Palmeiras, leader of the Brazilian Championship, drew 0-0 in the classic played at the Neo Química Arena on Sunday night (12) and frustrated Corinthians’ plans to move away from the competition’s relegation zone.
The result is surprising, considering that the black and white team finished the match with two players less — André was sent off in the 34th minute of the first half, and Matheuzinho received a red card in the 23rd minute of the second half.
Led for less than a week by Fernando Diniz after the dismissal of Dorival Júnior, the club has not won in eight rounds of the Brazilian Championship and, with 11 points, remains in 16th place in the table — one position above the relegation zone.
With the result of the classic, Palmeiras reached 26 points, six points more than Flamengo, who beat Fluminense at Maracanã this Sunday and took second place in the championship in this 11th round.
The classic in São Paulo was turbulent, with consecutive episodes of arguments between the players and more than 30 fouls committed.
The most repercussion moment of the match was the expulsion of André, from Corinthians, for an obscene gesture. In a confusion shortly after 30 minutes of the first half, the midfielder held his penis with his hand to provoke his opponents and received a red card, after the referee consulted the VAR.
Corinthians maintained an aggressive stance in the first half until André was sent off, but were unable to convert, while Palmeiras also struggled to finish.
After the break, Palmeiras increased possession of the ball and threatened with some moves, without success. A sequence of danger was created by Corinthians in the 29th minute, with a shot by Yuri Alberto towards Carlos Miguel’s goal, who saved the striker’s shot.
In the last minutes before stoppage time, Andreas Pereira took a difficult free kick on Hugo Souza’s goal, but the Corinthians goalkeeper saved it.
Abel Ferreira did not lead the team in the classic because he was suspended last Thursday (9) by the STJD (Superior Court of Sports Justice) for eight matches due to expulsions in matches against Fluminense and São Paulo.
Corinthians’ next match for the Brazilian Championship is against Vitória, in Salvador, next Saturday (18). , at home, next Sunday (19). Palmeiras’s match is against Athletico-PR, at home, on Sunday (19).
