Palmeiras and Corinthians Clash in Crucial Paulista Derby

SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Palmeiras and Corinthians will face off Thursday at 8 p.m. local time at Allianz Parque in a highly anticipated São Paulo state championship (Paulistão) match. The derby marks the conclusion of the seventh round of the 2025 tournament, with both teams vying for crucial points to secure their positions in the knockout stage.

Palmeiras, coming off a dominant 4-1 victory over Guarani, seeks to maintain momentum under coach Abel Ferreira. The win ended a two-game winless streak and lifted the team to second place in Group D with 11 points, trailing São Bernardo. Corinthians, meanwhile, aims for its third consecutive win under coach Ramón Díaz. The team leads Group A with 18 points, having won six of its seven matches.

Abel Ferreira hinted at potential lineup changes, citing concerns over player fitness. “The physical condition is a priority,” Ferreira said. “We may rotate players, but we’ll aim for our strongest lineup.” Palmeiras is expected to field Weverton in goal, with key players like Gustavo Gómez, Raphael Veiga, and Facundo Torres leading the charge.

Corinthians, on the other hand, will rely on its star power, including Memphis Depay and Yuri Alberto. The team recently rested several starters in a 1-0 win over Novorizontino, ensuring fresh legs for the derby. Díaz confirmed the return of Matheuzinho, who missed recent games due to muscle discomfort, but ruled out Rodrigo Garro, who trained with reserves ahead of the match.

The rivalry between the two clubs adds extra intensity to the fixture. Last season, Corinthians fans sparked controversy by throwing a pig’s head onto the pitch during a Brasileirão match, resulting in sanctions for the club. Both teams are eager to claim bragging rights in this year’s derby.

The match will be broadcast live, with real-time updates available on ge.globo.com. Fans can expect a high-stakes encounter as both teams push for early qualification to the quarterfinals.