This year's Brazilian National Championship was restructured, first with the name "Brazilian Primera A", and secondly with disarmament, with only two teams promoted after four relegations last season, reducing the number of participating teams to 24 this season.

The schedule format has also changed, last season was 26 teams playing a single round-robin, and finally the playoffs were decided by the top 8 players playing home and away two knockout games to determine the champion, and this season it will be 24 teams playing a double round-robin, no longer divided into regular season and playoffs, and the highest points will win the championship of the Brazilian league.

If such a restructuring had been implemented last year, São Paulo would have won an additional trophy for the national winners.

The timing of the match in the Brazilian Liga has also changed, with 24 teams playing a double round robin due to the large number of teams participating, meaning that it will take 46 rounds to play the entire game.

Therefore, the first round of the Brazilian Liga has been brought forward to April.

Between January and April, the time for the state championships, the Copa Libertadores will also be completed between January and June.

This season's São Paulo State Championship is played in a single round robin with twenty-one teams divided into three groups of seven teams each.

Group 1 and Group 2 each have three teams qualifying for the playoffs, while Group 3 has two teams.

Sao Paulo have been placed in Group 2 against a group of opponents who are not strong enough to make the playoffs as long as they don't make mistakes themselves.

On January 20, São Paulo went to the São Paulo State Championship, and in the opening match defeated Ituano in the second division of Brazil 5-0, Ricardo scored a hat-trick in the first game of the new season, and Kaka and Fabiano also scored.

"The São Paulo set sail again with the expected victory."

"Licardo was in terrible form and scored the fourth hat-trick of his career."

"Being selected for the national team makes Licardo excited, and he is in good shape and easy to wear a hat."

"São Paulo's new coach Robert. Rojas led the team to their first official victory. ”

For São Paulo, the focus of the first half of the year is, of course, the Copa Libertadores, the highest level of competition in South America, the equivalent of the Champions League in Europe, and no club will give up.

But the results of the state league are also important.

Fortunately, in the group stage, Sao Paulo's opponent was not strong. Rojas is able to rotate the squad to a certain extent and keep the players fit.

Three days after the second round of the state championship, Rojas hid the front trident and Baptista, and Sao Paulo, who rotated most of the main team, defeated the underdog Santista 3-2 away from home. The crucial goal came from the bench in the 89th minute, coming off the bench by Ricardo.

In the third round, Sao Paulo, who played the main game again, beat Rimela International 6:0. Ricardo scored twice and assisted Fabiano for a goal.

In the fourth round, Sao Paulo, who rotated more than half of the main team, defeated Paulista 2:0. With a 1-0 lead, Ricardo came off the bench to take a free-kick and assist Lugano to score to seal the win.

Sao Paulo, who have won four in a row, have already secured a playoff qualification, but of course, for Sao Paulo, playoff qualification is nothing, and they want to finish top of the group and beat their opponents all the way to the championship.

"Six goals in 4 games! Ricardo is on fire! ”

"To Pereira: Did you see Ricardo's performance?"

"Being selected for the Brazilian national team has made Ricardo more mature."

"Singing triumphant songs all the way, St. Paulo is irresistible!"

"Four wins in a row! Robert. Rojas had the best start in São Paulo in recent years. ”

The media praised the performances of Ricardo and São Paulo.

Ricardo was modest in the interview. 'The reason why we scored so many goals was because Kaka and Fabiano selflessly gave me assists.

"The number one player? No, I'm not, Kaka has a more important place in São Paulo and Fabiano is too. ”

"Thanks to Pereira's call-up, I will do everything I can to fight for Brazil."

'It's up to Pereira whether I play or not, and I'll try to impress him in the game and in training.

"We've been in great shape this year, we want both state and national titles. Copa Libertadores? That's every player's dream, but you have to play one game at a time. ”

São Paulo has a tough game ahead of the Americas, and that is an away game against Santos in the state championship.

Santos, who were beaten by São Paulo in the national championship last year, finished only 8th and did not qualify for the Copa Libertadores, the state championship is their first goal of the season, so go all out.

In order to save strength for the game against Cali America, Sao Paulo once again hid most of the main team, with Ricardo and Kaka both staying on the bench.

When the game reached the 80th minute, Sao Paulo was still 1-2 down, and Santos could get revenge.

That's when Rojas brought Ricardo and Kaka on the pitch to find their form.

The duo put on a series of great combinations for the fans, and in the 86th minute, they used an aerial relay to break into the Santos penalty area, and Kaka scored with a volley from a tight angle.

With a score of 2:2, Rojas smiled with satisfaction.

São Paulo, who remain unbeaten, still lead the standings in Group 2 of the São Paulo State Championship.

On February 4, São Paulo chartered a flight to Colombia.

América Cali is Colombia's second-most Primera champions and a well-deserved giant.

They have reached the final of the Copa Libertadores six times, but without exception, all of them fell before the championship trophy, which is a very difficult team.

Especially from 85 to 87, they reached the finals three times and were runners-up three times.

São Paulo is slightly better, but it has been nine years since they won the Copa Libertadores in '92 and '93.

They desperately need a title to prove that they are still the top giants in Brazil!

At the press conference, first-time coach of a top team, Robert. Rojas presented with a humble gesture: "América Cali are a century-old giant, they just won their twelfth national championship last year, and this is a difficult opponent. In the game, we will focus on defense. Their Ferreira and Castillo are both very dangerous players and we will take them seriously in the game. ”

América de Cali coach Lozada also expressed his respect for Sao Paulo, but still did not take Sao Paulo seriously in his words: "Sao Paulo is a strong team, but I don't know much about them. At home, we're going to play the way we're going to play and we won't make any special adjustments. Ricardo? I've heard of him, he's been selected for the new Brazilian national team. He is still young and has a bright future. But Gonzalez will do his job. ”