Winning derbies brings calm, but doesn’t guarantee trophies | OneFootball

Palmeiras faces Corinthians for the seventh time in 2025 this Sunday (31). The record is negative, after all, there have been two eliminations, one of which resulted in the loss of the Campeonato Paulista title. Abel Ferreira said he prefers “winning titles instead of winning derbies.”

Palmeiras’ performance in derbies under Abel Ferreira’s staff is 57%. In the current season, that number has dropped to about 43% of points earned. The below-par performance in the Dérbi, with only one win in six encounters, contributed to this decline.

In a championship like the Brasileirão, it’s clear that the derby is not a decisive factor for becoming champion, but it does bring peace of mind to continue pursuing titles. The rival is a prime example of this. In a turbulent moment off the pitch, victories over Palmeiras brought peace, especially with a trophy that hadn’t been won in six years.

It’s part of Abel’s role to ease the weight of the match externally, especially after the organized supporters labeled it as an “obligation.” The green side of the rivalry has much more to gain, especially since they are in the race for the trophy. On the other side, the goal is different and the focus is on the Copa do Brasil, precisely one of the competitions in which they eliminated their biggest rival.

In a two-week period without matches leading up to the FIFA date and preparation for the Libertadores quarterfinals, the clash in Itaquera isn’t for a title, but it is for peace of mind ahead of an important moment.

Upcoming Palmeiras matches

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