Seems we’ve gotten our Palmeiras back. After a few bleak performances and oscillations, yesterday’s game against Internacional confirmed what we saw in the second half against Fluminense and again against Grêmio: good, offensive football. This time, with the additional bonus of having Dudu, on fire, back in the starting eleven (his six-game ban does not apply to the Brazil Cup). The vivacity and virility that was lost have been found.
Palmeiras have not beaten Internacional at the Beira-Rio stadium since 1997. Unfortunately the taboo remains. Still, there’s something different to it when Colorado coach Argel celebrates a home draw with the words “we played Brazil’s currently best team”. Yesterday, the victory was only details away – like Barrios’ badly executed penalty or Jesus Gabriel’s double-wood finish. The Inter keeper, Alisson, was spectacular. No wonder Brazil national coach Dunga has locked his sights on him.
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The result forces Internacional to score at the Allianz Parque next Wednesday, when the second leg is played: a goalless draw and Palmeiras are through to the semifinals.
But before anything else, it’s back in São Paulo and the Morumbi, where SPFC await on Sunday afternoon for the 28th round of the Brazilian championship. There’s a neat little taboo involved in Sunday’s derby as well: not since 2002 have Palmeiras beaten SPFC at the Morumbi stadium. Last time it happened, a certain Alex scored a certain goal…
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Scoppia che la vittoria è nostra!
ANYTHING PALMEIRAS 