Palmeiras continue the superb campaign in the Brazilian Championship. The victory against Botafogo, with the sole goal of Gustavo Gómez, means that the Big Green will remain for at least one more round in pole position. The unbeaten streak in the Brazilian Championship was increased to 29 games.
Line-up
Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Luan (Antônio Carlos), Gustavo Gómez and Diogo Barbosa; Thiago Santos, Bruno Henrique and Lucas Lima (Moisés); Zé Rafael (Scarpa), Dudu and Deyverson.
Nobody was booked.
Green light
The defensive line was again Palmeiras’ biggest strength. Weverton did not perform a single difficult save and Botafogo were never close to score. It was Palmeiras’ fifth clean sheet out of six in the Brazilian Championship. Offensively, Marcos Rocha and Diogo Barbosa put out great performances. Even Lucas Lima played well.
Yellow light
After scoring the opener, Palmeiras blew a few opportunities to increase the lead, which would effectively have killed the game.
Red light
The referee is partially to blame for a poor game, talking too much with the players and stopping the action at any physical contact. Luckily, he was saved by the VAR in the most crucial moment of them all, reverting a yellow card for Deyverson and awarding Palmeiras the penalty that Gómez securely tucked away to the delight of the vast majority at the Mané Garrincha stadium.
Brasilia is green
Botafogo, keen on increasing revenues, opted for transferring the game to the federal capital of Brasilia, selling the game to a third party for a fixed sum. Palmeirenses in Brasilia and surrounding regions took good advantage, making the Mané Garrincha Stadium their home. Some 33.000 supporters attended the game at the stadium, at least 75% supporting the side wearing green and white (Bengtson’s in loco estimate).
Next challenge
Sampaio Corrêa, at the Allianz Parque, on Thursday 30 May, for the Brazil Cup. Palmeiras won the first leg 1-0 and secured the advantage of playing for a draw. It is a comfortable advantage and probably Scolari will repeat the strategy of the first leg and field a rather alternative eleven.
Scoppia che la vittoria è nostra!
– – – ooo – – –
by Augusto Anteghini Oazi & Kristian Bengtson
ANYTHING PALMEIRAS 