Botafogo/SP 0-2 Palmeiras

São Paulo Cup debut yesterday, and a fairly solid 2-0 away victory against Botafogo. A few observations:

# Coach Oliveira is clearly working on addressing the main shortcoming of last season: the excessive use of direct connection between defenders and attackers. That being said, much more practice is needed.

# Another innovation: a change in formation! Oliveira has obstinately stuck to 4-2-3-1, but yesterday suddenly promoted a switch to 3-4-3 in the second half, Rodrigo Carvalho doing the right side of the first defensive line, with L. Almeida in the centre and V. Hugo to the left. This left Egídio and Lucas with even more freedom to advance on their flanks. Interesting.

# Dudu was on fire, again. He’s showing his hunger and skill at every opportunity given. Tremendous.

# Gabriel Jesus needs bench time, it would take some of the pressure off. The kid is all talent, but he wants it too much.

# Alecsandro isn’t convincing me. Great positioning, but simply too slow.
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Thursday Palmeiras receive São Bento at the Pacaembu stadium. “What, not the Allianz Parque?”. No, because our “partner” WTorre hasn’t gotten the grass ready on time. Absurd.

Scoppia che la vittoria è nostra!