Ponte Preta was officially relegated from the Paulista Championship following their 2-0 defeat to Portuguesa on Saturday, marking them as the first team to be relegated in this season's edition. The team from Campinas collected just one point throughout the tournament, and with only one match remaining in the group stage, their maximum attainable points stand at four. This places them in a dire situation, especially as the Velo Clube, positioned at 15th, also has four points, and Santos, in 14th place, has six points, sealing Ponte Preta's unfortunate fate.

This season operates on a format where the top eight teams from the initial phase advance to an elimination round, except for the final, which consists of two legs. The bottom two teams, like Ponte Preta, are relegated to Série A2. Ponte Preta previously faced relegation in 2022 but made a quick comeback after winning the Série A2 in 2023, highlighting the club's fluctuating fortunes in Brazilian football.

Their historical journey includes their first national title win in October 2025 when they triumphed in the Série C of the Campeonato Brasileiro. Meanwhile, Portuguesa's victory not only contributed to Ponte Preta's downfall but also propelled them to second place in the standings, keeping alive their hopes of a strong finish as they prepare for the concluding rounds of the championship.