São Paulo FC targets 45 points to avoid relegation after cup exit

Following elimination from the Copa Sul-Americana by Boca Juniors, São Paulo FC has shifted its focus entirely to the Campeonato Brasileiro. The club currently sits in 11th place with 33 points, holding a five-point lead over Vasco, which occupies the first position in the relegation zone.

With 12 matches remaining in the season, the club is revisiting the ‘45-point goal’—a benchmark traditionally considered necessary to avoid relegation. This target was previously championed by former coach Hernán Crespo, whose dismissal in March was partly attributed to his insistence on this conservative objective. Football executive Rafinha admitted that while Crespo's departure was inevitable, the timing may have been poorly chosen.

Since Crespo, the team has seen two other managers: Roger Machado, who was dismissed in May following a Copa do Brasil exit, and current coach Dorival Júnior. While mathematical models suggest a low probability of relegation, the club's chances of securing a Libertadores spot have become increasingly remote. Dorival Júnior emphasized that after the frustration of the continental exit, the team must focus solely on delivering results in the domestic league.