How Capivariano’s underdogs surged through the Paulistão to face Palmeiras in the last eight | OneFootball

Back in the top flight after a decade, Capivariano have defied expectations to reach the Paulistão quarter-finals, where they meet Palmeiras at Arena Barueri on Saturday at 20:30.

According to Globo.com, while traditional teams, including Libertadores entrants like Mirassol, are out, the club from Capivari, 65 kilometres from São Paulo and home to 50,000 people, have delivered firsts in their 107-year history, a Paulistão knockout berth, qualification for the 2027 Série D and a spot in next season’s Copa do Brasil.

The turnaround started off the pitch. Élio Sizenando, 54, is the second longest-serving coach in this Paulistão behind Abel Ferreira, having led the team since late 2021, with a loan to Figueirense in the second half of 2025 while helping plan this season. In that span Capivariano earned promotions in the Série A3 in 2023 and Série A2 in 2025.

Continuity mattered. Several players remain from A3 days, notably striker Vinicius Popó, a Cruzeiro academy product who has scored for Capivariano across all three state tiers. For this campaign they added 25 reinforcements, including returnees and signings such as midfielder Bruno Silva, ex-Vasco and São Paulo, and forwards Rodoflo, ex-Cruzeiro, and Felipe Azevedo, formerly of Santos, Ceará, Sport and América-MG.

With no fixtures in the second half of 2025, pre-season began on 3 November. The Estádio Carlos Colnaghi was refurbished, with a new pitch, upgraded lighting and fresh paint.

They finished the first phase seventh on 13 points from eight games, four wins, one draw and three defeats. In a direct duel with Botafogo-SP, Azevedo struck at 50 minutes of the second half with a player sent off, sealing a G-8 place and eliminating Guarani.

Azevedo said many had doubted them, accepted the underdog tag and hoped another upset could follow in the quarter-final. The tie is a single match, with penalties if it ends level.

Source: Globo.com