Rafael: São Paulo fans relieved after win, tough days over | OneFootball

Going through a terrible phase, both on and off the field, São Paulo finally got back on the winning track this Saturday night (25) by defeating Bahia 2-0 in the 30th round of the Brasileirão.

Hernán Crespo’s team played beautiful football and outplayed Rogério Ceni’s side, who suffered yet another defeat against his former club.

The one who best expressed the feelings of the tricolor fans was goalkeeper Rafael, who didn’t have to make as many saves as usual, but performed well as always when called upon.

“A feeling of gratitude and relief. We needed this win. More than just the good feeling of getting three points, the sense of having delivered, of having dedicated ourselves, made the victory deserved. I’m happy for the group,” said the São Paulo goalkeeper as he left the field at Morumbi.

“We went through tough days during those defeats. Having this response at home, with the support of the fans, was important. It brings confidence to play the eight finals we have left in the Brasileirão,” emphasized the team captain, whose only goal is to qualify for the 2026 Libertadores.

The victory ‘stops the bleeding’ and leaves Tricolor with 41 points, five behind Botafogo, currently sixth in the table and the last team qualifying for the Libertadores.

The team returns to the field next Sunday (11/2), against Vasco da Gama, away from home, at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), in yet another match that has become a direct clash for the remaining objective of the year.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.