Paulo Sérgio: Corinthians favourites, but Novorizontino have a chance | OneFootball

Former player for Novorizontino and Corinthians, Paulo Sérgio previewed the clash between the teams in the semifinals of the Campeonato Paulista in an exclusive interview with Gazeta Esportiva. He sees Timão as the favorite, but highlights the strength of Tigre when playing at home.

“I believe Corinthians are the favorites because they are a big, prominent team, but we also can’t underestimate Novorizontino, who had the best campaign. At home, they are a very tough team to play against,” he said.

Novorizontino boasts a 100% home record in the Paulistão and has the best attack in the competition. The team’s dominance at the Jorge Ismael de Biasi stadium dates back to 1990, when they last reached the state final.

That year, Tigre faced Bragantino in the match that became known as the ‘Final Caipira’. Former striker Paulo Sérgio, who played in that match, pointed out the steps Novorizontino will need to take to return to the final after 36 years.

“We had a very experienced team, players who had played for big clubs. We knew what we wanted. Nowadays, the team has been fighting for years to reach the top tier of the Brazilian Championship, and they have everything it takes to play a great match and reach the final if they play with determination, don’t give space, and don’t make mistakes. But of course, it’s always tough to play against Corinthians. For the first time, I’m rooting for both teams,” he joked.

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Time at Novo Horizonte

Discovered by Corinthians, Paulo Sérgio played for Novorizontino between 1989 and 1990. The former player said that, at first, he didn’t want to be loaned to the club, but was convinced by Timão’s president at the time, Vicente Matheus.

He returned to the Parque São Jorge team in 1990 and helped the club win the Brazilian title that year. Because of this, the match between the two teams is “nostalgic” for the former athlete.

“For me, it’s a nostalgic game. I started at Corinthians when I was 13. I remember when Novorizontino came up, I didn’t want to go. Vicente Matheus said I had to go, so I went. To my surprise, I was able to reach the final of the Campeonato Paulista, the first ‘caipira’ final in the state of São Paulo. It was a very important moment for me,” he recalled.

Novorizontino and Corinthians face off at 8:30 p.m. (Brasília time) this Saturday at Jorge Ismael de Biasi, to determine the first team to qualify for the final of the Campeonato Paulista. The match will be played as a single game, so if it ends in a draw in regular time, the decision will go to penalties.

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