São Paulo vs Bragantino – News and Probable Lineups

Sao Paulo will play against Bragantino at MorumBIS this Sunday during matchday 25 of the 2026 Brasileiro.

The hosts are currently positioned 13th with 27 points and are eager to break a streak of ten league matches without a victory. In contrast, Bragantino currently sits seventh with 35 points and enters the match fully focused on the league after recently exiting the Copa Sudamericana.

Match overview

Sao Paulo successfully reached the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana. After drawing 1–1 with Bolivar in La Paz, they secured a 3–1 win in the return leg at the MorumBIS, with Luciano, Calleri (penalty), and Sabino scoring, resulting in a 4–2 aggregate win.

Despite their strong performance in international competitions, they have struggled domestically. Dorival Junior’s team faced a setback, losing 1-0 to bottom-placed Chapecoense at Arena Conda, which extended their winless run in Serie A to ten games. Their last league success dates back to May against Mirassol.

Sao Paulo now finds itself just three points above Mirassol, who is in 17th place and currently in the relegation zone. While their progress in the Sudamericana provides some solace, the situation in the league is becoming increasingly critical.

Frequent changes to the squad have contributed significantly to their inconsistent performances. Sao Paulo has not fielded the same starting XI in their last 11 matches, a result of injuries and tactical adjustments made by Dorival Junior.

The squad faced further setbacks this week, as left-back Enzo Diaz was released from training to pursue a new club, and midfielder Hugo has been loaned to Mito Hollyhock in Japan.

Even though they have home field advantage at MorumBIS, it has not guaranteed success; Sao Paulo has only managed two wins in their last five home matches, raising concerns regarding the team’s performance.

On the other hand, Bragantino enters the match in a relatively stable condition. They recorded a 1-0 victory over Gremio in their latest Brasileiro match, following a 2-2 draw against Atletico-MG in the Sudamericana and a 1-1 draw against Athletico Paranaense on the road.

In their continental fixtures, Massa Bruta were knocked out by Galo after a 1-0 loss in the first leg and a 2-2 draw in the return, leading to a 3-2 aggregate score against them.

Now solely concentrating on the Brasileiro, Vagner Mancini’s side is positioned seventh with 35 points and a win could propel them closer to the top five.

The history between these two teams depicts a closely matched rivalry: in their last 15 encounters, both clubs have secured five wins each along with five draws. In the most recent five matches, each team has claimed victory twice while one ended in a draw.

This upcoming fixture features a Sao Paulo team that hasn’t won in ten league matches going up against a Bragantino squad that is riding high on their recent victory and is fully focused on the league. Although Massa Bruta is in better form, the historical context and Sao Paulo’s home advantage suggest a tightly contested match.

Team News

Sao Paulo’s main uncertainty revolves around Calleri. The forward sustained a sprained left ankle during the first half against Chapecoense and was substituted by Gustavo Santana. Subsequent assessments did not reveal a serious injury, but his status for the match against Bragantino remains unclear.

Should Calleri be unavailable, Dorival Junior will need to deploy a 12th different starting lineup in their last twelve matches. Lucas, Lucca, Bobadilla, Arboleda, Rafael Toloi, and Victor Sa are also unavailable, while Ferreirinha, Lucas Ramon, and Pablo Maia are each one booking away from a suspension.

Regardless of Calleri’s fitness, Luciano, who has netted five goals this season in the Brasileiro, is likely to be a key offensive player. The number of absentees limits Dorival’s tactical flexibility for the lineup.

For Bragantino, Fernando has returned to full training on Wednesday and might be included in the squad. Eduardo Sasha is doubtful due to muscular discomfort, while Isidro Pitta, who has scored six goals in Serie A, and Laquintana are expected to both feature in the attack.

Massa Bruta boasts a more complete squad compared to their rivals and may retain the same essential players that overcame Gremio 1-0 last time out.

Sao Paulo probable starting XI:

Raphael; Ramon, Duarte, Sabino, Iago; Antonio, Maia; Artur, Luciano, Cauly; Silva

Bragantino probable starting XI:

Volpi; Sant’Anna, Henrique, Marques, Capixaba; Ramires, Rodriguinho; Herrera, Barbosa, Vinicinho; Pitta

Sao Paulo is experiencing a challenging spell. Out of 41 matches, they have only managed to secure 39%. In similar circumstances, Bragantino also shows comparable statistics, holding a 40% win rate in 42 games, further highlighting the expectation of a competitive game.

The Tricolor is grappling with their own set of absences and continuous lineup revisions, while Bragantino is coming off a recent exit from Sudamericana. Given this situation, a closely matched fixture resulting in a goal each seems the most plausible outcome.