Matheus Bidu eyes Corinthians win, extra Derby motivation | OneFootball

Corinthians and Palmeiras face off for the first time in 2026 this Sunday, in the seventh round of the Campeonato Paulista, at the Neo Química Arena. A standout in Timão, Matheus Bidu emphasized the motivation to play the Derby and stressed that the team cannot rely on the recent good record of the classic to relax on the field.

“There is always greater motivation when it's a Derby. We know that the Derby here means a lot. Regardless of past results, we try to focus on this year. We cannot relax and think everything is fine. We have to stay focused, with the same drive. Keep doing what we did in the last games. God willing, everything will work out, and we'll leave with the three points,” he said.

If they beat their rival, Corinthians will surpass Palmeiras in the Campeonato Paulista standings. At the moment, Timão is in fifth place in the tournament with 11 points, while Verdão is third in the table, with 12 points.

Derby Details

 Competition: Campeonato Paulista (7th round)  Location: Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo (SP)  Date: February 8, 2026 (Sunday)  Time: at 8:30 PM (Brasília time)

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