Santa Cruz and Sport play this Saturday (9), at the Arruda stadium, the first game of the Pernambucano Championship semi-final. The Coral team finished the first phase in fourth place with 19 points, while Leão da Ilha was in the lead with 21 points. Check out where to watch Santa Cruz x Sport live below.
How are the rivals?
On the rise, Santinha comes from a sequence of six unbeaten matches, with five wins and one draw. In the most recent match, in the second phase of Pernambucano, the team beat Central de Caruau 1-0 at home. Gilvan scored the only goal of the game, which guaranteed Cobra-Coral’s presence in the semifinals and also in the 2025 Series D.
For the Classic of Crowds, coach Itamar Schülle will not be able to count on defender and captain Rafael Pereira, who was injured in the match against Central. Likewise, midfielder Lucas Bessa continues to undergo medical treatment after tearing his knee ligament in January.
On the Sport side, coach Mariano Soso will be missing defenders Renzo and Rafael Thyere, and midfielders Fabinho and Fabricio Domínguez. Furthermore, as the team faces Murici in the middle of the week in the Copa do Brasil, it is possible that some starters will be rested in the classic.
Leão da Ilha is trying to win its second Pernambuco championship this season. The team comes from a 2-1 victory over Altos in the Copa do Nordeste, with both goals scored by striker Chrystian Barletta. However, in the state championship, Sport ended the first phase with a 1-0 defeat to Náutico.
Due to the attack carried out by Sport fans against the Fortaleza delegation bus, in February, the two semi-final games will have a single crowd. So, in this first game, in Arruda, only Coral fans will be present. In the return game, only red and black players will be able to enter the stadium.
Where to watch Santa Cruz x Sport
Finally, the classic between Santa Cruz and Sport at the Arruda stadium starts at 4:30 pm, Brasília time, with live broadcast on Globo PE (open TV) and Premiere (pay-per-view).