In the first match after the disappointing results in Qatar, there was concern in regard to how our players could have been affected. Without a few of the regular starters in the starting-eleven, players showed that the past remains in the past. Although not having a chance of bagging the title of the Brazilian League, the team displayed solid football to restart a winning sequence.
The opener came in the 20th minute, with Scarpa perfectly executing a free kick. Lucas Lima increased the lead six minutes later and before halftime, in the 38th minute, Breno Lopes scored Palmeiras’ third goal after a beautiful passing sequence. Having built a huge advantage in the first half, Palmeiras returned to the final 45 on cruise control, just awaiting the final whistle, not allowing Fortaleza any opportunity to put a bit of emotion into the game.
Line-up
Weverton; Marcos Rocha (Mayke), Kuscevic, Gustavo Gómez, Renan and Lucas Esteves (Patrick de Paula); Danilo (Felipe Melo), Gabriel Menino, Lucas Lima (Raphael Veiga) and Scarpa; Breno Lopes (Willian).
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Green Light
It was an important performance to rebuild a positive momentum ahead the finals of the Brazil Cup. Scarpa and Lucas Lima, who where consistently failing to deliver good exhibitions, scored beautiful goals and proved they still haven’t forgotten how to play.
Yellow Light
The effectiveness showed in the first half leaves us thinking about the games against Vasco, Grêmio and Botafogo, where the inaccuracy cost us a few points that today separate Palmeiras from the title contenders.
Red Light
The referee ignored a quite obvious penalty on Marcos Rocha in the last minute of the first half, although the VAR called him to review the images. In this game, a goal didn’t make any difference, but in a round where questionable VAR rulings were again center of the attention, it raises concern for the finals of the Brazil Cup.
Next Challenge
There is no time to breath, as Palmeiras already have to play the postponed game of the 35th round against Coritiba on Wednesday, 17th. The opponent, already relegated, beat Palmeiras in the first half of the championship, in what would be the last game of Luxemburgo. Palmeiras have only won six out of twenty-one points against the bottom-4 teams of the championship, missing points that would make a huge difference in the fight for the title.
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 