Palmeiras and São Paulo clash in Choque‑Rei semifinal at Arena Barueri
palmeiras faces São Paulo at 20h30 (de Brasília) in a single‑match semifinal of the Campeonato Paulista de 2026 at Arena Crefisa Barueri, with a place in the two‑leg final at stake and both teams arriving in strong runs of form.
Palmeiras in form after six matches unbeaten
The current vice‑champion arrives having gone six matches unbeaten this season — five wins and one draw — scoring 15 goals in that stretch, four of them in the quarterfinal that eliminated Capivariano, a run that has helped Abel Ferreira settle on a preferred starting eleven.
Abel’s probable lineup lists Carlos Miguel; Khellven, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo and Piquerez; Marlon Freitas, Andreas Pereira, Mauricio (Arias) and Allan; Flaco López and Vitor Roque, while Paulinho (cirurgia na perna direita), Figueiredo (transição) and Emi Martínez (lesão na panturrilha esquerda) are out of the matchday squad.
São Paulo arrives more rested and rotated
São Paulo reached the semifinal after a 2–1 quarterfinal win over Bragantino in Bragança Paulista, with goals from Bobadilla and Lucas Moura, and comes into the Choque‑Rei with a run of eight unbeaten games this season — seven wins and one draw.
The Tricolor has managed minutes more carefully in recent fixtures: in the midweek match in Paraná the coach fielded a mixed eleven and preserved main starters, and the probable São Paulo lineup shows Rafael in goal; Lucas Ramon, Arboleda (Ferraresi), Sabino and Enzo Díaz; Bobadilla, Danielzinho and Marcos Antônio; Lucas, Luciano and Calleri, with Alan Franco unavailable after a red card suspension and Arboleda set to replace him.
Kickoff, officials, and how to watch
The semifinal kicks off at 20h30 (de Brasília) at Arena Crefisa Barueri, a temporary venue while Allianz Parque’s pitch is being replaced, and viewers can follow the match on TNT, CazeTV, Record and HBO Max.
The match officials listed for the Choque‑Rei include Daiane Muniz as árbitro, Neusa Ines Back and Fabrini Bevilaqua Costa as assistentes, Marianna Nanni Batalha as quarto árbitro, and Thiago Duarte Peixoto operating VAR.
With a single match deciding who advances to the two‑leg final of the Campeonato Paulista de 2026, both teams must manage fitness and suspensions carefully: palmeiras may keep Jhon Arias on the bench again, while São Paulo adjusts for Alan Franco’s suspension, choices that will directly shape midfield balance and attacking options at kickoff.
The next confirmed event after this one is the Paulistão final, which will be contested over two legs for the title; for now, both clubs must focus on winning the semifinal at Arena Crefisa Barueri to secure a spot in that decisive tie.
