The Brazilian women's football champion of Series A1 (first division) will be known early this Saturday evening (3). From 4:30 pm (Brasília time), São Paulo and Corinthians face off at Morumbis, for the second game of the grand final. The match will be broadcast live on TV Brasil.
The advantage belongs to Tricolor, who won the first game a week ago, 2-1, at the Neo Química Arena, also in the capital of São Paulo - TV Brasil showed the confrontation. It was the first defeat for the Timão women's team playing at the stadium, after 32 unbeaten games.
The draw gives São Paulo the title. The achievement would be unprecedented in the current model of the competition, held since 2013. In 1997, however, the Soberanas won the first edition of the so-called "Brazilian Women's Football Championship" organized by the CBF - the entity responsible for the sport - and which lasted until 2001. Historic names from the team such as defender Ju Cabral, midfielder Formiga, midfielder Sissi and attacker Kátia Cilene were part of the squad.
That generation, which also won the Campeonato Paulista twice (1997 and 1999), also had a young midfielder called Emily. Today known as Emily Lima, she is, precisely, the coach of Corinthians, Tricolor's opponent.
To be champions in normal time, Brabas must win by two or more goals difference. The black and white team reached the necessary balance in 13 of the 22 victories of the season, four of which were away from home. If they win by one goal and equalize the aggregate score, the title decision will be on penalties.
It is the tenth time in a row that Corinthians has reached the Brasileirão Feminino final, but the first time that they have played the second leg as a visitor. To win the eighth title, the seventh in a row, Timão will have to look for a turnaround in the confrontation. In 2017, the last time they found themselves in a similar scenario, the team lost the match to Santos (2-0), and were unable to reverse their rival advantage in the second match (1-0 defeat).
The 2019 edition was the last in which the champion team was a visitor in the second leg. After two draws (1-1 and 0-0), Corinthians and Ferroviária decided the title on penalties. Timão was in charge, but it was the club from the interior of São Paulo that did well, winning 4-2 at Parque São Jorge. This time, it is the Brabas who hope to celebrate the achievement at their rivals' home.
This is the fourth time that Majestoso (nickname of the classic between Tricolores and Alvinegros) has decided on a title in women's football since the resumption of projects. The advantage belongs to Corinthians, who came out on top in the 2019 and 2021 São Paulo finals and the 2024 Brasileirão. In the latter, the Neo Química Arena received 44,529 fans, the record attendance for the sport in games between clubs in the country.
São Paulo's goal is to surpass this mark. By early afternoon on Friday (2), the club reported that more than 38,000 tickets had been sold for the decision. If it doesn't break the Corinthians record, the audience should be at least the biggest of the year in Brazilian women's football, surpassing the 21,828 present in the first leg of the final.
The expectation is that the teams maintain the base from the first game. Sovereigns have maximum strength at their disposal. Coach Thiago Viana should send Carlinha to the field; Bruna Calderan, Tayla, Carol Gil and Bia Menezes; Robinha, Karla Alves and Aline Milene; Giovanna Crivelari, Serrana and Isa.
In Brabas, the highlight was the return of defender Thaís Regina, who was suspended. With her likely return to the starting lineup, Emily's likely lineup will include Nicole; Gi Fernandes, Duda Mineira, Thaís Ferreira, Thaís Regina and Tamires; Duda Sampaio, Vic Albuquerque and Gabi Zanotti; Belén Aquino, Jaqueline and Jhonson.
