Palmeiras Advances to Seventh Consecutive Paulistão Final After Victory Over São Paulo

Palmeiras secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against São Paulo on March 1, 2026, to reach the final of the Campeonato Paulista for the seventh consecutive year. The match, held at Arena Barueri, saw Palmeiras take control early with a goal from Maurício in the 7th minute following a well-orchestrated move involving Flaco López and Vitor Roque. Flaco López doubled Palmeiras' advantage in the 57th minute with a precise finish, while São Paulo's Calleri converted a penalty in the 68th minute to reduce the deficit.

The game featured contentious refereeing decisions by Daiane Muniz, notably the non-award of a clear penalty against Palmeiras' Gustavo Gómez, which São Paulo coach Crespo criticized, stating, "The images speak for themselves." VAR chief Thiago Duarte Peixoto also faced criticism for not intervening.

Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira emphasized the difficulty of such intense derbies and expressed satisfaction with reaching the final, underscoring the need to respect their upcoming opponent. The final opponent will be Novorizontino, which notably eliminated Corinthians. The two teams are currently tied on points in the league, but Palmeiras holds a better goal difference (8 to 6).

This final will mark a departure for Palmeiras, as it will be their first away final after four straight finals played at Allianz Parque. The first leg is scheduled for April 4 at Novorizontino’s Estádio Jorge Ismael de Biasi, with the return leg on April 8.

Flaco López highlighted the team’s growing solidarity and collective effort, saying, "Everyone runs to help each other," expressing confidence in Palmeiras’ ability to continue their winning legacy despite playing away from home for the first time in the final.

The match drew a strong crowd of 29,717 spectators with gate revenue exceeding one million Brazilian reais, underscoring the high stakes and fan engagement. Palmeiras aims to maintain its dominance in the Paulistão and add another trophy to its recent successful campaigns, despite the challenges posed by strong opponents and controversial incidents during the semifinal clash.