Novorizontino top Paulista first phase and secure home quarter-final with Santos | OneFootball

Novorizontino finished top of the Campeonato Paulista first phase, the first side from outside the state’s big four to achieve it since 2020.

Globo.com reports that the Tigre do Vale amassed 16 points from five wins, one draw and two defeats, with Bragantino and Palmeiras on 16 but behind on tie-breakers.

Top spot gives Novorizontino home advantage in the quarter-final against Santos.

Since the competition adopted a 16-team field in 2017, this is only the third time a club from outside the capital’s trio de ferro have led the opening stage.

The other two instances were Bragantino in 2019 and 2020, and on both occasions they exited in the first knockout round, losing to Santos and Corinthians respectively.

After nine years, the 2026 edition introduced a new format, replacing four groups of four with a single table, from which the top eight progress to the quarter-finals and the bottom two drop to Série A2 next year.

Source: Globo.com