**Escorpiones Belén and Herediano sit at the bottom of the early 2026-27 Apertura table after eight rounds, with just 4 and 7 points respectively, while Deportivo Saprissa leads comfortably on 18 points.** Relegation in Liga FPD sends the last-placed side in the full-season aggregate table (Apertura plus Clausura) down to Liga de Ascenso, making consistent performance across both short tournaments decisive. The league currently fields 10 clubs following prior adjustments, and the campaign only began in late July, so form, injuries, and squad depth will shape the long-term picture. Traditional sides like Herediano face added pressure from their uncharacteristic slump, while mid-table teams such as Puntarenas and Pérez Zeledón must avoid prolonged poor runs to stay clear of the drop zone by May 2027.