Sao Paulo and Palmeiras are two of Brazil’s biggest clubs. Between them, they have won five Copa Libertadores, 16 Brazilian titles and 55 Sao Paulo state championships. Between their stadiums, there is just 10km.
The derby they contest is a big one. So big, in fact, that it is known as the Choque-Rei – the ‘Clash of Kings’.
That name was bestowed upon the fixture by journalist Tomaz Mazzoni in the 1940s – and it was well deserved. Between 1942 and 1950, all nine of the Sao Paulo state championships on offer went to one of the two clubs. The Choque-Rei often decided the destination of the crown.
For much of the last 25 years, however, the derby had lost a little something – not its prestige, but some of its edge.
When Sao Paulo were at their best, Palmeiras tended to be struggling, and vice versa. In the mid-to-late-noughties, when Sao Paulo were winning the Libertadores and three consecutive Brazilian titles, Palmeiras were scrabbling around towards the bottom of the league. As Palmeiras have re-established themselves as a force to be reckoned with since 2015, Sao Paulo have been stuck in the longest trophy drought in the club’s history.
Now, though, the fire under the Choque-Rei has been reignited. With the teams at their disposals, Sao Paulo and Palmeiras are both set for tilts at major silverware this season. And on Sunday night, the two faced off in a Sao Paulo state championship final for the first time since 2000.
It was a ‘Clash of Kings’ worthy of the name and, finally, Sao Paulo came out on top, bringing a nine-year wait for a trophy and 16-year wait for a state title to an end. Sao Paulo fans can sing about being ‘campeao’ once more. The man they have to thank for that? A promising Argentine manager by the name of Hernan Crespo.
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