Palmeiras Vs Fluminense: Arias returns to Arena Barueri and how to watch
palmeiras vs fluminense kicks off at 21h30 (de Brasília) on Wednesday in the fourth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro 2026 at Arena Crefisa Barueri, a match that blends table implications with the emotional return of Jhon Arias to his former club.
Palmeiras Vs Fluminense at Arena Crefisa Barueri
The match is set for 21h30 (de Brasília) in Barueri and will be shown on TV Globo (except Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul), Premiere and getv, with live minute-by-minute coverage noted for the fixture. Palmeiras tops the Brasileirão after three games with two wins and a draw, while Fluminense has the same record — seven points from three matches — and opens the round third on goal difference.
Palmeiras arrives after a 3–1 win over Internacional at Beira-Rio and a 4–0 victory over Capivariano that secured progression to the Campeonato Paulista semifinal; the club has a run of three home matches and the coaching staff expects to repeat the starting XI used Saturday against Capivariano. The probable Palmeiras XI listed includes Carlos Miguel, Khellven, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo and Piquerez; Marlon Freitas, Andreas Pereira and Mauricio; Allan, Flaco López and Vitor Roque. Who is out: Paulinho (surgery on the right leg) and Emiliano Martínez (left calf pain).
Fluminense comes off a 1–0 win over Botafogo, with the goal credited to Lucho Acosta, and the squad is unbeaten since the main group regrouped, running nine matches with eight wins and one draw. The likely Flu lineup shows Fábio; Guga, Ignácio, Freytes and Arana; Bernal, Martinelli and Acosta; Serna, Savarino and Ganso (Santiago Moreno). Nonato is sidelined with a right thigh injury and Canobbio is suspended; Savarino is expected to take Canobbio's place.
Arias' return and the 'novo Arias' expectation
All eyes will be on Jhon Arias, who left Fluminense after 2025 and returned to Brazil with Palmeiras; the club paid R$ 154 million for the transfer. At Fluminense he played 230 games, scored 47 goals and provided 55 assists, winning the Copa Libertadores in 2023, the Recopa Sul-Americana in 2024 and two Carioca titles in 2022 and 2023.
Club staff have highlighted a different Arias in training and at his presentation, and the player said he has great respect for Fluminense and clear ambitions of fighting for titles with Palmeiras. After a short outing against Capivariano — little more than 15 minutes on the field — Arias is expected to start this match on the bench, with the coaching plan favoring established starters for the immediate fixture.
A memory from Arena Barueri that still lingers
Barueri holds a vivid memory for Fluminense fans: the stadium hosted a decisive clash 16 years ago that helped the club secure the 2010 Brasileiro. In that penultimate-round match in 2010, Palmeiras opened with a 4th-minute goal from Dinei before Carlinhos equalized and Tartá struck 13 minutes into the second half to seal a 2–1 win for Fluminense; the victory put the tricolor in position to lift the title after beating Guarani in the final round.
The 2010 lineups read as follows in the match record: Palmeiras — Deola; Márcio Araújo, Maurício Ramos, Leandro Amaro and Gabriel Silva; Pierre, Marcos Assunção and Tinga; Dinei, Kleber and Luan. Fluminense — Ricardo Berna; Mariano, Gum, Leandro Euzébio and Carlinhos; Valencia, Diguinho, Deco (Tartá) and Conca; Emerson (Rodriguinho) and Fred. That history adds an extra narrative layer to this return to Barueri for both clubs.
Match officials for the upcoming fixture are listed as referee Felipe Fernandes de Lima (MG) with assistants Fernanda Nandrea Gomes Antunes (MG) and Felipe Alan Costa de Oliveira (MG); VAR will be handled by Rafael Traci (SC).
For fans planning their evening: kickoff is 21h30 (de Brasília) on Wednesday in the fourth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro 2026, televised on TV Globo (except MG and RS), Premiere and getv. Palmeiras is expected to field the same starting XI used against Capivariano as it begins a run of three home matches; Fluminense will be without Nonato and Canobbio, with Savarino likely stepping in for the suspended Canobbio.
