Palmeiras secured their seventh consecutive appearance in the final of the 2026 Campeonato Paulista by defeating São Paulo 2-1 on Sunday night. Goals from Mauricio and Flaco López sealed the passage for Abel Ferreira's team, which will now face Novorizontino in the final. Palmeiras took the lead early in the match, with Mauricio scoring in the seventh minute, and extended their advantage in the 56th minute with a goal from Flaco López. São Paulo reduced the deficit in the 68th minute with a penalty converted by Calleri, a play that Abel Ferreira described as 'questionable.' In the end, Abel Ferreira expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, considering the victory deserved. 'We started the game very well, a very dynamic team,' said the Portuguese coach, who praised how his team exploited the spaces given by the opponent. Abel Ferreira also highlighted the performance of forward Vitor Roque, who, despite not scoring, was crucial in creating opportunities and suffered four fouls. 'To me, he’s a lion, not a cub. He has taken a lot of hits and has very unique characteristics that complement each other. If we understand him, we can get the most out of him. He needs a lot of care. Players are like flowers. Some we water and they bloom all year, while others, like orchids, we have to care for every day,' he compared. The Portuguese coach also took the opportunity to praise the collective work and mentality of his team. 'It takes a lot of work to reach the final. I don’t live for results; I’m a coach who, when not competing, seeks the performance of my players. I depend on them,' he explained, emphasizing the importance of team spirit. 'Imagine how difficult it is to leave someone out, for them to understand the collective spirit, the 'we are all one,' something much greater than the 'I,' which is the 'we.' Despite São Paulo's reaction, the coach felt that his team was superior in the Paulista derby. 'Today we were, in my opinion, better in everything that happened over the 90 minutes,' he declared. Match statistics show a balance in the number of shots (11 for each side), but Palmeiras was more effective, with four shots on target compared to just two from São Paulo. The final of the 2026 Campeonato Paulista will be played over two legs against Novorizontino. The first leg, with Palmeiras playing at home, is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, while the second leg will be in Novo Horizonte on Sunday, March 8.
Paulista Final Abel Surrendered remains central to this story.
Paulista Final Abel Surrendered remains central to this story.
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