Contrary to the previous couple of games, Abel Ferreira opted for an alternative line-up against Ceará to rest key ahead of the Libertadores Cup final upcoming weekend. Verón, Patrick de Paula and Gustavo Gómez returned to the team after recovering from injury and Felipe Melo was an option for the second half.
The negative outcome happened not because of using mainly reserves, but due to individual mistakes. In the 10th minute, Scarpa took down a ball badly then slipped, leading to Lima opening the scorecard. Minutes later, Verón missed an open goal to equalize and the punishment came in the 29th, with the referee awarding a very debatable penalty to Ceará, converted by Vina. Verón redeemed himself by scoring a beautiful goal in the 34th minute, but it was not enough to propel the team to a comeback.
Line-up
Jailson; Mayke, Gustavo Gómez, Alan Empereur and Scarpa (Pedro Acácio); Émerson Santos, Patrick de Paula (Felipe Melo) and Lucas Lima; Gabriel Verón (Lucas Esteves), Breno Lopes and Gabriel Silva (Fabrício).
Patrick de Paula, Alan Empereur, Émerson Santos, Felipe Melo and Lucas Esteves received yellow cards.
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Green Light
The returns of four key players was promissing, ahead of the most important game of the last two decades. Gabriel Véron, Patrick de Paula and Gustavo Gómez showed they are ready for the battles to come. Felipe Melo, coming from a more severe injury, still isn’t in his best shape, but it’s still impressive a player of his age recovering so fast.
Yellow Light
The performance was better than the result indicates, however, individual mistakes like we saw yesterday must be avoided at all costs at both finals ahead. A slip like Scarpa’s cost us three points against Ceará, but in a final, could cost a title.
Red Light
The results of other games where the top-6 were involved, could nourish an expectation that the title was still in our reach, but the winner of Internacional in the last second against Grêmio put them far ahead although we’ve the postponed match against Vasco to be played. Even with a win, Palmeiras would be eight points behind the leaders with only six rounds to go. It is better to focus on the two finals.
Next Challenge
After the final whistle against Ceará, Palmeiras had 50 hours to travel back to São Paulo, recover the players and prepare for the game against Vasco, tomorrow Tuesday the 26th. Finally, when the tournament completes its 32nd round, Palmeiras will play the game of the first round, that should have been played the day we beat Corinthians to bag the São Paulo state Championship trophy.
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 