Football Season Guide

São Paulo had a disappointing, irregular performance in Série A, last season, having finished 11th. On the good side, São Paulo won the Brazilian Cup, proving to be a team more suited for knock-out competitions. In 2024, São Paulo started the year with a title, having won Brazilian Supercup against least season's champions Palmeiras. In Campeonato Paulista (Brazil's most important and competitive State Championship), São Paulo wasn't that successful, having been eliminated by the modest Grêmio Novorizontino in the quarter-finals. Thiago Caprini is the man in dugout for the new season, after a very good performance with Juventude in Série B, last season. Caprini has been employing a regular 4-2-3-1 in the season. The usual starters are players that came from last season's squad. The main new signings for the new season are Aldemir Ferreira (winger) and André Silva (striker). The two are expected to have a reserve role most of the time, but they should be important units throughout the season. Luis Gustavo is a big name signing for midfield, but his physical condition is very questionable, now at 36. He starts the season with an injury. São Paulo has been having many injury problems in the last 2 years, and this one hasn't been much different. Star striker Calleri, full-back Rafinha, attacking midfielder James Rodrigues, and some other are expected to be frequent clients of the medical department. Rodrigo Nestor is carrying a long injury from 2023. Provided they are fit to play, Lucas Moura, James Rodrigues and Jonathan Calleri are capable of bringing São Paulo up to the levels of any other team in league. Without this trio, São Paulo possesses a good but somewhat regular squad in terms of technical quality.