Palmeiras Faces Crucial Match Against Mirassol in Paulistão

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Palmeiras is set to face Mirassol on Sunday, February 23, at 6:30 p.m. (local time) in a critical matchup for the 12th round of the Campeonato Paulista. This contest will take place at the Estádio Primeiro de Maio in São Bernardo do Campo. Mirassol is currently positioned second in Group A and has already secured a place in the quarterfinals, while Palmeiras is fighting for its playoff spot in the competitive Group D.

Both teams have faced off 14 times, with Palmeiras holding a significant advantage. The Verdão has achieved eight victories against Mirassol’s three wins, with three matches ending in draws. Their last encounter occurred in the previous season, where Palmeiras triumphed 3-1 at home. Goals came from Aníbal Moreno, Raphael Veiga, and Breno Lopes, while Rodrigo Ferreira scored for Mirassol.

Mirassol began the season strongly but has recently struggled, failing to secure a win in their last five matches in the state championship. Their latest defeat was a 3-0 loss to RB Bragantino. They currently hold 16 points, which puts them five points ahead of Botafogo-SP and significantly behind leading Corinthians, who have 26 points.

In their recent matches, Mirassol has experienced a dip in form:

• February 20, 2025: Bragantino 3 – 0 Mirassol (Loss)
• February 17, 2025: Novorizontino 2 – 1 Mirassol (Loss)
• February 12, 2025: Mirassol 1 – 2 Ponte Preta (Loss)
• February 8, 2025: Mirassol 1 – 1 Noroeste (Draw)
• February 5, 2025: São Paulo 4 – 1 Mirassol (Loss)

Neto Moura will be suspended, impacting Mirassol’s lineup today. Conversely, Palmeiras is coming off a 3-1 victory over Botafogo-SP, improving their chances of moving ahead in the competition. Currently, they sit third in Group D with 20 points, needing to win against Mirassol and rely on results from other matches to avoid early elimination.

The Palmeiras lineup has injuries affecting several key players, including Maurício and Paulinho, who are recovering from various ailments. Zagueiros Murilo and Gustavo Gómez will also miss out, adding to the team’s challenges as they prepare for this match.

Despite Mirassol’s home advantage, their recent form, including five games without a win and a coaching change this week, raises concerns. Meanwhile, Palmeiras needs nothing less than victory under pressure to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Prediction for the match indicates that Palmeiras is favored to win, with current odds at 1.48. They boast one of the best attacks in the league, despite Mirassol’s solid start to the season which has faltered lately.

Fans looking to tune into today’s match can do so via UOL Play, which will cover the game live. The anticipation surrounding this decisive matchup highlights the significance for both teams in the context of the state championship.