Fluminense dominated São Paulo with a 6-0 victory on the night of November 27, in the 36th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro at the Maracanã. The win propelled the Rio team to fifth place with 58 points, securing a spot in the G-7 and the 2026 Copa Libertadores. São Paulo, with 48 points, stays eighth and hopes for qualification through the Copa do Brasil.
The match, played at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro, marked the biggest thrashing in the history of clashes between the two tricolores, tying the 6-0 score from 2002 but with a Fluminense win this time. Fluminense built their lead in the first half, opening the score with a penalty converted by Canobbio in the 5th minute after the ball hit a São Paulo defender's arm. Soon after, Martinelli extended it on a rebound from Everaldo's header, and Nonato made it 3-0 at the 23rd minute in a counterattack started by Serna.
In the second half, the dominance persisted: John Kennedy scored the fourth in an individual play, Canobbio netted his second with a crossed shot, and Serna sealed the score at the 41st minute after a pass from Ganso via Soteldo. The goals came from Canobbio (twice), Martinelli, Nonato, John Kennedy, and Serna.
With the result, Fluminense overtook Botafogo in the standings, taking fifth place with 58 points and unable to drop from the G-7, which secures a Libertadores spot. São Paulo, coached by Hernán Crespo and missing 15 players (13 due to injury, plus suspensions), remained eighth with 48 points, now 10 points behind Flu. To qualify, the Paulista side needs to finish eighth and hope Fluminense or Cruzeiro wins the Copa do Brasil, turning G-7 into G-8.
After the loss, defender Luiz Gustavo criticized the team's performance and demanded accountability from the board. "The blame is ours. We players made the mess we did today," he told SporTV, calling for a clear plan for the club. Fluminense faces Grêmio next Tuesday (December 2) in Porto Alegre at 9:30 PM. São Paulo hosts Internacional on Wednesday (3) at 8 PM at Vila Belmiro.