São Paulo manager Dorival Júnior faces mounting pressure after a difficult start to his return at the Morumbi, trailing the early performance metrics of his predecessor, Roger Machado, according to reports from Brazilian sports outlets.
Performance Comparisons at the Morumbi
The return of Dorival Júnior to São Paulo has sparked intense scrutiny following a string of underwhelming results in the Campeonato Brasileiro. According to statistical breakdowns published by UOL and detailed by Bolavip Brasil, Dorival’s opening sequence at the helm yields a 41,7% win rate, trailing behind the 50% start managed by Roger Machado earlier in the season.
Roger Machado assumed control in March, opening his tenure with two victories and two losses across his first four fixtures. By contrast, Dorival’s recent run—marked by a recent defeat that ended an initial brief spell of stability—has left the team searching for consistency in the league standings, as reported by Bolavip Brasil.
League Standing and Statistical Decline
Data compiled by TMC highlight a steep downward trajectory for São Paulo since the departure of Hernán Crespo in March. When Crespo left the club, São Paulo sat comfortably in second place in the Campeonato Brasileiro with 10 points from 12 possible, boasting an 83,3% success rate.
Subsequent months brought turbulence. Roger Machado guided the club to the top of the table temporarily before a sharp drop in form and an early Copa do Brasil elimination against Juventude in May brought his tenure to a close, as noted by TMC. Under Roger, the team collected 14 points from 36 disputed, translating to a 38,8% yield.
Since returning to the club he left in January 2024 to manage the Brazilian national team, Dorival Júnior has secured classification for the Copa Sul-Americana. However, his league campaign has produced just two points from 18 possible, dropping the team to 12th place with two draws and four defeats—a meager 11,1% return in the Brasileirão since his arrival, according to TMC.
Upcoming Fixtures and the Road Ahead
The pressure on Dorival Júnior mounts as São Paulo prepares to face Coritiba at the Morumbi on Saturday, August 15, at 21:00 local time (Brasília), marking the 23rd round of the competition and the team’s first home appearance in front of supporters in nearly two months, as reported by TMC.
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