São Paulo debut for Tapia set to shake up the Majestoso | OneFootball

São Paulo’s preparations for their forthcoming clash against Corinthians at MorumBIS are gathering pace, with the club confirming the registration of Gonzalo Tapia, who is now eligible to make his debut, according to Arquibancada Tricolor. The Chilean attacker’s arrival brings São Paulo to the maximum quota of foreign players allowed in the Brasileirão, giving manager Hernán Crespo another option ahead of the high-stakes Majestoso on Saturday night.

Tapia’s availability comes at a key juncture for São Paulo, who have shown incremental improvements in recent matches, particularly during their draw with Bragantino. Luciano remains a focal point, coming into the derby with eight goal contributions in his last 12 games—a positive sign as the club looks to address scoring consistency issues noted throughout the campaign.

A medical update this week confirmed that Lucas Moura remains sidelined, a blow for São Paulo’s attacking depth. The absence of the versatile forward increases the likelihood that new signing Tapia could see minutes, especially with the crowded fixture list and ongoing demands of the Brasileirão.

Anticipation is high for this edition of the Majestoso, with São Paulo reporting that ticket sales have surged and a capacity crowd is expected at MorumBIS. This fixture, valid for the 15th round, is always fiercely competitive, and recent meetings between the sides have been closely contested. The historical balance of results and both teams’ current form have prompted lively debate among journalists about which side comes in as the slight favorite, though there’s broad consensus that the margins are slim.

Crespo and his staff are monitoring the integration of Tapia, who was officially announced and registered with the CBF this week. The Chilean’s adaptation could directly impact his role on Saturday, especially with Lucas Moura’s injury removing a key piece from São Paulo’s attacking set-up.

Elsewhere, São Paulo’s academy continues to deliver results, as the Under-19 side started well in the Copa New Balance. However, at first-team level, the immediate focus is firmly on the Majestoso. With an in-form Luciano, the prospect of a debut for Tapia, and a sold-out MorumBIS, São Paulo approach this classic encounter with cautious optimism and a sense that three points are within reach—provided their recent progress materializes in front of a packed home support.

(Sources: Arquibancada Tricolor)