Fortaleza v São Paulo: live stream, stats, head-to-head, line-ups | OneFootball

On Thursday night, Fortaleza and São Paulo face off in a match valid for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship. The ball rolls from 7:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza (CE).

Where to watch Fortaleza x São Paulo live?

How does Fortaleza arrive for the confrontation?

Fortaleza, for its part, has found its way back to victory since the arrival of coach Martín Palermo. The Lion of Pici achieved two victories and suffered one defeat in the first three games under the command of the Argentine and dreams of leaving the relegation zone in the sequence of the Brasileirão.

Fortaleza currently occupies the second-to-last position in the Brazilian Championship, with 21 points. The Lion of Pici slipped a lot throughout the competition and tries to pick up the pieces in this final stretch to avoid relegation. The first team outside the Z4 at the moment is Santos, with 27 points.

In the last round of the Brasileirão, Fortaleza beat Sport in the duel of the last placed, by 1 to 0, at Arena Castelão. Lucas Sasha shook the nets for the home team.

How does São Paulo arrive for the confrontation?

São Paulo is going through a bad time in the season. The Tricolor was recently eliminated from the Copa Libertadores and comes from a sequence of four consecutive defeats - lost both games against LDU-EQU (2 to 0 in the first leg and 1 to 0 in the return), in addition to having accumulated setbacks against Santos and Ceará, both by 1 to 0.

The players led by coach Hernán Crespo, including, parked in the seventh position of the Brazilian Championship and saw Bahia and Botafogo increase the distances in the G6. At this moment, the Tricolor has 35 points, while the other two teams add up to 40 points.

In the last round of the Brasileirão, São Paulo was defeated by Ceará at Morumbis. The team lost 1-0, with a goal from Pedro Henrique in the second half.

History of the confrontation between Fortaleza and São Paulo

The history of the confrontation points to a slight favoritism of São Paulo, but it is quite balanced. In 31 matches played between the teams, the Tricolor has 12 victories in favor, against nine victories of Fortaleza. The duel also reserved ten draws.

More recently, however, it is Fortaleza who has prevailed. The Lion of Pici defends an invincibility of four years against São Paulo. The last defeat to the São Paulo rival happened in 2020, for the Brasileirão, when it lost by 3 to 2 at Castelão. From then on, there were 11 games, with six victories and five draws.

The last commitment between the teams, including, ended in a 0-0 draw. Ferreirinha missed a penalty in the match valid for the seventh round of the current edition of the Brazilian, played at Morumbis.

(Photo: Paulo Pinto / São Paulo FC)

Statistics

São Paulo started the Brazilian Championship low and even fought against relegation, but recovered after the arrival of Hernán Crespo. The Tricolor has a campaign of nine victories, eight draws and eight defeats, totaling a performance of 46.6% of the points. There were 27 goals scored and 25 conceded in 25 rounds.

The Tricolor, however, faces a goal drought that has lasted four matches. The São Paulo team has been struggling to shake the nets, especially with the absences of the center forwards Calleri, Ryan Francisco and André Silva. Crespo has been looking for alternatives, but still sees Luciano live a fast that has lasted 13 matches.

São Paulo, which visits Fortaleza this Thursday, is still among the worst visitors of the Brazilian Championship this season. In 12 matches, the Tricolor only added three victories, with two draws and seven defeats, having 30.5% of performance.

On the other hand, Fortaleza is still trying to save itself from relegation in Serie A. The Lion of Pici is having a bad campaign and tries to improve its numbers. There are five victories, six draws and 13 defeats in 24 games for the national tournament (29.1% of performance), with 24 goals scored and 38 conceded.

The history of Fortaleza at home in the current edition of the Brazilian is also not the best. The team accumulates five victories, two draws and six defeats within its domains, with 43.5% of performance.

The confrontation, thus, reserves a team with difficulties to shake the nets (São Paulo) against a team that has the second worst defense of the Brasileirão (Fortaleza). Now it remains to be seen who will get the better in the clash.

Fortaleza in the season

São Paulo in the season

Probable lineups

São Paulo arrives at the match with a long list of absences. The Tricolor still gained two losses after the match against Ceará. Arboleda received the third yellow and will have to serve a suspension, while Rafael Tolói had a lesion in the posterior muscle of the left thigh confirmed and joined the club's medical department.

In addition to the two defenders, São Paulo will also not have Alan Franco (overload in the right thigh), Lucas (spared for the Shock-King), Calleri (surgery on the left knee), Ryan Francisco (surgery on the left knee), André Silva (injury to the posterior cruciate ligament and stretching of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee), Luan (injury to the right adductor) and Ferraresi (injury to the left adductor).

Due to the low number of defenders, the young Isac, from the under-20, was related. Even so, with only two players of origin in the position, Crespo may be forced to change the tactical scheme of São Paulo for the match against Fortaleza. Another alternative is to use the young defensive midfielder Negrucci improvised in the sector. The boy has already performed such a function in the classic against Santos.

On the other hand, the Tricolor will have two important new features in the delegation: the midfielders Oscar and Marcos Antônio have recovered from physical problems and have been related again. The number 8 is back after fracturing three lumbar vertebrae, but the expectation is of a gradual return.

São Paulo will still need to take special care with players who are pending. The team has seven athletes who, if they receive the third yellow card, will miss the team in the classic against Palmeiras.

Fortaleza, on the other hand, will have two losses due to suspension: the fullbacks Mancuso and Bruno Pacheco took the third yellow against Sport and are out of the game this Thursday. In addition, the right-back Weverson and the forward Moisés should continue to be absent.

On the other hand, coach Martín Palermo should be able to count on the return of Tinga, recovered from injury, and will have the certain return of Brítez, who served a suspension against Sport and is available.

Probable lineup of Fortaleza

João Ricardo; Brítez, Gazal, Ávila and Diogo Barbosa; Lucas Sasha, Matheus Pereira, Yago Pikachu, Breno Lopes and Lucas Crispim; Deyverson.

Probable lineup of São Paulo

Rafael; Cédric Soares, Negrucci (Isac), Sabino and Enzo Díaz; Marcos Antônio (Alisson), Bobadilla and Rodriguinho; Rigoni, Ferreirinha and Luciano. Coach: Hernán Crespo

Refereeing of Fortaleza x São Paulo

Next game of São Paulo

Next game of Fortaleza

📋 TECHNICAL SHEET

🔵🔴⚪️ FORTALEZA X SÃO PAULO 🔴⚪️⚫️

🏆Competition: Brazilian Championship (26th round) 🏟️Location: Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza (CE) 📆Date: October 2, 2025 (Thursday) ⏰Time: at 7:30 pm (Brasília time)

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