Supporters and media had their full attention on the backstage battle with a defining chapter fifteen minutes prior to the originally scheduled time for the game, maintaining the clash between Flamengo and Palmeiras even with all the whining of the carioca side.
Fielding a team with more than half of the players coming from youth squads, Flamengo had no negative outcome to expect. A defeat would be justified by the unexperience of the team. A victory would be celebrated as an heroic act. Palmeiras couldn’t cope with the obbligation to win and repeated previously tiresome performances that have led to the well-known equality on the scorecard after ninety minutes.
Line-up
Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Felipe Melo, Gustavo Gómez and Viña; Patrick de Paula, Gabriel Menino (Raphael Veiga) and Zé Rafael (Bruno Henrique); Lucas Lima (Rony), Veron (Willian) and Luiz Adriano.
Gabriel Menino, Felipe Melo, Lucas Lima and Zé Rafael received yellow cards.
Green Light
The attitude of Palmeiras in this backstage war against Flamengo was flawless. Counting on the support of the Brazilian Football Federation, the other eighteen teams playing the top division and every other reasonable person, Palmeiras fought for the enforcement of the approved protocol for the 2020 Brazilian League. We can discuss if the return of football in Brazil was premature, but since the clubs decided on a protocol and the tournament is already underway, every club must comply with what was negotiated and agreed upon.
Yellow Light
When one analyses Palmeiras’ numbers in the Brazilian League, surprisingly we find that the team hasn’t failed to score in a single game, even with all the lacking creativity offensively. On the other hand, despite having the third lowest number of goals against, the team has only two clean sheets. The outcome is an unbeaten sequence of eleven games with seven draws that is consuming the patience of supporters.
Red Light
It was the fourth consecutive draw of Palmeiras, but the result isn’t what bother palmeirenses. The lack of evolution is preocuppying, the same mistakes being repeated in every game. Today, the team found the opener in a stroke of luck with the deflected shot of Patrick de Paula in the 54th minute, but concede the equalizer the following minute. Would the young players of Flamengo crack under pressure, behind on the scorecard with the clock ticking? We’ll never know.
Next Challenge
Palmeiras turn the attention to a tournament where the results are being good so far. On Wednesday 30rd, the team receives Bolívar at the Allianz Parque for the 5th round of the group stage of the Libertadores Cup. A draw is enough to secure the spot to the knockout stage, but it would blow supporters’ minds if the point needed comes through another tiresome exhibition.
Scoppia che la vittoria è nostra!
– – – ooo – – –
by Augusto Anteghini Oazi
*Here at Anything Palmeiras, we love football. We love Palmeiras. We are always keen to see Palmeiras play, and keen to write about it for you. But we’re against the return of football in a country that still hasn’t controlled the coronavirus pandemic. We express our deepest sympathy to the families whose loved ones have been taken by the disease.
ANYTHING PALMEIRAS 