Analysis: Palmeiras claim vital win in shortened Campeonato Paulista | OneFootball

Palmeiras started 2026 with an important victory. This Saturday (10), Abel Ferreira’s team went to Canindé and beat Portuguesa 1-0 in the opening round of the Paulistão, with a goal from Luighi.The victory, which might seem like just another in the midst of a state championship’s first phase, carries significant weight. With the Campeonato Paulista reduced to eight first-phase matchdays, under new regulations similar to the Champions League, of which three matches are classics, a win in one of the more accessible games becomes almost a mandatory three points for qualification.

In addition to a schedule packed with classics, not every team will drop points against the so-called giants of São Paulo football, since teams in pot 4, for example, will play only one of these matches. At the end of eight rounds, the top eight secure a spot in the quarterfinals. (See how the regulations work by clicking here).

With preseason starting on Sunday (4) and the players only taking the field on Tuesday (6), Abel Ferreira gave his main stars some rest. Of the usual starters, only Carlos Miguel, Allan, and Murilo began among the starting eleven, along with the newly signed Marlon Freitas.Verdão didn’t face many difficulties and created the best chances against a team that will compete in Série D this year. Portuguesa’s chances were limited to aerial balls—a situation that still lingers from 2025—and individual mistakes in ball distribution by Murilo and Carlos Miguel, in two isolated incidents in the first half.It’s true that at the start of the second half, things got easier for Palmeiras. Igor Torres made a violent tackle on Larson and was shown a straight red card.

And the numerical advantage paid off. Larson, one of the team’s standouts in only his second professional match, set up Maurício right in front of goal, and he simply passed it to the side for Luighi to finish. 1-0.

With a man up, it was just a matter of managing energy and controlling the game. After all, next Wednesday (14) is already derby day against Santos—one of the three classics in the eight first-phase matches. Besides Portuguesa, the team will face Mirassol, Novorizontino, Botafogo-SP, and Guarani in this first phase.

What now?

After opening the season with a win, Verdão faces Santos next Wednesday (14), at 6:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at Arena Crefisa Barueri. The match is valid for the second round of the first phase of the Campeonato Paulista.

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