São Paulo v Chapecoense: early title pace meets unbeaten top-half start | OneFootball

São Paulo host Chapecoense in the Brasileirão on Thursday, 12 March 2026 at Estádio Dr. Oswaldo Teixeira Duarte, with the hosts sitting second and the visitors in the Sudamericana places after unbeaten league starts.

São Paulo have taken 10 points from four games to sit second, while Chapecoense are 10th with five from three. The last two league meetings in 2021 ended 1-1.

Tricolor Paulista have opened with three wins and a draw, built on a defence that has conceded only two league goals so far. Chape are also unbeaten in the league, with one win and two draws, and have carried a punch in attack, scoring eight times across those three matches.

Injury absences could shape selections. For the hosts, forwards André Silva and Ryan Francisco are sidelined. Chape list defenders Marcos and Mancha out, midfielder Bruno Matias unavailable, and forwards Robert and Maurício Garcez de Jesus also absent, trimming options at both ends.

Tricolor Paulista may lean on the experience of Lucas Moura and Jonathan Calleri for end product, with Pablo Maia and Cauly supplying control. Chape could look to Perotti or Marcinho to stretch the back line, while Giovanni Augusto's craft may be key between the lines.

Soberano could tighten their grip on the Libertadores places and keep pressure on the early leaders. Verdão do Oeste, already in the Sudamericana spots, could consolidate a strong start and climb further with a positive result.