São Paulo aim to end poor recent run against Fernando Diniz | OneFootball

São Paulo visits Vasco this Sunday at 8:30 PM (Brasília time) in São Januário, for the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship. Besides seeking to recover in the standings, the Tricolor aims to improve its recent record against a familiar face: Fernando Diniz, the current coach of Cruzmaltino.

Since leaving São Paulo's command in 2021, Diniz has faced his former club seven times, with three different teams — Santos, Fluminense, and Vasco. During this period, the coach has four wins, one draw, and two losses, with a success rate of 62%. Additionally, the teams managed by Diniz scored 12 goals and conceded seven.

The last encounter also ended in the coach's favor, with a 3-1 victory at Morumbi in the first round of the Brasileirão.

The coach's relationship with the Tricolor, however, dates back before his tenure at the club. In 2016, while managing Osasco Audax, Diniz delivered a 4-1 thrashing and eliminated São Paulo in the quarter-finals of the Paulista Championship. Two years later, leading Athletico-PR, he again played the spoiler: winning 2-1 at home and drawing 2-2 at Morumbi, securing a spot in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil.

São Paulo's Situation

Currently, São Paulo holds the ninth position in the standings, with 41 points — six less than Fluminense, which closes the G6. The match against Vasco, eighth with 42 points, is seen as a crucial opportunity for the Tricolor to re-enter the fight for a spot in the next edition of the Libertadores.

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