Palmeiras began 2022 by playing the FIFA Club World Cup and resisting until the last minutes of extra time against Chelsea. The participation in the tournament, rightfully won by conquering the Libertadores 2021 title, reshuffled the calendar of the Big Green in the São Paulo state Championship.
After playing – and winning – the Recopa Sudamericana, Palmeiras would face the three biggest rivals of the state in a row for the state championship. A sequence of games only seen a dozen times in our history, according to IPE.
To emphasize the importance of the situation: in only one of those twelve sequences of games against the three biggest state rivals, Palmeiras were able to win all the games. That was in 1933. Almost 90 years ago. And it just happened again.
The first game of the sequence, away against São Paulo, was won with an early opener by Rony. Palmeiras played well in the first half, trying to pressure São Paulo in their field, but the team didn’t maintain the intensity during the whole match. São Paulo had the best opportunities to score in the second half, and Weverton left the field as MVP.
The following game, at home against Santos, was all green. Santos hit the woodwork in the beginning of the match, but that was it. Palmeiras dominated the opponent, scored through a penalty by Raphael Veiga, and had lots of opportunities. The lack of someone to push the ball into the back of the net was made clear and Palmeiras won by only 1-0.
Then, the icing on the cake. The derby against Corinthians, at home, in front of almost 40 thousand supporters. Raphael Veiga again from the penalty spot opened the scorecard and Palmeiras repeated the pattern seen against Santos. Lots of opportunities wasted, until the rival scored an equalizer, via a penalty conceded after an error of Murilo. The equality didn’t last long, Danilo put Palmeiras again ahead in the scorecard, giving final numbers to the game.
That was the end of another chapter in the history that Abel Ferreira and his men are writing at Palmeiras. Two Libertadores titles in less than a year, one Copa do Brasil title, victories against each and every rival. One day, Abel will leave, Raphael Veiga will miss a penalty and we won’t be in the final of another Libertadores. But while that doesn’t happen, seize the opportunity to live through history and to celebrate those moments with players that are going to be remembered forever.
Scoppia che la vittoria è nostra!
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by Augusto Anteghini Oazi
ANYTHING PALMEIRAS 