Mirassol Overwhelms São Paulo 3-0 in Campeonato Paulista Opener
Mirassol secured a dominant 3-0 win over São Paulo in the 2026 Campeonato Paulista opener, capitalizing on São Paulo's internal crisis and on-field errors.
- • Mirassol won 3-0 against São Paulo in the opening match of the 2026 Campeonato Paulista.
- • Goals were scored by Lucas Mugni, an own goal from Alan Franco, and José Aldo for Mirassol.
- • São Paulo's Maik was sent off with a direct red card in the second half.
- • São Paulo is amid an administrative crisis with the imminent impeachment vote of president Júlio Casares.
Key details
Mirassol launched their 2026 Campeonato Paulista campaign with an emphatic 3-0 victory over São Paulo FC, exposing the latter's organizational and on-field struggles. The match, held at Estádio José Maria de Campos Maia, saw Mirassol take an early lead through Lucas Mugni in the 6th minute after a rebound off the post. São Paulo, grappling with administrative turmoil amid an imminent impeachment vote against their president Júlio Casares, faltered further as an own goal by Alan Franco in the 20th minute increased Mirassol's advantage.
Despite São Paulo having more possession, they failed to create significant chances before halftime. The situation worsened for São Paulo in the 36th minute when Maik received a direct red card, reducing the team to ten players. Mirassol capitalized on this numerical superiority, with José Aldo sealing the win in stoppage time at the 44th minute of the second half.
Mirassol's well-organized approach, backed by 11 new signings and leadership from coach Rafael Guanaes, contrasted sharply with São Paulo's internal crisis and defensive vulnerabilities. This victory places Mirassol third in the Paulistão standings, while São Paulo languishes in 14th place with no points. São Paulo's next match against São Bernardo on January 15 will come as the club faces a potentially turbulent period with the ongoing political and financial controversies.
According to reports, São Paulo's defensive errors and lack of control underscored their challenges, with fans fearing a difficult season ahead. In contrast, Mirassol’s effective gameplay and strategic management have set a strong tone for their campaign.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
