YOU, AND YOUR DORIVAL TOO, PATIENCE IS OVER
— Rogério Cerrisete (@RogrioS54701001) September 14, 2023
Internacional hadn’t won a game in the Brazilian championship for 3 months, then they caught São Paulo and turned the game around with absurd ease.
It’s an obligation for São Paulo to win this Brazilian Cup, if they don’t win they could send everyone away in December.
— Caio Gavassi (@gavassigavazza) September 14, 2023
The focus was also today. Every game has to be focused.
The table is there, you can’t mess around.
May you guys play like your life counts on Sunday, because these fans deserve this title more than anything— Letycia Amaral (@LetyciaAmaral8) September 14, 2023
São Paulo’s situation in the Brasileirão
As mentioned, São Paulo doesn’t fight for practically anything in the Brazilian Championship and has had a very irregular campaign so far. The team led by Dorival Júnior has not won in seven games in the competition and is only in 12th place, with 28 points achieved.
In 23 rounds played, Tricolor won seven games, drew another seven and lost eight. Far from the classification zone for Libertadores, the team is unable to repeat the good performances it had in the Copa do Brasil in the straight points tournament.
Copa do Brasil can save São Paulo’s year
Recently, São Paulo was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the South American Championship. In the middle of Morumbi, Tricolor was defeated on penalties by LDU and said goodbye to the continental competition. With that, the Copa do Brasil was what was left for Dorival Júnior’s team in the 2023 season
Irregular in the Brasileirão, São Paulo has the chance to save the year by lifting a previously unprecedented title in its history, as it has never won the national knockout stage. In a draw held at the CBF headquarters, it was decided that the Morumbi club will have the advantage of playing the second match of the big decision at home. The dates of the duels are September 17th (Maracanã) and 24th (Morumbi).
São Paulo’s next games
- Flamengo x São Paulo – Copa do Brasil (final – first leg) – Maracanã – Sunday (17/9), at 4pm (Brasília time);
- São Paulo x Fortaleza – Brazilian Championship – Morumbi – Wednesday (20/9), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time);
- São Paulo x Flamengo – Copa do Brasil (final – return) – Morumbi – Sunday (24/9), at 4pm (Brasília time)