São Paulo is about to end its participation in the Brazilian Championship with less than 60 points for the fourth consecutive time, an unprecedented feat for the club since the competition began to adopt a straight points format with 20 teams in 2006. With 59 points accumulated So far, Tricolor occupies sixth place in the table and is preparing to face Botafogo, who leads the competition, in the last round of the tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
The clash against Botafogo is scheduled for 4pm (Brasília time), and the last time São Paulo surpassed the 60-point mark was in 2020, when it reached 66 points and came to fight for the title. Since then, the club has distanced itself from the top places in the table. In 2021, the team finished the championship with just 48 points, facing the risk of relegation. In the following years, performance also fell short of expectations, with 54 points in 2022 and 53 points in 2023.
Since the series of conquests that led to the third championship began in 2006, São Paulo has had other seasons in which it did not reach 60 points: 2010 (55), 2011 (59), 2013 (50), 2016 (52) and 2017 ( 50), in addition to the last three competitions. For the decisive duel against Botafogo, who need a draw to secure the title, São Paulo must present a very changed formation, as players considered starters, such as Arboleda, Rafinha, Luiz Gustavo, Luciano, Lucas and Calleri, were rested. due to wear and tear and did not travel to Rio de Janeiro.
Regardless of the result of the game at the Nilton Santos Stadium, São Paulo is already guaranteed sixth place in the championship's final standings, and cannot be overtaken by Corinthians, who have 53 points, nor reach Fortaleza, who have 65 points. Furthermore, the team qualified early for the group stage of Conmebol Libertadores, a relief in a complicated season.
