Brazilian Serie A Round 1: Palmeiras 1-0 Mirassol Defending champions Palmeiras began their title defense with a workmanlike 1-0 victory over a stubborn Mirassol side at Allianz Parque. In a match where the Verdão were expected to dominate, they were made to work tirelessly for the three points, with a second-half penalty ultimately separating the two teams in a contest of fine margins. The first half was a story of frustration for the hosts, who controlled possession but found Mirassol's deep defensive block difficult to break down. Clear chances were at a premium, with the best falling to Palmeiras' star forward, who saw a low drive well saved. The breakthrough finally came in the 65th minute. A clever through-ball found a Palmeiras attacker bursting into the box, where he was clumsily brought down by the Mirassol goalkeeper. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. The responsibility fell to the team's captain and midfield maestro, who calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner. Mirassol pushed for a late equalizer and forced a spectacular save from the Palmeiras keeper in stoppage time, but the champions held firm. The key focus point was Mirassol's disciplined defensive shape, which frustrated Palmeiras for large periods and nearly earned them a point. The penalty decision, while clear, was the moment of quality the game needed. Palmeiras' performance, while not fluid, showed the champion's mentality of grinding out results even when not at their brilliant best. The win immediately puts Palmeiras on the board with three points, keeping pace at the top of the table from the opening day. For Mirassol, a narrow loss away to the champions is a respectable result that provides a platform to build upon. Palmeiras' manager acknowledged the difficulty, saying "These are the wins that build a season," while the Mirassol coach hailed his team's "tactical discipline and courage." Palmeiras starting XI: Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo, Piquerez; Gabriel Menino, Zé Rafael, Raphael Veiga; Dudu, Rony, Endrick. Mirassol starting XI: Alex Muralha; Danielzinho, Paulão, Matheus Ribeiro, Juninho; Chrigor, Ronaldo; Negueba, Léo Baiano, Jenison; William Pottker.