Palmeiras Arrives in Catanduva Ahead of Paulistão Final
palmeiras arrived in Catanduva late Saturday afternoon to begin concentration for the Paulistão final after a roughly 400 km bus trip. The team travels to face Novorizontino at 8: 30 PM ET on Sunday in Novo Horizonte. Supporters greeted the delegation in town and the squad carries a 1–0 advantage from the first leg, which means a draw will secure the title.
Palmeiras in Catanduva: arrival, lineup notes and stakes
The squad reached Catanduva without incident late Saturday afternoon ET and remained in the city to simplify logistics ahead of the match in nearby Novo Horizonte. Coaching staff chose Catanduva because it sits about 50 km from the match site; the trip from the club’s base to the final venue would have been longer from the usual staging area.
All first-team players traveled with the delegation, including Paulinho, who joined the group while still completing recovery from surgery on his right shin and is not yet available for selection. Andreas Pereira was pictured arriving with the team. The last on-field training session was held this morning at the club’s training academy, and the coaching staff will run activation work at the team hotel on Sunday morning ET.
The final carries financial stakes beyond the trophy: the champion will receive a R$ 5 million prize offered by the Federação Paulista de Futebol, while the runner-up takes a smaller prize. Palmeiras is chasing its 27th Paulistão title, and the coach stands on the brink of a milestone in club history if the team lifts the trophy.
Immediate reactions
Fans in Catanduva welcomed the delegation as it arrived, cheering and encouraging the players ahead of the decisive match. Wilson Birgoli, a local fan described as a supporter of the home side, said, “Eu era são-paulino, mas deixei de ser são-paulino para ser gremista. Porque eu mudei para a cidade e adorei o Grêmio. ”
Observers inside the city noted palmeirenses circulating calmly among locals and interacting peacefully with opposing supporters as the stadium area filled. Club staff confirmed the full traveling party was present and that match-day routines would continue under the head coach’s supervision in the hours before kick-off.
What’s next
Sunday’s decisive match kicks off at 8: 30 PM ET in Novo Horizonte; with a 1–0 lead from the first leg, Palmeiras needs only a draw to claim the Paulistão title. The coaching staff will complete pre-match activations Sunday morning ET at the team hotel and finalize the lineup ahead of departure for the stadium. Attention will quickly turn to whether the squad’s late arrival strategy and concentrated preparation in Catanduva translate into the club’s 27th state crown and a new milestone for the coach.
