Abel faces toughest derby with São Paulo, Verdão unbeaten in 2026 | OneFootball

The clash between Palmeiras and São Paulo, this Saturday (21), at 9:00 PM (Brasília time), at Morumbis, is yet another match that promises to be tense between the clubs. The Brasileirão duel promises a lot of tension in a decisive game for the leadership. With exchanges of barbs between the managements, the teams will meet for the third time in 2026.

Since arriving at the club in 2020, Abel has turned the Choque-Rei into the most frequent matchup of his career in Brazilian football. More than just frequency, the derby has gained competitive weight, with decisive matches, eliminations, and high-tension games both on and off the field.

In 2026, Palmeiras comes in at a solid moment. The team maintains a 100% record in derbies this season. Part of this confidence comes precisely from their recent performance against their rival: there were two victories in the Campeonato Paulista, both played in Barueri — 3-1 in the first phase and 2-1 in the semifinal.

On São Paulo’s side, the derby also reflects a period of change. Throughout the Abel era, the Palmeiras coach has faced different managers on the Tricolor bench, such as Hernán Crespo, Rogério Ceni, Dorival Júnior, and Thiago Carpini. This sequence highlights São Paulo’s recent instability, in contrast with the continuity of work at Palmeiras.

The scenario adds even more pressure to this weekend’s clash, especially due to the exchange of barbs between the directors this Thursday (19).

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