Recap
Ponte Preta are going through one of the most difficult periods in the club’s recent history. Following relegation from the Paulista Championship, their problems have continued in Série B, where they sit at the bottom of the table with a record of 2-4-19. They are also without a victory in their last 19 league matches, an extraordinary run of 0-3-16.
The financial situation has reached a critical point. The club has reportedly gone around seven months without paying salaries, creating enormous internal pressure and provoking protests from supporters. The latest sign of the crisis is that Ponte Preta’s players will not enter pre-match concentration ahead of the meeting with São Bernardo at the Majestoso, using the decision as another form of protest over their unpaid wages.
Coach Gilson Kleina will once again have extremely limited resources at his disposal, with only six first-team players currently available. He will therefore have to rely heavily on academy players to complete the squad. The situation is largely a consequence of the financial crisis, with 19 players having left the club since the beginning of Série B, including three departures this week alone: midfielder Léo Gomes and forwards Baianinho and Brandão. On top of that, Kleina is also dealing with four injured players.
São Bernardo have one of the strongest away records in the division and are currently the second-best travelling team in Série B. Although they have gone four matches without a victory, this represents an excellent opportunity for them to return to winning ways against a Ponte Preta side facing unprecedented sporting and financial problems.