Corinthians and Palmeiras meet at 18h30 on Sunday at Neo Química Arena in a São Paulo derby that carries far more weight for the hosts than the visitors. The game is the 11th round of the 2026 Campeonato Brasileiro, and it lands with Corinthians stuck in 16th place on ten points after seven rounds without a league win.
Palmeiras arrive leading the table with 25 points and cannot be overtaken in this round, even after drawing with Junior Barranquilla in Colombia on Wednesday in the Libertadores opener. Corinthians have not won in Itaquera for two months, but they did beat Platense earlier in the week, a result that was said to have given the squad new energy.
For Corinthians, the biggest absence remains Memphis Depay, who is still recovering from a muscle injury in his right thigh. The club also will be without André Ramalho, who is suspended, while João Pedro Tchoca, Pedro Milans, Charles and Gui Negão are all out with injuries. André Carrillo could step into midfield in place of Breno Bidon, and he is among the players one booking away from suspension along with Fabrizio Angileri, Gustavo Henrique, Hugo Souza and Matheuzinho.
Palmeiras also go in with important gaps. Abel Ferreira is suspended by the STJD and will not be on the bench after his appeal for a stay of the punishment was denied, with another judgment scheduled for next week. Jhon Arias is suspended as well, while Paulinho, Piquerez, Vitor Roque and Jefté are all unavailable for physical or medical reasons. Sosa is expected to start after scoring the equalizer against Junior Barranquilla, and Carlos Miguel, Khellven, Marlon Freitas, Andreas Pereira, Allan and Luighi are all one yellow card from a ban.
Flávio Rodrigues de Souza will referee the derby, with Alex Ang Ribeiro and Nailton Junior de Sousa Oliveira as assistants, Fernando Antônio Mendes de Salles Nascimento Filho as fourth official and Daniel Nobre Bins on VAR. Premiere will broadcast the match live across Brazil, with Record and Cazé TV also carrying it and ge following along in real time. The lineup uncertainty on both sides leaves room for one more twist before kickoff, but the table does not: Palmeiras can stay clear at the top, while Corinthians need a result that changes the mood around Itaquera.
