Palmeiras beat São Paulo 2-1 in the Campeonato Paulista semifinal at Arena Barueri on Sunday, March 1, 2026. With goals from Maurício and Flaco López, the green-and-white team secured a spot in the final against Novorizontino. São Paulo pulled one back via Calleri's penalty but couldn't overturn the score.
The semifinal match between Palmeiras and São Paulo in the Campeonato Paulista took place on the evening of March 1, 2026, at Arena Barueri. Palmeiras, coached by Abel Ferreira, opened the scoring in the seventh minute of the first half with a goal from Maurício, following a cross from Vitor Roque. The team maintained superiority in the initial stage, neutralizing São Paulo's attempts to level the game.
In the second half, São Paulo protested a non-awarded penalty after the ball hit Gustavo Gómez's arm. Referee Daiane Muniz, assisted by VAR, upheld the decision not to call the infraction. At the 11th minute, Flaco López made it 2-0, with an assist from Joaquin Piquerez and a deflection on the ball's path.
At the 20th minute, São Paulo was awarded a penalty after Marlon Freitas hit Bobadilla's face in the area. Jonathan Calleri converted, pulling one back to 2-1. The match grew more balanced and tense, with complaints from both sides, until the final whistle at the 52nd minute.
With the win, Palmeiras reaches its seventh consecutive Paulistão final, a record that includes titles in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2025. In the final, they will face Novorizontino, who had a better goal difference in the previous phase, in matches scheduled for March 4 and 8, with the second at the opponent's home.
São Paulo, led by Crespo, returns to action on March 12 in the Brasileirão against Chapecoense. Both teams top the national league with 10 points, with Palmeiras ahead on goal difference and set to face Vasco on the same day.
