The highly anticipated Dérbi between Palmeiras and Corinthians faced unexpected delays following severe weather conditions at the Allianz Parque. Originally scheduled to kick off at 20:00 BRT on February 6, 2025, the match was postponed by 30 minutes due to heavy rain and accompanying hail.
Just before the teams were set to begin their warm-ups around 19:00, torrential rain began to blanket São Paulo, leading to the formation of puddles across the field, hindering preparations for both teams. By 19:50, stadium employees rushed to clear the standing water from the pitch. Notably, both squads exited the field early due to falling hailstones, which added to the alarm.
According to the Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF), there was consensus among the referee, the match director, and representatives from both clubs to delay the start of the game. “A Federação Paulista de Futebol informa que a arbitragem e o diretor de jogo do clássico entre Palmeiras e Corinthians, no Allianz Parque, se reuniram com os dois clubes e, após uma avaliação das condições do gramado, devido à forte chuva que cai na cidade, decidiram de forma unânime adiar o início do jogo para 20h30,” the FPF announced via social media.
The relentless downpour commenced earlier in the afternoon, causing significant disruptions. Further complicates matters, the São Paulo Civil Defense issued alerts warning citizens of potential floods throughout the city, particularly affecting the central and western regions where the Allianz Parque is located.
Palmeiras, under the management of Abel Ferreira, was planning to field its strongest lineup, eager to capitalize on their previous game where they triumphed with a convincing 4-1 win against Guarani. The expected starting XI for Palmeiras included: Weverton; Mayke, Gustavo Gómez, Naves, Murilo, and Piquerez; Ríos and Raphael Veiga; Estêvão, Facundo Torres, and Maurício.
Meanwhile, Ramón Díaz’s Corinthians entered the match leading Group A with 18 points after seven matches and intended to maintain their momentum against their fierce rivals. The squad consisted of: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Cacá, André Ramalho, and Hugo; Raniele, Alex Santana, André Carrillo, and Igor Coronado; along with Memphis Depay and Yuri Alberto up front.
At the time of the delay, Corinthians led the standings, bolstered by strong performances, and was viewed as poised to increase their points tally significantly with another victory. Palmeiras, on the flip side, found themselves needing the points to improve their current third-place standing with just 11 points after six matches.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time weather conditions have played havoc with the schedule during this year's Campeonato Paulista. Notably, this postponement marks the third occasion where Corinthians had seen games delayed due to inclement weather this season, previously affecting their matchups against São Paulo and Ponte Preta.
With kickoff rescheduled for 20:30, fans are hopeful the weather will cooperate, allowing this thrilling encounter full of animosity, rivalry, and Championship stakes to proceed. Both teams exhibited strong seasons so far, setting the stage for what is anticipated to be another climatic battle on the pitch. The rescheduled classic not only heightens excitement among fans but also adds additional significance to the championship race.