Preview: Corinthians vs Sao Paulo – prediction, team news, lineups

Corinthians and Sao Paulo will meet this Sunday, Could 10, on the Neo Quimica Enviornment within the fifteenth spherical of the Brasileirao, with the primary Majestoso of the 2026 season arriving as one of the one-sided editions of the derby lately as a result of vastly totally different conditions of the 2 rivals within the league desk.

The rivals head into the conflict in sharply contrasting positions, with Sao Paulo firmly inside the highest 4 whereas Corinthians sit within the relegation zone, including even higher significance to certainly one of Brazilian soccer’s largest fixtures as each side look to strengthen their respective campaigns.

Match preview

Corinthians head into one other version of the Majestoso amid a season of sharp contrasts, sitting seventeenth within the Brasileirao with 15 factors from 14 matches after recording three wins, six attracts and 5 defeats, with their slide into the relegation zone confirmed by a 2-1 loss away to Mirassol final Sunday that additionally ended the unbeaten run that they had established since Fernando Diniz took cost in April.

Their fortunes within the Copa Libertadores, nevertheless, inform a very totally different story, as Corinthians lead Group E with ten factors from 4 matches after successful three and drawing one, whereas final Wednesday’s dramatic 1-1 comeback draw towards Independiente Santa Fe in Bogota — secured by Gustavo Henrique’s stoppage-time equaliser within the forty seventh minute of the second half — confirmed their place within the spherical of 16 and made them the primary Brazilian membership to qualify for the knockout phases.

Corinthians’ latest kind continues to underline their competitiveness throughout the Brasileirao, Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil, with Diniz overseeing 5 wins, three attracts and just one defeat in 9 matches in cost.

Whereas previous to the setback towards Mirassol, the aspect had put collectively a run of 5 victories and two attracts with out conceding a purpose — a uncommon degree of defensive consistency lately.

On the Neo Quimica Enviornment, Corinthians have appeared notably strong beneath Diniz, starting with a goalless draw towards Palmeiras within the Brasileirao earlier than following it up with victories over Santa Fe, Vasco and Penarol.

Consecutive clear sheets of their final two dwelling fixtures have additional strengthened the sense that Itaquera is as soon as once more changing into a fortress forward of the derby conflict.

On the opposite aspect, Roger Machado’s Sao Paulo arrive in way more secure kind, occupying fourth place within the Brasileirao with 24 factors from 14 rounds after gathering seven wins, three attracts and 4 defeats, leaving them simply three factors behind second-placed Flamengo and firmly within the race close to the highest of the desk.

Their away document, nevertheless, paints a much less convincing image, with Sao Paulo successful solely three, drawing one and dropping 4 matches on the street, a distinction to their total league kind that raises issues forward of one other troublesome derby task away from dwelling.

That concern is heightened by their latest visits to Itaquera, the place they drew 1-1 within the Paulistao in January after beforehand struggling a 3-1 defeat to Corinthians on the Neo Quimica Enviornment throughout the thirty fourth spherical of the 2025 Brasileirao marketing campaign.

In cup competitors, although, Sao Paulo stay unbeaten, and their most up-to-date outing noticed a closely rotated aspect safe a goalless draw away to O’Higgins in Chile throughout the fourth spherical of the Copa Sudamericana, a outcome that stored them prime of Group C on eight factors whereas sustaining their good defensive document within the match.

Sao Paulo now face a Corinthians aspect whose home inconsistency has been balanced by rising power at dwelling, and it’s this extra dependable model of Fernando Diniz’s staff on the Neo Quimica Enviornment that Roger Machado’s males should overcome if they’re to proceed their spectacular marketing campaign with a optimistic derby outcome.

Corinthians Brasileiro kind:

Corinthians kind (all competitions):

Sao Paulo Brazilian kind:

Sao Paulo kind (all competitions):

Group Information

© Imago

Corinthians are coping with a number of essential absences throughout the squad, with Memphis Depay persevering with his rehabilitation from a left thigh damage, whereas Vitinho stays sidelined with hip ache and Kayke can also be unavailable for choice.

In midfield, Andre serves a suspension imposed by the Brazilian soccer disciplinary tribunal, Allan misses out via yellow-card accumulation, and Charles remains to be recovering from a heel damage.

Defensively, centre-back Pedro Tchoca is receiving therapy for a groin challenge, whereas left-back Hugo continues his restoration following surgical procedure on the meniscus in his proper knee.

Sao Paulo, in the meantime, haven’t any suspended gamers however proceed to battle a prolonged damage checklist, with Marcos Antonio dominated out till the top of Could due to a thigh downside.

Alan Franco remains to be unavailable with a groin damage, and right-back Lucas Ramon sidelined after sustaining a calf challenge, whereas Lucas Moura, Pablo Maia, Maik, Rafael Toloi and Ryan Francisco additionally stay absent.

Corinthians attainable beginning lineup:

Souza; Matheuzinho, Paulista, Henrique, Bidu; Raniele, Bidon, Carrillo (Matheus Pereira or Kaio Cesar), Garro; Alberto, Lingard

Sao Paulo attainable beginning lineup:

Raphael; Cedric, Doria, Sabino, Wendell; Bobadilla, Danielzinho, Cauly; Luciano, Artur, Calleri

We are saying: Corinthians 1-0 Sao Paulo

The circumstances surrounding the derby seem to favour Corinthians, as their rising solidity at Itaquera beneath Fernando Diniz, mixed with Sao Paulo’s inconsistent away kind and the latest head-to-head document, factors in direction of a slender dwelling victory.

Though Sao Paulo possess sufficient attacking high quality to threaten and probably discover the web, Corinthians’ compact defensive construction and the affect of the house crowd on the Neo Química Enviornment are more likely to show decisive in what must be a intently contested encounter.

A victory would offer Corinthians with a desperately wanted enhance within the league desk whereas additional restoring the Neo Química Enviornment’s rising popularity as a fortress beneath Diniz.

For knowledge evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.