Corinthians vs Palmeiras: Brazil's Derby Paulista That Sees Football Take Centre Stage

​The Derby Paulista is part of 90min's 50 Biggest Derbies in the World Series.

Brazil is a country that prides itself on football. Whether it's a game of soccer on the beach, a domestic contest held in the vast arenas around the country or the trials and tribulations of the national team on the global stage; football is a serious business.

Nowhere is football more fiercely competed.

As a result, every club in Brazil wants to be considered top dog, especially in the country's largest city - Sao Paulo. 

While there are three huge rivalries between the biggest clubs in the city - Sao Paulo, Corinthians and Palmeiras - not many clashes in world football hold as much weight as the Derby Paulista between the latter pair. Both clubs boast incredibly passionate fanbases, with emotions running high when the two meet at either Arena Corinthians or the Allianz Parque.

Both Corinthians and Palmeiras generally view Sao Paulo as the enemy, while the rivalry enjoyed between themselves is generally, however not always, built on a greater mutual respect. This is partly due to the fact that even within households there is often a split between fans of these two great clubs.

This rivalry may be vintage Brazil, but two European countries actually lay claim to the foundations of the Derby Paulista. 

Following a Brazilian tour in 1910, English club Corinthian FC inspired Sao Paulo workers to form their own football club under an almost identical name, immediately enjoying great success at local level. Four years later, following the arrival of several Italian clubs on tours of Brazil, Palmeiras were formed by the local Italian community, although the club was initially called Palestra Italia.

After the first meeting between the clubs in 1917, it was immediately evident that a great rivalry had been forged and the Derby Paulista still holds as much meaning - and animosity - as it did over 100 years ago.

Despite having faced one another 363 times since, in every competition under the sun, honours remain remarkably even between the clubs. Both Corinthians and Palmeiras have won 127 of the matches, while there have been 109 draws, highlighting just how evenly fought this rivalry is.

But, disregarding meetings between the two sides for just a second, who is the most successful club?

Well, despite having significantly fewer supporters than Corinthians, Palmeiras have won ten Brazilian Serie A titles - more than any other club in the country. Meanwhile, O Timao have picked up just seven league titles in comparison, and both teams have secured three Copa do Brasil trophies and one Copa Libertadores title apiece.

When two of Brazil's largest and most successful clubs take centre stage in the Derby Paulista, it's fair to say the entire nation is gripped. Flares, fireworks and enormous banners greet the eyes of any and every supporter inside the stadium, with the record attendance for a derby day hitting over 120,000 people.

And why wouldn't thousands of football lovers want to witness a high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled derby with some of the world's greatest players on show?

The likes of Rivelino, Socrates and Ronaldo have all donned the black and white of Corinthians, while Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu have all graced the green jerseys of Palmeiras. Some of the greatest Brazilian footballers of all time have represented these historic clubs, only adding an extra dimension to this fierce rivalry littered with superstars.

While during the 1990s and 2000s Corinthians began to dominate the Derby Paulista following Palmeiras' great success of the 1960s and 1970s, the competition between these two sides has seldom been more even.

Two of Palmeiras' ten league titles have come since 2016, while they also won the Copa do Brasil in 2015. Corinthians, on the other hand, have won three league titles since 2011, as well as the Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup.

As a result, there is set to be plenty more mouthwatering clashes between these two old rivals in years to come.

Fundamentally, while there has been plenty of off-field drama and tension between fanbases, the Derby Paulista is built on a love of football, not a hatred of those on the other side. Yes, the competition is fierce as hell with an atmosphere capable of measuring on the Richer scale, but, when push comes to shove, the beating heart of this rivalry is football itself.

And that's something we simply must celebrate.